The Federal Communications Commission’s Media Bureau has announced the dates for comments on whether the FCC should extend the effective date of the new truth-in-billing requirements added by the Television Viewer Protection Act of 2019 (TVPA), which become effective June 20, 2020. Section 642 requires multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) to provide consumers with a breakdown of all charges related to the MVPD’s video service before entering into a contract with a consumer for service, gives consumers 24 hours in which to cancel such service without penalty, requires greater transparency in electronic bills, and prohibits MVPDs and providers of fixed broadband Internet access service from charging consumers for equipment they do not provide. By Public Notice of February 27, 2020, the FCC stated that it may for good cause extend the effective date of the new Truth-in-Billing requirements by six months, and requested comment on whether good cause exists for granting a blanket extension until December 20, 2020. Comments are due by April 6, 2020, and reply comments are due by April 13, 2020.
