Canadian Government reverses CRTC decision, and saves the internet

[Blind Sight]

Austrailia has it bad. You guys? What the hell are you complaining about?

Well, there is the fact that Bell and Rogers own 95% of the internetz in Canada, and this ruling would've served to cripple smaller providers so they could get even more of a monopoly. So yeah, it's largely an action to ensure that small businesses can actually be competitive, rather then having the big companies use legislation to ensure their dominance.

Ok that's nice and all but are they planning on doing anything about the current internet caps that the big providers have now?

Yes, they are letting you go with another smaller company if you want. Free market and all...

Yes I am well aware that I could switch to a smaller company however since all my services are currently with Rogers I get a discount that I would rather not lose

The difference is that with this ruling Bell was attempting to control the way smaller companies did business. I would be just as against attempting to force big companies to provide better caps, it's very hard for the larger companies to do cheaply, and the higher caps of small providers ensures that they can remain competitive. So one you look at it, regulation forcing big companies to change their caps is largely useless to both the business and the individual. As someone stated before, if you want a higher internet cap, switch to a small provider.

 

[AceDiamond]

Austrailia has it bad. You guys? What the hell are you complaining about?

We have it awesome. We intend to keep it that way, thank you.

Yeah I don't get why people from other countries can't wrap it around their heads that just because their Internet billing structure is a shit sandwich doesn't mean that Canada should share in their misery.

Furthermore I think maybe said other countries might want to start doing something about their shit-sandwich Internet instead of hoping other countries go their way (because frankly, that would just suck)

 

[Torrasque]

I don't really feel like rioting atm.

You would riot over your monthly bills?

I would riot over someone telling me that I have to pay extra to access unlimited knowledge.

 

[SimuLord]

Steam + Netflix On Demand + Usage Based Billing System = bad for Canadians. Praise the gods for Harper.

 

[lacktheknack]

Austrailia has it bad. You guys? What the hell are you complaining about?

I don't believe in spreading the misery around, myself.

 

[Archangel768]

Don't move to Australia then. We pay $70 a month for 50gb of usage. Both upload and download included in that. We used to pay up until a few months ago $90 for 25gb per month. Not only do we pay for that, our speed is really slow compared to other developed countries.

What? Several years ago I was paying $50/mth for 40/40/40 (down-peak/down-off peak/up) on 1.5Mbps ADSL... then a few years after that I was paying $80/mth for 60/60/60 on ADSL2+. Now I'm paying $100/mth for 200Gb all up on 30Mbps cable. Internet is Australia is bad but it's not as bad as you say it is.

Yea, we could be getting 200GB for $90 at the moment. Parents pay for it all so they chose the $70 50GB plan. If we had the 200GB I really don't see why we would go over it. But, from what I hear from other people talking about internet in other countries, usage limits aren't as much as an issue, it's cheaper and the speed is supposed to be much faster. This is what I have heard, haven't gone to other countries though, so this is purely from what other people have told me.

 

[Mr.Numbers]

In my area I'm limited to 12 GB a month with a peak download of 500mb/s (Fast at least )
It's because all the internet is being guzzled by the nearby highschool.

So I get crappy Telstra connection which goes down randomly because repairs are cheaper than maintanence and a teensy limit.

At least it comes with Cable TV so

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

What do you need more than 95gb of internet for a month? Like, reasonably? How many legal undertakings do you need more than 95gb of internet for?

Five people live in my house. All of us are students. We pay 55 quid for a 60gb limit. Four of us play World of Warcraft. Even when, in one month, three members of the household decided to download the WoW client we have never gone over our information budget.

Austrailia has it bad. You guys? What the hell are you complaining about?

you obviously don't use it that much then

steam + netflix + school projects (some of the programs can eat up memory, like a fucking brontosaurus) can destroy that 60 gb limit, hell i personally know i go over that alone a few times a year, and thats me personally let alone my 3 other roommates.

and yes other countries have it bad, but doesn't mean others don't want to keep the awesome that they have.

 

[Antari]

Wow, the government shouldn't have to protect us from the CRTC. Yet, this is not the first time it's happened, either.

Yep, I'm waiting for next week's lightening strike of brilliance from them.

