{"video_id":"fp_8tbNu56ecS","title":"Broadband Facts Labels Explained","channel":"Techquickie","show":"Techquickie","published_at":"2024-04-19T18:47:00.027Z","duration_s":234,"segments":[{"start_s":0.0,"end_s":3.0,"text":"These labels aren't just for food anymore.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":3.0,"end_s":6.88,"text":"You're now going to see them on internet plans. But why?","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":6.88,"end_s":10.18,"text":"Is it too hard to understand here's the price per month","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":10.18,"end_s":14.24,"text":"and here's the speed you'll get? Well, it turns out that the answer is actually yes.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":14.24,"end_s":19.8,"text":"The American FCC is requiring ISPs to provide these labels for most internet plans","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":19.8,"end_s":24.76,"text":"offered to the public starting this month, precisely because between introductory rates","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":24.76,"end_s":28.72,"text":"and hidden fees, many consumers find broadband advertising","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":28.72,"end_s":33.04,"text":"to be confusing. The goal of the labels is to provide a standardized way","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":33.04,"end_s":36.46,"text":"to inform consumers of the true cost of their service","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":36.46,"end_s":42.2,"text":"and exactly what they'll be getting instead of allowing ISPs to bury these important details","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":42.2,"end_s":47.0,"text":"in the fine print. And although we're mostly used to seeing the analogous nutrition facts labels","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":47.0,"end_s":51.0,"text":"on actual food packaging, the broadband facts labels","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":51.0,"end_s":54.24,"text":"have to be displayed both online and in stores","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":54.24,"end_s":58.04,"text":"if you're buying internet service that way. I prefer my internet boxed.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":58.04,"end_s":61.08,"text":"Let's take a look at what exactly has to be included.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":61.08,"end_s":64.62,"text":"Up top, you'll see the name of the ISP and the name of the plan.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":64.62,"end_s":70.04,"text":"Just below that, you'll see the monthly price prominently displayed, similarly to how the calorie count","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":70.04,"end_s":74.92,"text":"is displayed on a nutrition label. Below this, you'll have a section of gotchas.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":74.92,"end_s":79.36,"text":"You'll see immediately if the monthly price is some kind of introductory promo rate","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":79.36,"end_s":85.8,"text":"and if it is, how long the rate is good for and what the new rate will be at the end of the intro period.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":85.8,"end_s":89.3,"text":"If you have to sign a contract, you'll see how long that contract is","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":89.3,"end_s":94.34,"text":"and a link to the full terms. Then you'll see another gotchas section","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":94.34,"end_s":98.18,"text":"outlining additional charges. Everything from equipment rental fees,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":98.18,"end_s":103.06,"text":"installation fees, taxes, and the penalty for backing out of a contract early.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":103.06,"end_s":108.1,"text":"It would be nice if a total price, including all of that junk, was listed prominently","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":108.1,"end_s":111.5,"text":"at the top of the label. But as it is, you'll have to do a little math","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":111.5,"end_s":115.74,"text":"to figure out the total damage. You do, however, get a link to any discounts","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":115.74,"end_s":119.22,"text":"you're eligible for if you're bundling or using your own equipment.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":119.22,"end_s":122.74,"text":"Now, below all this pricing information, you'll see a section outlining","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":122.74,"end_s":127.06,"text":"both the typical download and upload speeds and as a pleasant surprise,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":127.06,"end_s":130.14,"text":"you also get a latency number in milliseconds.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":130.14,"end_s":133.74,"text":"Although most people look more at the raw megabits per second,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":133.74,"end_s":137.9,"text":"latency can be more important if you do lots of online gaming","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":137.9,"end_s":142.7,"text":"or if you're frequently making video calls. Unfortunately, the FCC hasn't included","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":142.7,"end_s":147.42,"text":"specific requirements on how speeds and latency should be measured.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":147.42,"end_s":152.7,"text":"While the FCC does run a program to help ISPs determine typical speed and latency numbers,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":152.7,"end_s":156.38,"text":"participation isn't a requirement. Hopefully in the future,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":156.38,"end_s":161.46,"text":"there will be a more standardized way to provide these numbers, but given that ISPs like Comcast","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":161.46,"end_s":164.98,"text":"are already unhappy about just having to fill out a label,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":164.98,"end_s":169.18,"text":"whether that'll happen is anyone's guess. Anywho, the bottom of the label","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":169.22,"end_s":172.9,"text":"also has to include any data caps and overage charges,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":172.9,"end_s":176.06,"text":"a link to the ISPs network management practices,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":176.06,"end_s":179.3,"text":"which is essentially how well they adhere to net neutrality principles,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":179.3,"end_s":183.34,"text":"and a link to their privacy policy and customer support services.