Internet Metering in Canada

[Bunk]

So the CRTC recently passed something that will now allow the major ISPs in Canada to start "offering" usage based billing. They of course are spinning it as "pay for what you use is fair!". Problem is, it has nothing to do with that - it has everything to do with Netflix. The two biggest ISPs in Canada are also the two biggest cable TV companies.

What makes the story more interesting, is a recent online petition started over it: http://www.StopTheMeter.ca
Normally I think of online petitions as a joke, but this thing has now hit 228,614 signees. As a result, two of the major federal political parties are now coming out against UBB.

[NiX]

Tony Clement is also aware of the issue and reviewing their decision.

Just to specify, the UBB only applies to Bell right now, which affects every small company leasing DSL lines off of them. Rogers, one of the 3 major cable providers, will probably follow suit and petition the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to allow them to do the same. Despite the fact that the CRTC isn't supposed to be defining rates.

At least your Province is taking a stand, Bunk.

[bhodi]

It's a flat anti-competitive measure by Bell. Bell is forcing it's wholesalers to implement 25GB caps, while they are implementing 300GB caps. I've been watching this with a bit of interest myself, even though I'm not canadian.

Here's a good article that talks about the whole situation.

In general, Bell owns the CRTC and forces policy changes for it's own benefit. This is just one of many. I think there's a growing backlash on this particular issue. Here's some funny:

In its May ruling, the CRTC said Bell could not implement its usage-based billing system until it had moved all of its own retail customers off older, unlimited downloading plans. The requirement would have been troublesome for Bell because it would have meant punishing its oldest and most loyal customers.

As another condition, the CRTC also required Bell to offer to wholesale ISPs the same usage insurance plan it sells to retail customers.
...

Bell appealed both requirements

...

the CRTC rescinded both requirements

There are tons of infographs going up about this; people are fairly pissed. Here's one of my favorites:

[NiX]

Funny thing is, Bell did remove customers off of legacy unlimited plans. I've known quite a few people who were switched off the minute their contract went month to month. It's no secret that the CRTC is run by ex-Telco heads and has never really favored real change in the market. The WIND mobile fiasco was a good showing of how ridiculous their justification for rulings can be.

[Bunk]

Just took a look at my internet usage out of curiosity. I am in a household with three internet users, and just started using Netflix in December. My monthly plan is currently at 100 GB.

Nov 15 - Dec 14: 40 GB
Dec 15 - Jan 13:  55.6 GB

Started using Netflix more heavily lately, and my roommates went from one computer to two around Christmas:

Jan 15 - Jan 30: 69.2 GB     Even with the changes, that seems weird... that's only two weeks.

Looking closer, my GB downstream went from 12 GB per week to 20 GB per week, but my upstream went from 1.4 GB per week to 15 GB per week! What the hell!?

Guess I'll be chatting with my roommates tonight.

[ghost]

Has one of them gotten a new girlfriend and possibly some new AV equipment lately?

[Bunk]

Upon further thought, I realized that I stopped shutting my PC down at night a couple weeks ago and have just been putting it in standby. I think I need to hunt around and make sure I'm not inadvertantly seeding torrents 24 hours a day or anything.

[ghost]

Yeah, I try to uninstall torrent software if I don't have to have it to download something.

[fuser]

I have no idea what I'm going to do with 300GB cap, let alone the 25GB cap that most people are getting pushed down to.

On the east coast Eastlink has said they are not going to UBB for 15Mbps plans, every other plan has a 250GB cap. Bell Aliant hasn't said anything yet official, and where my plan was modified last year I'm unable to be grandfathered in. Aliant's web chat said their accounts are unlimited and there is not talk of moving to UBB. I think they are playing coy where they have a strong competition with Eastlink and want to retain as many subscribers as possible. They have already published/established that the new Fiber to home service they are rolling out this year is capped at 250GB like the Eastlink plans they are hoping to transition a larger subscriber base to the new service and have the built-in caps done.

[Oban]

If the actual amount that Rogers and Bell pay for bandwidth is ever publicized, there may be riots in the streets.

Of course the fact that the two of them had profits just under four billion dollars last year is lost on most Canadians, so meh.

[NiX]

Just going to leave this here...

