March 19, 2025: Deadline for Mid-size and Small Video Providers to Implement New “All-in” Price Display Requirements

March 19, 2025: Deadline for Mid-size and Small Video Providers to Implement New “All-in” Price Display Requirements

Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted new rules that require video/cable operators and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) providers to show a single line item on customer’s bills that contains the total price for all charges related to video programming services (known as the “all-in” price). If the cable/video or DBS provider uses marketing materials stating a price, the marking material must also show the “all-in” price.

The FCC established a December 19, 2024, deadline for the largest video/cable and DBS providers (those with annual receipts of more than $47 million) to implement the new rules. Mid-size and smaller video/cable operators have until March 19, 2025, to implement these changes. JSI strongly recommends that your company immediately begins preparing for these changes, if it hasn’t done so already, by reaching out to your billing vendor to ensure that the “all-in” pricing is in place prior to the March billing cycle. If you include prices on your marketing materials, you should also reach out to those who handle those materials to ensure a smooth transition.

New “All-In” Pricing Requirements

The Television Viewer Protection Act of 2019 (TVPA) set initial requirements for billing transparency. The FCC has now built upon these requirements with new rules that change how video programming prices must be shown to customers, requiring providers to combine various programming charges into a single line item.

Under the new rules, providers must:

• Show the total price for video programming as one line item on bills
• Display the total video programming charge in any promotional materials that include pricing
• Clearly state when prices are promotional and how long the promotion lasts
• Tell customers what their new rate will be 60 and 30 days before any promotional period ends

These requirements apply to both standalone video services and the video portion of bundled service packages. While providers may continue to itemize individual components of the total price for transparency, they must also prominently display the “all-in” charge for video. Amounts beyond those charged to the consumer for the video programming, such as taxes, administrative fees, equipment fees, franchise fees, or other such charges, are excluded from the “all-in” rule.

Additional Guidance

Our team is ready to help you understand how these rules apply to your company and develop practical solutions that work for you and your customers. Please direct any questions regarding the “All-In” rules to Lans Chase or Kim Waldvogel.