 

[Aiedail256]

One problem that hasn't been addressed yet in this thread is the fact that all the small providers actually buy their own services from Bell, on account of the insane start-up cost of getting an ISP line directly to Microsoft (basically THE hub of the internet). One such provider that I know of that is now almost big enough to strike out on its own is TekSavvy. Their service also rocks: right now I'm getting 6Mb/s down, 25GB/month for $32/month from Bell ("ZOMG only 25?" I make it work...somehow), and I could get 5M down, 200GB cap from TekSavvy for the same price; the only reason I'm not switching is because I'm going to university this fall and the rest of my family sleeps easier with a big-name company behind their services. Plus, they would never, EVER break even that cap without me in the house; they're not big 'net users at all.

 

[Torrasque]

One problem that hasn't been addressed yet in this thread is the fact that all the small providers actually buy their own services from Bell, on account of the insane start-up cost of getting an ISP line directly to Microsoft (basically THE hub of the internet). One such provider that I know of that is now almost big enough to strike out on its own is TekSavvy. Their service also rocks: right now I'm getting 6Mb/s down, 25GB/month for $32/month from Bell ("ZOMG only 25?" I make it work...somehow), and I could get 5M down, 200GB cap from TekSavvy for the same price; the only reason I'm not switching is because I'm going to university this fall and the rest of my family sleeps easier with a big-name company behind their services. Plus, they would never, EVER break even that cap without me in the house; they're not big 'net users at all.

Yep.
The big problem that had me worried about the CRTC's decision was the fact that Bell and Telus control more than 90% of the internets here in Canada.
Just about every other internet provider in the country, gets their internet through Bell/Telus.

So if Bell/Telus introduced useage-based billing at all, everyone else down the ladder, would as well.

 

[Bullfrog1983]

Thank you Mr. Stephen Harper.
Thank you =)

As I recall it was pretty much the entire canadian government who didn't want it to happen - not to mention the hundreds of thousands of people petitioning against it.

 

[Torrasque]

Thank you Mr. Stephen Harper.
Thank you =)

As I recall it was pretty much the entire canadian government who didn't want it to happen - not to mention the hundreds of thousands of people petitioning against it.

/facepalm
I know this.
But I also know that if he says "nope", then it won't go through.
lol, I've signed the petition multiple times, and gotten everyone I know to sign it.
I just think it cool to see our government work for once.

 

[fordneagles]

Don't move to Australia then. We pay $70 a month for 50gb of usage. Both upload and download included in that. We used to pay up until a few months ago $90 for 25gb per month. Not only do we pay for that, our speed is really slow compared to other developed countries. Sounds like you have great internet over there.

Jeez mate, change providers. I live in Australia, I pay $90 a month for 200GB on peak and 200GB off peak (my housemate and I are both gamers). I do agree with you about the speed though. But it's ok! We're getting the NBN! Oh wait, no, election drawcard, my bad... :|

Seriously, people who run these sorts of things should ask their kids what the best idea is, they'd know better

 

[aegix drakan_v1legacy]

...YESSSS! This is good news. Glad to see our government actually do something productive! Props to everyone who raised their voices, and props to Harper for putting his foot down. I may not be a supporter of the conservatives, but hey, he DEFINITELY deserves credit for this.

The ultimatum sets the stage for an awkward appearance before a parliamentary committee Thursday by Konrad von Finckenstein, chairman of the CRTC, who will now be making his public remarks with a threat hanging over his head.

Wait...Konrad von FINCKENSTEIN?! ....What a name... I bet he's NOT looking forward to that meeting...

 

[WolfEdge]

"Extray! Extray! Read all about it! Canadian government drops hammer! Saves internet!"

I don't know why that's so funny, but I've been giggling to myself for a good three minutes now.

 

[Rhaff]

As you all may have heard in the last week, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has been moving to make all internets in Canada, run on a useage-based billing system.
And as you all may have thought, that kind of thing would just be really really stupid; I mean, charging people based on how much they use the internet? Come on, the internet is the last free place anyone can go to, and having to pay MORE to get access to unlimited knowledge is just lame.

Thankfully, the Canadian government has stepped in, and is dropping the hammer on the CRTC!

[link]http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Harper+Conservatives+quash+CRTC+decision+killing+unlimited+Internet/4214166/story.html[/link]
The above article states that unless the CRTC reverses their actions themselves, the Canadian government will do it for them.

Thank you Mr. Stephen Harper.
Thank you =)

In other news:

Spoiler

Great to see that there still are some governments that listen to their citizens and not the corporations.