A federal consumer protection watchdog agency declared on Wednesday that it has finalized regulations mandating cable and satellite providers to exhibit an “all-in” price for video programming on consumers’ bills and promotional materials.
The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) final rules closely resemble those initially proposed by the agency last year. The commission is slated to vote on the adoption of the new requirement during its forthcoming March 14 open meeting.
“We’re striving to ensure that the advertised price for a service aligns with the price on consumers’ bills,” affirmed FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement.
“By doing so, we aim not only to mitigate cost confusion and simplify the process of comparing services for consumers but also to foster competition among cable and broadcast satellite providers through enhanced price transparency,” Rosenworcel added.
The commission, in December, voted to ratify a proposal prohibiting cable and satellite companies from imposing early termination fees. Furthermore, the agency is preparing to enforce a new labeling format for broadband internet service providers, commencing in April.
This week’s finalized FCC rule is the most recent among a series of new regulations implemented by the federal government, all aimed at eradicating what the Biden administration terms “junk fees”—undefined or last-minute costs imposed on consumers, often towards the conclusion of an online transaction.
This initiative is one that President Joe Biden has long championed.
“Far too often, these companies bury additional junk fees within customer bills under the guise of ‘broadcast TV’ or ‘regional sports’ fees, which in reality fund no additional services,” remarked Biden in a June 2023 statement regarding the proposed FCC rule.
“These fees significantly inflate customer bills: according to one report, they augment customer bills by nearly 25% of the base service price,” Biden emphasized.
