The Federal Communications Commission today unveiled new broadband labels modeled after the nutrition labels commonly seen on food products. Home Internet service providers and mobile carriers are being urged to use the labels to give consumers details such as prices (including hidden fees tacked onto the base price), data caps, overage charges, speed, latency, packet loss, and so on.

ISPs aren't required to use these labels. But they are required to make more specific disclosures as part of transparency requirements in the FCC's net neutrality order, which reclassified Internet providers as common carriers under Title II of the Communications Act. The FCC recommends that ISPs use these labels to comply with the disclosure rules and says use of the labels will act as a "safe harbor" for demonstrating compliance. However, ISPs can come up with their own format if they still make all the required disclosures in "an accurate, understandable, and easy-to-find manner," the FCC said today.

The labels were approved unanimously by the FCC's Consumer Advisory Committee, a group with both consumer advocates and industry representatives. ISPs on the committee include CenturyLink, Verizon, and T-Mobile USA. The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), the primary lobby group for the cable industry, is also on the committee.

But carriers are already pushing back against the labels. CTIA, which represents the major mobile broadband companies, argued that the provisions in its voluntary code of conduct are sufficient. "While we appreciate that these labels will serve as a ‘safe harbor’ under the Open Internet transparency rules, CTIA members already provide disclosure and transparency as part of the Consumer Code for Wireless Service," the group said. "The competitive nature of the wireless broadband market does more for consumers than regulation can hope to achieve.”

Here's a look at sample labels the FCC released:



FCC

The disclosures should help customers learn the full cost of Internet service before purchasing it, the FCC said. "The FCC receives more than 2,000 complaints annually about surprise fees associated with consumers’ Internet service bills," the commission's announcement said. "The actual prices paid for broadband-related services can be as much as 40 percent greater than what is advertised after taxes and fees are added to a bill, according to consumer complaints to the Commission. With the average monthly cost of broadband service ranging between $60 and $70, consumers deserve to know what they are going to get for their money."

There should be "no surprises after you buy," FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said at an announcement event.

The NCTA issued a statement on the new labels, saying, "In today’s competitive marketplace, cable Internet providers are committed to providing consumers with accessible and relevant information about broadband services. We appreciate this contribution by the Commission to offer consumers that same information in a format they are familiar with."

The new disclosure rules aren't actually in effect yet. Even though the net neutrality order was approved more than a year ago, the transparency portion requires an additional approval by the Office of Management and Budget to comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act.

"The labels will officially operate as a safe harbor after the Office of Management and Budget gives final approval of the enhancements to the transparency rule adopted in the 2015 Open Internet Order—though providers may choose to use the labels for disclosure to consumers at any time," the FCC said.

One other complication: Broadband providers are trying to get the whole net neutrality order overturned in court. (UPDATE: The FCC tells us that the enhanced transparency rules would not be targeted in any court ruling because that part of the net neutrality order was "not argued against in any court brief." But court filings from broadband groups asked judges to vacate the FCC's entire order, without specifying any sections that should be left in place.)

The fees disclosed on the labels include modem charges, activation fees, installation fees, and early termination fees. The labels also have a section for "network management" to disclose whether speeds are throttled by the provider in certain circumstances. The net neutrality rules ban throttling but have an exception for "reasonable network management," such as for preventing congestion. Wheeler has criticized mobile carriers for throttling unlimited data plans, and the commission is trying to collect a $100 million fine from AT&T for throttling without adequately notifying customers about reduced speeds.

The commission is also examining a T-Mobile program that throttles video, while exempting many video services from data caps. Customers are informed about the reduced speeds and can turn the feature off, leading some legal experts to believe that the program doesn't violate net neutrality rules.