Are you tired of TV providers advertising one price but charging another because of hidden fees? You may not have to put up with this practice for long. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed the requirement that cable and satellite television services “clearly and conspicuously” display the true cost of services both in their marketing and on subscriber bills. Companies could not disguise programming costs as a fee that only shows up on your invoice, hiding it behind vague or potentially misleading terms.
The measure is designed to help customers make truly informed choices about TV subscriptions, including comparisons with streaming services. The move could also help boost competition between providers and help cash-strapped families avoid nasty surprises, FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworsel said.
The proposal came a few months after President Biden. called government agencies to crack down on “garbage fees” and otherwise demand more transparent pricing for services and events. The FCC itself recently said it would need broadband “power labels” that display prices and typical specifications. Seen in this light, TV price transparency efforts are basically an extension that can tell you exactly how much you’ll be paying for a multi-service bill.
The offer came at the wrong time for the traditional TV giants. Last summer, U.S. streaming TV viewing (including live and on-demand) overtook cable TV for the first time. While Internet-only services are not always more cost effective than cable and satellite equivalents, increased transparency may prevent traditional companies from artificially minimizing differences.