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":183.34,"end_s":187.62,"text":"ISP websites are also required to compile all of their labels","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":187.62,"end_s":190.74,"text":"into a publicly available spreadsheet, which could be useful","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":190.74,"end_s":194.22,"text":"if you want to quickly compare plans. And in case you were wondering,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":194.22,"end_s":197.78,"text":"if you're one of those people who signs up for internet service over the phone,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":197.78,"end_s":202.18,"text":"the person on the other end is required to read the entire label to you.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":202.18,"end_s":206.7,"text":"Oh boy, you wanna get a snack. Of course, there was some griping from ISPs","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":206.7,"end_s":210.3,"text":"about how much time and energy it would take to create these labels,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":210.3,"end_s":215.14,"text":"but given how much money ISPs spend on designing and sending out junk mail,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":215.14,"end_s":219.34,"text":"it's hard for me to feel too bad for them. But I feel good about the fact","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":219.34,"end_s":222.46,"text":"that you watched this whole video. Thanks, like the video if you liked it,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":222.46,"end_s":226.54,"text":"dislike it if you disliked it, check out our other videos, comment below with video suggestions.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":226.54,"end_s":230.86,"text":"Don't forget to subscribe and follow so you can see more of this,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":230.86,"end_s":234.5,"text":"what I'm doing right now. Pretty cool.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0}],"full_text":"These labels aren't just for food anymore. You're now going to see them on internet plans. But why? Is it too hard to understand here's the price per month and here's the speed you'll get? Well, it turns out that the answer is actually yes. The American FCC is requiring ISPs to provide these labels for most internet plans offered to the public starting this month, precisely because between introductory rates and hidden fees, many consumers find broadband advertising to be confusing. The goal of the labels is to provide a standardized way to inform consumers of the true cost of their service and exactly what they'll be getting instead of allowing ISPs to bury these important details in the fine print. And although we're mostly used to seeing the analogous nutrition facts labels on actual food packaging, the broadband facts labels have to be displayed both online and in stores if you're buying internet service that way. I prefer my internet boxed. Let's take a look at what exactly has to be included. Up top, you'll see the name of the ISP and the name of the plan. Just below that, you'll see the monthly price prominently displayed, similarly to how the calorie count is displayed on a nutrition label. Below this, you'll have a section of gotchas. You'll see immediately if the monthly price is some kind of introductory promo rate and if it is, how long the rate is good for and what the new rate will be at the end of the intro period. If you have to sign a contract, you'll see how long that contract is and a link to the full terms. Then you'll see another gotchas section outlining additional charges. Everything from equipment rental fees, installation fees, taxes, and the penalty for backing out of a contract early. It would be nice if a total price, including all of that junk, was listed prominently at the top of the label. But as it is, you'll have to do a little math to figure out the total damage. You do, however, get a link to any discounts you're eligible for if you're bundling or using your own equipment. Now, below all this pricing information, you'll see a section outlining both the typical download and upload speeds and as a pleasant surprise, you also get a latency number in milliseconds. Although most people look more at the raw megabits per second, latency can be more important if you do lots of online gaming or if you're frequently making video calls. Unfortunately, the FCC hasn't included specific requirements on how speeds and latency should be measured. While the FCC does run a program to help ISPs determine typical speed and latency numbers, participation isn't a requirement. Hopefully in the future, there will be a more standardized way to provide these numbers, but given that ISPs like Comcast are already unhappy about just having to fill out a label, whether that'll happen is anyone's guess. Anywho, the bottom of the label also has to include any data caps and overage charges, a link to the ISPs network management practices, which is essentially how well they adhere to net neutrality principles, and a link to their privacy policy and customer support services. ISP websites are also required to compile all of their labels into a publicly available spreadsheet, which could be useful if you want to quickly compare plans. And in case you were wondering, if you're one of those people who signs up for internet service over the phone, the person on the other end is required to read the entire label to you. Oh boy, you wanna get a snack. Of course, there was some griping from ISPs about how much time and energy it would take to create these labels, but given how much money ISPs spend on designing and sending out junk mail, it's hard for me to feel too bad for them. But I feel good about the fact that you watched this whole video. Thanks, like the video if you liked it, dislike it if you disliked it, check out our other videos, comment below with video suggestions. Don't forget to subscribe and follow so you can see more of this, what I'm doing right now. Pretty cool."}