Lately, haven't you found internet bills to be way too complicated? 💭
It's not just the base fee - all those "service charges" and "additional fees" that keep popping up are actually becoming quite a problem ✨
This is about the US, but internet service providers (ISPs) have apparently added so many different fees "here and there" that it's become extremely difficult to show customers a complete list of all charges 😳
So the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has decided to drop the rule requiring providers to list all fees.
What Exactly Was the FCC Rule?
Simply put, it was a rule that required companies to "properly show customers the breakdown of charges."
Thanks to this rule, customers were protected from:
- "Wait, it's this expensive?"
- "What exactly is this fee for?"
and other unclear charges 📌
But ISPs have added so many fees that listing them all has apparently become incredibly difficult 💦
Why ISPs Started Saying "We Can't List Them All!"
The reason there are so many fees is that companies want to make the base price look cheap, so they charge various additional fees separately 🥺
For example...
- Facility usage fees
- Contract fees
- Network equipment maintenance costs
- Support fees
And so on - by giving them different names and charging them separately, the list apparently grows to dozens of items.
ISPs seem to be saying "If we list everything, customers will get confused and we can't manage it either!" 💭
How Does This Affect Users?
Honestly, it's annoying when charges become less transparent...
But I can kind of understand the ISPs' point too.
If there are so many fees that just creating a list is a huge hassle, wouldn't users also end up thinking "What's what?" 🤔
Still, reduced fee transparency is concerning, so this is definitely something to watch 💡
Summary: How Will Internet Fee "Display" Change Going Forward?
- The FCC is dropping the requirement to display all detailed fees
- ISPs have added so many fees that listing them all has become overwhelming
- Users might face reduced fee transparency, but "overly complex fee charts" are also problematic
It makes you realize that internet fees, while very familiar in our daily lives, actually involve some pretty complicated battles happening behind the scenes 😆✨
I hope we'll get a more understandable billing system going forward 🌸
Hatena
Comments
ハンナ
This administration is the most anti-consumer ever.
グレース
Apparently the FCC head wants to eliminate the requirement for ISPs to show all fee breakdowns.
ノーラン
If explaining the fees is too much trouble, then stop charging them.
ロバート
My ISP only charges 30 euros for internet connection, nothing else.
クリス
If you think about it, if it's hard to write down, it should be hard to bill too.
ジョージ
In the end, it's probably the rich people's party and power siding with ISPs.
サラ
They probably don't even know all their own fees because it's too complicated, and customers just shouldn't complain about being charged more than expected every month.
ロバート
Rural ISPs do it properly, so the big ones should be able to too.
ハンナ
Try printing out the fee list.
サム
Americans will soon be trapped in subscription hell with no way to cancel, paying $2 million for Amazon Prime or becoming slaves.
ジャック
I don't understand this month's charges so I'm not paying, though they'll probably force it.
ノーラン
If 'listing all fees is too hard,' then just stop charging those fees.
レオ
'Writing down fees is hard' → 'Then let's reduce fees' - that's the conversation, right?
リリー
In 2022 I was charged roaming fees, but when I inquired, nobody could explain it.
ロバート
When I said 'Why is this my problem?' they investigated properly and the charge was indeed a mistake.
クリス
If there's no evidence, there's no obligation to pay, and the contract is clear.
グレース
There's no such thing as 'other fees' unless ordered by a court.
エイダン
They waive fees sometimes too, but I don't need ISPs anymore. With 5G I can get internet throughout my house, I'll switch soon.
