Signage is seen at the Federal Communications Commission headquarters in Washington, DC
Andrew Kelly | Reuters
WASHINGTON – A federal consumer watchdog said Wednesday that it will vote on rules requiring cable and satellite providers to display a “flat rate” for video programming on consumer bills and promotional materials.
The Federal Communications Commission’s final rules are expected to be broadly similar to those the agency originally proposed last year. The commission plans to vote on a final version of the rules at its upcoming open meeting on March 14.
“We are working to ensure that the advertised price for a service is the price you pay when your bill arrives,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement.
“Not only will this reduce cost confusion and make it easier for consumers to compare services, but this proposal will also increase competition between cable and broadcast satellite providers through improved price transparency,” Rosenworcel said.
The Commission voted in December to adopt a proposal to ban cable and satellite companies from charging early termination fees.
The agency is also preparing to enforce a new labeling format for broadband internet service providers starting in April.
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The FCC rules, set to be voted on next month, are the latest in a series of new rules across the federal government aimed at eliminating what the Biden administration has called “junk fees,” unspecified or last-minute costs that consumers are often only charged at the end of an online transaction.
It’s also a cause that President Joe Biden has long supported.
“Too often, these companies hide additional junk fees on customer bills, disguised as “broadcast TV” or “regional sports” fees that do not actually pay for additional services,” Biden said in a June 2023 statement on the proposed FCC -Rule.
“These fees really add up: According to one report, they increase customer bills by nearly 25% of the price of basic service,” Biden said.
Correction: The FCC announced Wednesday that it will vote to set price disclosure rules for video programming services. An earlier version misrepresented the action.
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2024-02-21 18:43:26
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