Despite opposition from some providers, an internet researcher says the CRTC should move forward with implementing its proposed “nutrition label” requirement to help shoppers compare home internet plans.
The potential policy under consideration by the regulator would make it mandatory for internet service providers to list certain relevant metrics — such as those describing price and speed — of plans they offer through a standardized label.
The concept has been compared to food nutrition labels at grocery stores, which typically list information on serving size and calories in a standardized format.
Concordia University associate professor of information and communication technology Fenwick McKelvey says this would help improve consumer literacy, which “too often relies on marketing and advertising” from individual companies.
He calls it a proactive, necessary step toward boosting the public’s understanding around internet service performance.
Representatives from Rogers Communications Inc., who also appeared Thursday at an ongoing hearing about the issue, told the CRTC the company already provides key information that customers need to know when purchasing a new internet plan, and that the proposed requirement would be redundant and costly to implement.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2025.
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