OTI Releases Standardized Broadband Disclosure Proposal

Today, New America’s Open Technology Institute published a report titled Broadband Truth-in-Labeling: Empowering Consumer Choice Through Consumer Disclosure. The report updates a proposal first made by OTI in 2009 for a nutrition-label-like standardized disclosure for broadband service packages that would enable consumers to more easily understand and compare available Internet service offerings.

In one sheet, OTI’s proposed label format enables a consumer to quickly glean the key facts about a given Internet service plan. The label visually highlights the most salient information for consumers (such as total monthly fees, average speed during peak hours, and the length of contract), while also providing a more granular breakdown of details (including monthly taxes, the cost of the router, and average latency).

OTI’s proposed label for broadband providers comes as the FCC and its Consumer Advisory Committee are working to develop a standardized disclosure format, a process that arose out of new transparency rules passed as part of the February Open Internet Order.

A copy of the report can be found here, and a blog post with more information about the release can be found here.

The following can be attributed to Laura Moy, Senior Policy Counsel of New America’s Open Technology Institute:

“Just as consumers comparing foods in the grocery store benefit from standardized nutrition labels, consumers comparing Internet service packages would benefit from standardized broadband disclosures. That’s why the FCC and its Consumer Advisory Committee are working to develop a standardized disclosure format—a process we hope will benefit from our updated proposal.”

The following can be attributed to Emily Hong, Program Associate of New America’s Open Technology Institute:

“Our design aims to quickly and efficiently give consumers the facts they need to make informed decisions, without overwhelming them with unhelpful fine print. We hope that the proposed form will work to empower consumers shopping for Internet service in the United States, and perhaps in turn, spur more competition and innovation in the home Internet market.”