Stop Bell Canada's Ussage Based n

2002 Views 29 Replies 13 Participants Last post by XS Speed, Feb 5, 2011

Snake-Eyes

Discussion Starter · Feb 3, 2011

Hello my online friends.

I'd like to share the following email I just received from my ISP. This affects all Canadian consumers like us. Please do your part to fight this greedy corporation. :mad2::mad2::mad2:

Dear Acanac Customer,

The CRTC just decided to allow Bell Canada to charge independent ISPs, like Acanac Inc., what's called "usage-based billing"(UBB)on our customers.

This means that Bell will force us to pay usages fees similar to those that Bell charges to its own retail customers, when you exceed certain limits. Bell and other Big Telecom companies are obviously trying to gouge consumers, control the Internet market, and ensure that consumers continue to subscribe to their television services.

If we do not fight this you will have no choice but to pay MORE for LESS Internet. This will crush innovative services, Canada's digital competitiveness, and your wallet.

250,000 people across Canada have already signed the petition to stop these companies from charging you more. Signing the petition automatically sends Industry Minister Tony Clement an email. This is our best chance to stop usage-based billing.

Please Sign the Stop The Meter petition at: Stop The Meter On Your Internet Usage Please also help us spread the word to your friends and neighbors.

Please make your voices heard. If we don't stop UBB, as of March 4th, 2011, Acanac will make the following changes to accommodate the charges that will be FORCED on us and subsequently you, our valued customers:

Ontario Residential 5Mbps DSL Plan:
First 25GB at up-to 5Mbps. Beyond 25GB your speeds will be reduced to 100Kbps with unlimited transfer.

If you wish to remain at up-to 5Mbps, you can buy an additional 100GB of transfer for $9.95 per month. Beyond 125GB, speeds will be reduced to 100Kbps with unlimited transfer.

Quebec Residential 5Mbps DSL Plan:
First 60GB at up-to 5Mbps. Beyond 60GB, your speeds will be reduced to 100Kbps with unlimited transfer.

If you wish to remain at up-to 5Mbps, you can buy an additional 100GB of transfer for $9.95 per month. Beyond 160GB speeds will be reduced to 100Kbps with unlimited transfer.

Ontario & Quebec Residential MLPPP DSL Plans:
Same as above but multiply it by the number of lines you have. If you have 2 lines or Home 10Mbps in Ontario, you would get 50GB included and you can buy an additional 200GB for $19.90. Once you reach your allocated transfer, your speeds will be reduced to 100Kbps per line with unlimited transfer. In this scenario you would have a total of 200Kbps after 250GB of usage.

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1 - 20 of 30 Posts

Boozysmurf

· #2 · Feb 3, 2011

We'll see if they follow through, but for once, it looks like Clement is doing the right thing.

CRTC will rescind ‘unlimited use’ Internet decision – or Ottawa will overturn it - The Globe and Mail

I'm not surprised though: the uproar has been monstrous. Looks like I can still switch from Rogers to Teksavvy and actually get something out of it.

Septerra

· #3 · Feb 3, 2011

It would he hilarious if everyone decided to switch from Bell to the smaller ISP's after this. I for one will be doing that once the UBB has been officially reversed.

Until then, its a wait and see if the CRTC counters the argument or the Government forces the reversal of UBB.

RudyH

· #4 · Feb 3, 2011

If you haven't noticed the CRTC is owned in the back pocket by Bell / Rogers and Telus.

CRTC needs to be disbanded and re-created for the 20th century. If was a political party that would be a way to get votes, especially in the much needed demographic.

Tweak

· #5 · Feb 3, 2011

Switching to small ISP's wont help, as they essentially buy bandwith from the larger companies.

The whole idea was that the larger ISP's wanted to charge the smaller guys by usage, thus screwing those using companies like Primus out of unlimited bandwith for a flat rate.

The government has made a statement saying they will overturn the CRTC's decision if they decide to charge per usage.

I have to hand it to the gov't on this one, they're making the right call at this point in time.

Frankly the telecom companies are making enough money at the moment.

Tweak

· #6 · Feb 3, 2011

RudyH said:
If you haven't noticed the CRTC is owned in the back pocket by Bell / Rogers and Telus.

CRTC needs to be disbanded and re-created for the 20th century. If was a political party that would be a way to get votes, especially in the much needed demographic.

The CRTC doesn't have the last say, so it doesn't really matter. And remaking the CRTC won't stop corruption, it simply gives everyone a fair chance at corrupting the new CRTC.

Septerra

· #7 · Feb 3, 2011

I wonder if any of the medium ISP thought of merging together to form a large ISP, and then either lay new lines or buy new lines.

