When it comes to reading facts, data, or any details about virtually any service or product, familiarity can be a good thing. The simpler something is to read the better the chances are that the average consumer will have less of a hassle dealing with the whole ordeal, whatever it may be. If you’ve ever been shopping for an internet service provider, you are likely already aware how challenging it can be to sift through all of the wording just to pick out the information you want that’s important to you, which is namely the things like price, contractual agreement times, and what the service includes. Of course, all of the terms of service and regulations is important too.
The short of it is that all that information is a lot to go through, and the FCC wants to make reading these details about broadband internet service easier to look at and easier to read, which is why they’re suggesting a new label that they have just unveiled which would display broadband internet service information like the labels found on food and other consumables which list off the nutrition facts for buyers. Aside from making things easier to read due to the familiar nature of the way the labels appear, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler says the labels are also about helping consumers make a more informed decision when shopping for and choosing to buy a particular internet service from the various providers which offer it in their local areas.
Having these labels with simpler data should also make it so that less complaints come through about unwanted and surprise charges on internet bills, something which Wheeler states is a common problem every year as they receive in excess of 2,000 customer complaints about surprise fees alone. If customers are capable of making a more informed decision, the complaints should decrease, although these labels likely aren’t going to get rid of complaints about fees entirely. At the moment there is no telling whether or not these labels will ever be used, as they have to go through an approval process from the Office and Management and Budget, and if they get approved there are still no details as of yet how long it would be before they’re implemented and start showing up with different services.