Canadian Consumers Won UBB

Canadian Consumers Won UBB (usage-based billing ) plan fighting.

Bell Shifts UBB Pricing Strategy Proposes 'Aggregated Volume Pricing' for ISPs by Karl Bode 17 hours ago tags: business · bandwidth · consumers · Bell Sympatico · Rogers Hi-Speed · TekSavvy DSL Tipped by Gone See Profile Facing angry consumers and stubborn political resistance, Bell has somewhat backed off their usage-based billing (UBB) plan, according to the Globe and Mail. Originally, in addition to the straight cost of connectivity, Bell proposed charging each wholesale ISP an additional fee depending on the amount of data consumed by individual users. Instead, Bell is now proposing an "aggregated volume pricing" scheme, where Bell would charge independent ISPs based on the total volume of data consumed by an ISP's users. Our Canadian broadband forum has a little more detail (Bell's government filings are here), though our resident Canadian users note this is still viewed as double dipping by smaller ISPs, is still a price hike, and doesn't seem like much of a concession in the face of unprecedented backlash.

And also, all consumer who sent email to government to ask "Stop UBB plan" received reply email from government today, the following is the email content:

Dear Sir or Madam: Thank you for expressing your concerns regarding usage-based billing (UBB) for Internet services. It is essential that I hear the views of Canadians on the issues that matter. Prime Minister Harper and I have been clear that we cannot support imposing a UBB business model on wholesale Internet service providers. Our government recognizes that the Internet and digital technologies are an increasingly important part of everyday life—including driving innovation, commerce and social interaction. As the government develops Canada’s first comprehensive Digital Economy Strategy, we need to look carefully at how issues like UBB affect the big picture. We will be guided by our long-standing policies of encouraging competition and investment, increasing consumer choice, minimizing regulation and allowing market forces to prevail.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has chosen to examine these concerns that the government shares with a large number of Canadians. Details of the CRTC consultation are available at www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/com100/2011/r110208.htm.

When the CRTC reaches a final decision following its consultations, the government will carefully assess the CRTC position to ensure that it is in line with the best interests of Canadian consumers and encourages competition among internet service providers. I will be recommending that any decision counter to these foundational principles be reversed. You can find the latest news on the government’s Digital Economy Strategy and related issues at www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ic1.nsf/eng/h_00008.html.

Once again, thank you for writing. I trust that this information is helpful.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Clement