I know it'll be really costly, but in the grand scheme of things, it would add another large ISP that Bell, Telus and Rogers need to contend with, and they would not be using their lines.

grilledcheez

· #8 · Feb 3, 2011

Turns out the Conservatives had already decided that the internet usage limiting proposed by the CRTC has been denied. And if they CRTC wants to go ahead with it, then apparently they have decided they will overturn the CRTC.

So we should be good!

RudyH

· #9 · Feb 3, 2011

Tweak said:
The CRTC doesn't have the last say, so it doesn't really matter. And remaking the CRTC won't stop corruption, it simply gives everyone a fair chance at corrupting the new CRTC.

In Canada we don't argue a CRTC decision unless we are really pissed like now.

For the most part the CRTC has the last say unless they go out of bounds and require a time-out. They slowly degrade our services until Canada is a technology a-hole.

How do you cook a frog? Turn the water to boiling and the frog jumps out. Put the frog in cold water and gradually it gets so hot it cooks the frog without knowing it. How do you cook a Canadian? Same way. Tax'm, inflate'm, screw with their services...there aren't any whistle blowers in Canada to stop them.

I would much rather a lot of people getting in on corruption then 3 multi billion dollar corporations. At least the corruption is spread out so the extremely rich don't push the envelope too far past the poor.

Ronin

· #10 · Feb 3, 2011

RudyH said:
If you haven't noticed the CRTC is owned in the back pocket by Bell / Rogers and Telus.

How is that?

Tweak

· #11 · Feb 3, 2011

RudyH said:
In Canada we don't argue a CRTC decision unless we are really pissed like now.

For the most part the CRTC has the last say unless they go out of bounds and require a time-out. They slowly degrade our services until Canada is a technology a-hole.

How do you cook a frog? Turn the water to boiling and the frog jumps out. Put the frog in cold water and gradually it gets so hot it cooks the frog without knowing it. How do you cook a Canadian? Same way. Tax'm, inflate'm, screw with their services...there aren't any whistle blowers in Canada to stop them.

I would much rather a lot of people getting in on corruption then 3 multi billion dollar corporations. At least the corruption is spread out so the extremely rich don't push the envelope too far past the poor.

I agree with your frog analogy, however, the people getting in on the corruption would not be you as the consumer, it would be the smaller ISP's making the money. The end user in Canada always get's screwed so long as somone is getting paid.

That being said, the CRTC can suck it.

Mcmonopoly

· #12 · Feb 3, 2011

Ronin said:
How is that?

"Owned", meaning large undisclosed sums are "invested" towards good relations between the different bodies...

You know just like how the states have lobbying...

LJ_Gencoupe

· #13 · Feb 3, 2011

Based on what I read on OP's post, does it apply to DSL only?

cowcow

· #14 · Feb 3, 2011 (Edited)

It only applies to dsl for now but if it passes, you know that rogers will push to pass it for cable. I'm so cheesed right now since I'm with Teksavvy for unlimited high speed and they're going to switch me over to 25gb cap dsl...

The reason why Bell pushed for UBB is because Bell has to maintain the control hubs ($$$). The only way smaller ISPs can avoid this is by using/building their own control hubs. ($$$$$$$$$$$$ which alot of smaller ISPs don't have) There is one ISP however in Kitchener/Waterloo that has their own control hubs. On another note, Teksavvy has cable service too (basically Rogers but for less) and has either a 200gb or unlimited cap.

Tweak

· #15 · Feb 3, 2011

cowcow said:
It only applies to dsl for now but if it passes, you know that rogers will push to pass it for cable. I'm so cheesed right now since I'm with Teksavvy for unlimited high speed and they're going to switch me over to 25gb cap dsl...

The reason why Bell pushed for UBB is because Bell has to maintain the control hubs ($$$). The only way smaller ISPs can avoid this is by using/building their own control hubs. ($$$$$$$$$$$$ which alot of smaller ISPs don't have) There is one ISP however in Kitchener/Waterloo that has their own control hubs. On another note, Teksavvy has cable service too (basically Rogers but for less) and has either a 200gb or unlimited cap.

Relax, it wont happen anytime soon.

cowcow

· #16 · Feb 3, 2011

Tweak said:
Relax, it wont happen anytime soon.

My email from Teksavvy says March 1st.

RudyH

· #17 · Feb 3, 2011

I think the major reason they put this in place is simply NetFlix and like services in the way we view media. Grooveshark is another incredible service that has slipped under the CRTC radar, and it's only a matter of time till they are banned in Canada just like Pandora. You read that here first.

Back to video...CRTC is putting a cap on internet to stop companies like this to prosper.

Rogers offers a similar service OnDemand which doesn't use internet...I don't have Bell or equivalent but no doubt has a similar service that by passes you using your data limits.

