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FCC unveils new labels to make it easier to shop for Internet service

FCC Internet Service Label (FCC)

It may read like a nutrition label you would see on a bag of chips, but this label has nothing to do with what you eat.

The Federal Communications Commission is hoping to change the way you shop for Internet service and help you avoid any surprises when it's time to pay the bills.

The agency is out with new voluntary broadband labels that will break down all sorts of information about Internet service.

That includes prices, speeds, data caps, as well as any add-on fees that could show up on a monthly bill.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler says the labels should simplify things for consumers.

"Hidden fees have no place to hide. The surprise of when you open your first bill and you say, 'That wasn't what I was expecting,' won't happen any more because everything is laid out," Wheeler says.

The FCC says the labels fulfill the goals of the 2015 Open Internet Order, because they provide information in plain language that is easy to understand, without being overwhelming.