[Bandit]

My buddy just contacted me about this and he just got off the phone with Teksavvy and he was on a $34/200 gig plan (DSL), and that has dropped to 25 gigs.  They explained to him that Rogers has already filed for UBB on Cable and we are most likely to see that in June.  I was just looking into Teksavvy this week  

I have no issues with UBB and maybe it should be treated like any other utility (hydro, gas, etc) but maybe the price needs to be regulated until there is more competition other than Bell, Rogers, Shaw....but they have ultimately just killed that competition.

[bhodi]

Just going to leave this here...

I know canadians love to emulate us americans, but this is just ridiculous.

[fuser]

We're very concerned about CRTC's decision on usage-based billing and it impact on consumers. PM has asked for a review of the decision.
about 3 hours ago via Twitter

Communications Director to Prime Minister Stephen Harper

[Oban]

I have no issues with UBB and maybe it should be treated like any other utility (hydro, gas, etc) but maybe the price needs to be regulated until there is more competition other than Bell, Rogers, Shaw....but they have ultimately just killed that competition.

Be careful what you wish for, Bell and Rogers would love to have their CRTC set prices. 

[NiX]

I know canadians love to emulate us americans, but this is just ridiculous.

Pfft, you edited it in. Didn't see it when I first read your post.

My buddy just contacted me about this and he just got off the phone with Teksavvy and he was on a $34/200 gig plan (DSL), and that has dropped to 25 gigs.  They explained to him that Rogers has already filed for UBB on Cable and we are most likely to see that in June.  I was just looking into Teksavvy this week 

I have no issues with UBB and maybe it should be treated like any other utility (hydro, gas, etc) but maybe the price needs to be regulated until there is more competition other than Bell, Rogers, Shaw....but they have ultimately just killed that competition.

As far as I understand it, there's no way there can be competition and there's a reason we only have the big 3 right now. The regulations for upstarts is crazy and I recall reading there are strict rules on the ability to drop new lines in Canada, especially when it will generate stiff competition for the existing Telecos.

[Oban]

Obtaining rights-of-way and in-building access are the ISP killers in Canada, unless you just want to be a reseller.

[NiX]

Harper Government set to review the decision and decide by March 1 if they'll accept, reject or require a review of the ruling.

[Fordel]

Funny thing is, Bell did remove customers off of legacy unlimited plans. I've known quite a few people who were switched off the minute their contract went month to month. It's no secret that the CRTC is run by ex-Telco heads and has never really favored real change in the market. The WIND mobile fiasco was a good showing of how ridiculous their justification for rulings can be.

Is this why Bell keeps offering to "upgrade" my service to their new fiber thinger?  Yea sales rep, I'll surely give up my unlimited plan for your amazing 40gig cap woo! 

[SnakeCharmer]

Retarded.

I still can't get my head around the fact that this is some sort of limited, low production commodity or how their costs go up if I download 1TB in a month versus 10GB.

[NiX]

Is this why Bell keeps offering to "upgrade" my service to their new fiber thinger?  Yea sales rep, I'll surely give up my unlimited plan for your amazing 40gig cap woo! 

Yup, they swindled a lot of people onto very limited plans.

Also, that new fiber service still runs on telephone lines from your house to them. Might go out from there on fiber, but leading up to you? Nope.

[Krakrok]

I pay 5 cents a gig on server hosting. At those prices it's cheaper to rent a VPS, remote desktop in, and have the host snailmail you backups.

[Bandit]

There are tons of infographs going up about this; people are fairly pissed. Here's one of my favorites:

http://www.canadiandownload.com/

Disclaimer: We are unable to download and ship pornography, copyrighted information, or anything else that could get us in the shit. Also be mindful that we are just two regular guys in America and it might take us a hot minute to send you your stuff. We'll try to email when we ship out your download, but no promises.

[Oban]

I pay 5 cents a gig on server hosting.

You're paying too much.

[NiX]

Live stream on CPAC of CRTC/UBB hearing.

[SnakeCharmer]

Well there goes your GB allowance for the month   

[NiX]

Nope. I'm streaming from work and the CRTC head said this doesn't affect Small Businesses. Just because.

[NiX]

One of the CRTC reps just stated we can purchase packages with higher gigahertz limits

[Krakrok]

I pay 5 cents a gig on server hosting.

You're paying too much.

I'm all ears for a cheaper no contract CDN.

[Oban]

If you have your own ASN, http://www.torix.net/

[NiX]

Tony Clements twitter is :

In a development rich with irony, I seem to have hit a cap in the number of people I can Follow on Twitter. Am trying to overturn..