The consumer, we are drawn to OnDemand as we aren't tied to a cable schedule, and long term 'Rogers Cable' will be next to obsolete since everything is streamed on demand.

It's cheaper for Rogers and Bell to clamp and force you to watch their services rather then going off the globalized NetFlix for example, using the Rogers and Bell infrastructure. So if they can continue to control infrastructure, they can control our media.

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RudyH

· #18 · Feb 3, 2011 (Edited)

Mcmonopoly said:
"Owned", meaning large undisclosed sums are "invested" towards good relations between the different bodies...

You know just like how the states have lobbying...

Exactly, here is an example :

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The commission currently has some jurisdiction over the provision of local landline telephone service in Canada. This is largely limited to the major incumbent carriers, such as Bell Canada and Telus, for traditional landline service (but not Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)). It has begun the gradual deregulation of such services where, in the commission's opinion, a sufficient level of competition exists.[8]"

In other words, since Bell and Telus own the traditional landline system - it has begun a gradual deregulation of such services...after 50+ years of allowing no other competition into Canada.

This is the same thinking for wireless, where FINALLY we see some start-up companies besides Telus / Bell and Rogers, who have their own infrastructure being built.

I fully support the startups except they aren't available here...it's the only way you aren't going to have $100+ cell phone bills and more reasonable $30-40 bills that the Europeans and Americans see.

The CRTC is in place to squash any competition against Canadian Media. Why do you think we have to suffer with Canadian television, like do you watch CBC for anything other then hockey on a Saturday? Likely not.

This is the main reason I hate Canada...our dollar is on par, yet the US has a $0.99 menu at Wendy's and our's is $1.89. Why do we pay almost $1.00 more for the SAME menu? That's a 100% inflation...no one cares, or wants to do anything about it. We can't goto the US as freely every time we have a craving for a Bacon Jr Classic, as we can goto the US and pickup a Genesis Coupe for thousands cheaper (base model $25,000 Cdn vs $22,500 US)...

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Mcmonopoly

· #19 · Feb 3, 2011

RudyH said:
Exactly, here is an example :

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The commission currently has some jurisdiction over the provision of local landline telephone service in Canada. This is largely limited to the major incumbent carriers, such as Bell Canada and Telus, for traditional landline service (but not Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)). It has begun the gradual deregulation of such services where, in the commission's opinion, a sufficient level of competition exists.[8]"

In other words, since Bell and Telus own the traditional landline system - it has begun a gradual deregulation of such services...after 50+ years of allowing no other competition into Canada.

This is the same thinking for wireless, where FINALLY we see some start-up companies besides Telus / Bell and Rogers, who have their own infrastructure being built.

I fully support the startups except they aren't available here...it's the only way you aren't going to have $100+ cell phone bills and more reasonable $30-40 bills that the Europeans and Americans see.

The CRTC is in place to squash any competition against Canadian Media. Why do you think we have to suffer with Canadian television, like do you watch CBC for anything other then hockey on a Saturday? Likely not.

This is the main reason I hate Canada...our dollar is on par, yet the US has a $0.99 menu at Wendy's and our's is $1.89. Why do we pay almost $1.00 more for the SAME menu? That's a 100% inflation...no one cares, or wants to do anything about it. We can't goto the US as freely every time we have a craving for a Bacon Jr Classic, as we can goto the US and pickup a Genesis Coupe for thousands cheaper (base model $25,000 Cdn vs $22,500 US)...

In one way or another, all service providers gouge their customers, I have 3 services from Videotron (internet, Phone and HDTV) and throughout last year we have had to cope with ~15$ PER MONTH total increase in services charges, for products that we have already, nothing new..!!!

Then last Tuesday, I get another invoice,and now they've added another 5$ PER month in additional charges, on the pretext that they offer better service/products than before, but still it's all the same crap...

The problem lies in the fact that the Canadian Telecom Companies reign supreme over the CRTC, plain and simple.

We as a tech oriented society should embrace the digital age, not crush it under elusive control/censorship/favoritism.

Just a note, Big media companies still have so much money and power that they are able to over turn even well establish digital laws...

See the case of Pirate BAY Vs MPAA; The country which the servers were held in had rules protecting the owners of said servers if any inquiries would be made about illicit/protected content and whatnot, only to be ruled out by the local court when the MPAA decided to put his foot($$$) down.

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Boozysmurf

· #20 · Feb 3, 2011

cowcow said:
My email from Teksavvy says March 1st.

That was before the **** hit the fan. Ain't gonna happen now. Liberals, Conservatives, and NDP are united on this one, amazingly, and it's just not going to happen. Period.

Finally, they get one right.

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