CRTC vs small ISP

[Topaz]

Here we go again with the large corp. like Bell and Rogers wanting more money from the small ISPs, that could lead to a increase to their customers or drive the smaller ISP out of business. This would leave most of the smaller ISP customers to go to Bell or Rogers or who ever is available to them. There isn't an election coming up so I think customers won't get any help from the government this time around but those customers who have Bell or Rogers say for wireless could end their contract with them and hit them in the pocket book. What will the CRTC will do will be announced today around 4PM. http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2011/11/14/technology-usage-based-internet-billing.html

[Boges]

Here we go again with the large corp. like Bell and Rogers wanting more money from the small ISPs, that could lead to a increase to their customers or drive the smaller ISP out of business. This would leave most of the smaller ISP customers to go to Bell or Rogers or who ever is available to them. There isn't an election coming up so I think customers won't get any help from the government this time around but those customers who have Bell or Rogers say for wireless could end their contract with them and hit them in the pocket book. What will the CRTC will do will be announced today around 4PM. http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2011/11/14/technology-usage-based-internet-billing.html

I'm curious if BubberMiley will comment on this issue since Small ISP providers allow people to download all their content pretty much for free.

Bell and Rogers own those lines they should be able to charge what they want for access to those lines.

[Shwa]

Bell and Rogers own those lines they should be able to charge what they want for access to those lines.

Not quite. They may own the hardware, but they are only licensed to operate it. The Telecommunications Act says,

Just and reasonable rates

27. (1) Every rate charged by a Canadian carrier for a telecommunications service shall be just and reasonable.

Unjust discrimination

(2) No Canadian carrier shall, in relation to the provision of a telecommunications service or the charging of a rate for it, unjustly discriminate or give an undue or unreasonable preference toward any person, including itself, or subject any person to an undue or unreasonable disadvantage.

Questions of fact

(3) The Commission may determine in any case, as a question of fact, whether a Canadian carrier has complied with section 25, this section or section 29, or with any decision made under section 24, 25, 29, 34 or 40.

Burden of proof

(4) The burden of establishing before the Commission that any discrimination is not unjust or that any preference or disadvantage is not undue or unreasonable is on the Canadian carrier that discriminates, gives the preference or subjects the person to the disadvantage.

Method

(5) In determining whether a rate is just and reasonable, the Commission may adopt any method or technique that it considers appropriate, whether based on a carrier’s return on its rate base or otherwise.

[Boges]

So what's the definition of a reasonable rate? And who decides that?

Your link doesn't specify.

$30 for like 300 gigs/month might not be considered reasonable for Bell or Rogers.

Edited November 15, 2011 by Boges

[Shwa]

So what's the definition of a reasonable rate? And who decides that?

Your link doesn't specify.

See the OP.

[dre]

I'm curious if BubberMiley will comment on this issue since Small ISP providers allow people to download all their content pretty much for free.

Bell and Rogers own those lines they should be able to charge what they want for access to those lines.

When companies like Bell and Rogers were granted regional rights by the government to manage telecomm infrastructure the deal was that they would play by our rules and manage this piece of national infrastructure in a way that benefits the public.

We have a right to make whatever rules we think will benefit us. If they use this infrastructure in a way that harms us, bye bye license

Edited November 15, 2011 by dre

[cybercoma]

I can't even talk rationally about our telecommunications and internet market. It's among some of the worst in the world.

[Shwa]

and... the ruling is in...

CRTC offers compromise on usage-based billing

Small companies selling internet services will likely be paying for download speed under a decision announced by Canada’s telecommunications regulator.

The companies, which buy their internet services from larger established providers such as Rogers and Bell, were fighting an application to the CRTC by Bell to charge more to wholesale customers.

The CRTC's decision, announced Tuesday, gives established providers two options for charging independent internet service providers — a flat rate or a rate based on capacity and the number of users.

Bell had asked to be able to charge based on the total volume of internet data used by its wholesale customers. The regulator rejected that model.

Which is essentially the same billing scheme that Bell and Rogers off to their customers. Ah, to a degree I suppose for those that have quotas...

[MiddleClassCentrist]

This is a huge sham. The true play behind this is trying to eliminate competition using the internet as a media delivery medium.

The internet is the only data connection you need.

You do not need a separate TV connection.

You do not need a separate Telephone connection.

The internet can provide all three dirt cheap, transfered as data.

But you need bandwidth. Limit bandwidth, kill the competition.

This is an example of the heavy weights abusing their power, largely built on public subsidies/investment, to keep innovative delivery methods out of the marketplace.

Edited November 16, 2011 by MiddleClassCentrist

[MiddleClassCentrist]

I'm curious if BubberMiley will comment on this issue since Small ISP providers allow people to download all their content pretty much for free.

Bell and Rogers own those lines they should be able to charge what they want for access to those lines.

Bell and Rogers received subsidies to put those lines in place... They should pay them back before they think of doing any more gouging of the competition.

Edited November 17, 2011 by MiddleClassCentrist