What to know about the new FCC Broadband Label Mandate.

The New What?

In 2023 the Infrastructure Investment and Job acts was passed; within that bill, the FCC has required all broadband carriers to create a label to help customers make informed choices about their Broadband Services. If they look familiar, they should. The label format was upon the the current nutrition labels that are found on most food products.

Why?

The government felt that consumers were having a difficult time comparing the offering of various internet connections to each other. They might have been right on this one. The average nontechie person gets lost in the various terms and details of MBpS, Gigs, pipelines, and other details. I dare say that many providers have benefited from this confusion, perhaps even created it?

When Will This Start?

The Federal mandate begins on April 10, 2024. However, many providers are starting to public their labels prior to that.

Resellers of broadband connections and mobile plans that include data, such as Crown Business Solutions, have had to take training programs in order to certify their knowledge of the program and the requirements that it brings to them. Moving forward, they will be required to provide links to the BBL whenever they first begin discussing any voice, mobile internet, or high-speed internet products with a prospect or customer.

Will They Be On The Box?

In most cases, these labels will exist virtually, on the provider's website. In stores, there may be a QR code to scan; otherwise, a link will be provided.

What Information Will Be Disclosed?

• All labels include the name of the plan, monthly service costs, typical data speeds, data included in the plan, as well as any fees that could apply.?
• It will also show any additional charges for data use above the monthly allotment, if any.
• The Broadband Label displays the base pricing before any discounts, offers, or promotions. Be sure to review?promotions, bundles, discounts, etc. with customers.

Like the Nutrition Labels, found on food, these labels are required to be presented in a standard format by all providers. This enables anyone, even my dad, to compare two plans or products by looking at the numbers side-by-side.

David I. Bacall is a renowned security and technology expert. He currently serves as the Chief Solutions Architect for Crown Business Solutions, a division of the Crown Group of Companies, where he consults with business owners on physical and cyber security solutions and offers telecom, call center, data, and security technology solutions. Crown's experts collaborate closely with business owners to identify the right products and services for each business's needs while keeping an eye on their budget and bottom line.

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