Back in 2019, a law was passed to ban hidden fees on cable providers as part of the Television Viewer Protection Act. Now though, cable TV companies are finding ways around the law.
This bill requires pay-TV operators to disclose the total price, including all itemized charges, fees, and estimated taxes, before a customer signs up for a video package, whether offered individually or as part of a bundled service. If this bill passes, consumers will have the right to cancel service without penalty within 24 hours after receiving notice of the total cost at the point of sale. Pay-TV providers will be prohibited from charging consumers fees for equipment they do not use.
The TRUE Fees Act was introduced back in February of 2019 by U.S. Representative Anna Eshoo from California, and Senator Ed Markey, called the “Truth-in-Billing, Remedies, and User Empowerment over Fees Act of 2019’’ or ‘‘TRUE Fees Act of 2019.” If this proposed legislation passes, companies would have to alert a consumer of any increase no later than 21 days before it goes into effect, giving the consumer ample time to cancel the service and/or switch to another cable provider if they choose to. The hope is to put an end to the sudden and often unexpected price hikes that come when promotional offers end.
Now cable TV companies will soon also have to disclose fees on internet service not just TV. The Federal Communications Commission approved the broadband label rules in November of 2022, though the new customer-friendly guidelines have yet to go into effect until the federal Office of Management and Budget reviews the labels as part of the U.S. Paperwork Reduction Act.
Once the review is completed, companies will be required to provide a complete list that outlines all broadband prices, introductory rates, data allowances, internet speeds, and links to more information about ISP’s network management practices and privacy policies.
Sadly there is still a push to make these rules optional. Comcast recently asked the FCC to reword the law to say “ISPs may, but are not obligated” to inform customers of various fees and avoid having to provide them with itemized bills.
Currently, the law would force cable TV companies to disclose internet prices, introductory rates, data allowances, speeds, and include information about their network management practices and privacy policies.
No word yet on when these rules will take effect, but when they do, cable TV customers will hopefully be able to see the full cost of their internet and TV bills. Unless they get the FCC to change their minds on the rules.
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