Canada's Internet UBB, People Do Not Like It
For me, I can not believe Canadian Telecommunication Commission can make this kind of decision, A advanced country can make a "backward" rule. At least, all of the people which I know do not like it, some people say it is very stuxxd .
OK, let us get to know what the UBB is first:
Background:
Usage-based billing (UBB): words that can elicit strong emotions, especially from heavy users of the internet who signed up for unlimited plans with some of the smaller players on the market. These smaller players built their business model around offering unlimited internet access plans at lower prices than the big carriers like Bell, Rogers and Telus. Companies like Teksavvy and MTS Allstream rent internet access from Bell and then resell it to consumers or businesses at a discount.
On May 6, 2010, the CRTC approved an application from Bell Canada to bill internet customers, both retail and wholesale, based on how much they download each month.
On Jan. 25, 2011, the CRTC ruled that Bell had to offer its wholesale customers a 15 per cent discount off the usage-based billing rates it charged its retail customers. (from CBC news: Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2011/01/31/f-faq-usage-based-billing.html#ixzz1CgVaT17l)
Usage-based billing for Gateway Access Services and third-party Internet access services _ In this decision, the Commission determines that usage-based billing rates for an incumbent telephone carrier’s wholesale residential Gateway Access Services or equivalent services, and for an incumbent cable carrier’s third-party Internet access services, are to be established at a discount of 15 percent from the carrier’s comparable usage-based billing rates for its retail Internet services._
Implementation
- CNOC requested a minimum period of 90 days for implementation. The Bell companies submitted that implementation of the determinations in this decision must not delay the implementation of wholesale UBB rates as set out in Telecom Decision 2010-802. The Bell companies also submitted that they would require 60 days from the date of this decision to implement any required changes to their billing systems.
- The Commission notes that wholesale UBB rates were approved for the Bell companies in Telecom Decision 2010-255, which was issued on 6 May 2010. The Commission considers that wholesale UBB rates for GAS should be implemented by the Bell companies without undue delay. The Commission considers that the Bell companies’ proposed period for the implementation of discounted wholesale UBB rates is unduly long.
- Accordingly, the Commission directs the Bell companies, as well as cable carriers with tariffed UBB rates for TPIA services, to implement discounted wholesale UBB rates on the basis set out in this decision, by 1 March 2011. The Commission further directs carriers whose wholesale tariffs contain UBB rates to issue revised tariffs reflecting the determinations in this decision, by 1 March 2011.
People fight:
Many internet users want to fight with this rule, Here some links which you might want to see:
1: Stop The Meter On Your Internet Use