What the Tech with Jamey Tucker: Internet Nutrition Labels
INTERNET NUTRITION LABELS
You’re probably familiar with nutritional labels on things like breakfast cereal, potato chips, and a
can of soup. Now, similar labels are found at your local phone company and internet provider
websites.
The FCC ordered all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to display these labels prominently
wherever phone or internet plans are sold.
When I checked the major wireless carriers, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile have broadband
labels under each plan they offer. If you don’t see them in a store, ask a sales representative;
they’re required to have them accessible for customer review. At the Verizon store, I visited the
representatives had each label visible on a tablet they carried around the store.
The design of these labels is consumer-friendly. At a glance, you can see the monthly cost, any
introductory pricing, and additional fees like connection charges. Discounts and bundles?
They’re itemized, too.
This information was hard to come by in the past, but now, it empowers you to compare
offerings from different providers side-by-side effortlessly.
Major cable internet providers, such as Comcast and Spectrum, are also required to present this
information on their websites. If you’ve ever tried comparing prices at cable companies you
probably couldn’t find that information anywhere.
When you’re comparing plans, pay close attention to the promised internet speeds. The right
speed for you hinges on your household’s internet usage. For instance, if online gaming, 4K
streaming, and multiple smart devices are part of your daily life, you’ll want a plan offering at
least 200 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload speeds, especially if video conferencing is in the
mix.
