FCC warns ISPs to play straight

Today, the FCC told Internet Service Providers that the commission is insisting that the ISPs “… must disclose accurate information about their service offerings and make this information accessible to the public.”

Despite the 2011 Open Internet Transparency Rule, many consumers have found that there is a large and uncertain gap between advertised and actual up and download Internet speeds.

The FCC reiterates that, “Under the rule, all disclosures that broadband Internet access providers make about their network management practices, performance, and commercial terms of broadband services must be accurate.”

In fact, as Speed Matters reported last month, “… some providers showed significant room for improvement, particularly with respect to consistency of speeds.”

And if ISPs fail to meet that standard of transparency? The FCC said, “Parties that violate the Transparency Rule may be subject to Commission enforcement, potentially including monetary penalties as set out in Section 503(b) of the Communications Act.”

In comment, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said:

“Consumers deserve to get the broadband service they pay for. After today, no broadband provider can claim they didn’t know we were watching to see that they disclose accurate information about the services they provide… We expect providers to be fully transparent about the details of their services, and we will hold them accountable if they fall down on this obligation to consumers.”

Be sure to test out your own down and upload speeds with the Speed Matters Speed Test.

Broadband providers must disclose accurate information to protect consumers (FCC, Jul. 23, 2014)

FCC reports say some ISPs miss speed targets (Speed Matters, Jun. 19, 2014)

Tom Wheeler on Open Internet Transparency Rule Enforcement Advisory (FCC, Jul. 23, 2014)

Speed Matters Speed Test