Vancouver city councillor targets usage-based Internet billing
Vancouver city council will vote on a motion Tuesday (December 14) calling on the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to reverse a decision that allows usage-based billing for Internet service.
Vision Vancouver councillor Andrea Reimer said allowing customers to be billed for each minute or hour they’re using the Internet could lead to unequal access to information and services.
“The less money you have, the less ability you have to access information, to access analysis of that information, and to access all those services,” Reimer told the Straight by phone today (December 13).
“You try and imagine your life without the Internet, or having to calculate how much time you’re going to spend each day based on how much money you have to pay to access it, that would be a very different world for all of us.”
Reimer said she decided to bring the motion forward when she heard about the CRTC decision and became concerned about the potential for an uneven playing field for Internet users and for small Internet service provider companies.
The decision allows Bell Canada to bill independent Internet service providers based on usage, a model which Reimer said translates to increased costs for individual users, particularly when it comes to certain forms of high bandwidth information, such as audio or video.
The organization OpenMedia.ca has been collecting signatures in an online petition calling for a reversal of the decision.
“The more I learned about it, the more concerned I was about what kind of an impact it might have on individual internet users, as well as the smaller ISPs and the tech companies in town that depend on some fair level playing field access to the Internet to be able to come up with innovations and different creative projects that they’ve been working on,” said Reimer.
The councillor said that while the city doesn’t have any jurisdiction over CRTC decisions, they can participate in an appeal process that is open until the end of January.
“As an elected official in this city, there are times when it makes sense to use one’s voice to draw attention to an issue that affects residents and the citizens but over which we don’t have direct control as a council,” she said.
“I would hope that by drawing attention to it, people take the time to write to the CRTC and let them know how they feel about it.”
The motion calls on council to reverse the telecom decision CRTC 2010-255 and to “prevent incumbent ISPs from imposing usage-based billing on the independent ISPs that purchase wholesale broadband”.
You can follow Yolande Cole on Twitter at twitter.com/yolandecole.
Comments
14 Comments
Micah555
Dec 13, 2010 at 2:28pm
Usage based billing is done in Australia. I had a friend end up with a $1000 bill because her son's friend used the computer to download 2 seasons of Entourage. It's a terrible system for a society that is so dependant on the internet and would be a huge blow to people's ability to enjoy the freedoms that fixed cost access allows.
I'm going to write the CRTC right now.
whatthe
Dec 13, 2010 at 2:35pm
not sure if I can trust the CRTC and Bell to establish fair billing for anyone who would subscribe to such a service. Look at how high data plans are for mobile - to me, this seems like a money grab.
glen p robbins
Dec 13, 2010 at 2:52pm
Mainstream news, particularly political news - which I submit is becoming increasingly tied to 'other' news (ie "A new report today on education" - oh christy clark is running - huh) is seen as less trustworthy by more and more of the public. Talking heads are changing as a consequence. The political establishment - federal provincial political governments--national advertisers' voices are fast being diluted by the Internet. Wikileaks recent release -------------------- is scaring the hell out of western governments - and they realize they are losing control.
When a situation occurs like it has in British Columbia, the mainstream becomes absolutely desperate to hold onto the 2 main parties for example knowing they can work with them - but also fearing that if a new group without dependence pops up -- they will take a hammer to the mainstream --- cutting off revenues - treating the news as operatives of the status quo political parties.
The established institutions are trying to pretend they aren't worried - but they are and where they aren't - too bad for them - because its only going to get worse - until and unless they make the necessary changes to be credible to the public - rather than the former arbiters of credibility they once were and still think they are.
News is being judged for its validity by large segments of the public.
This is a good position for Vancouver city council to take - because the Conservative government including James Moore - have an agenda that isn't interested in the public good or fairness.
Every policy that comes out of government regarding the Internet must be viewed with skepticism and a reverse onus that government should prove our doubts to be uncalled for - not passive acceptance - there is scant evidence of either the BC Liberal government or Federal Conservative government being concerned with public interest - scant evidence.
I don't expect other status quo government's including the BC NDP to be any different if elected - until or unless they say so explicitly.
Good start by Vancouver city.
Darc LaRocque
Dec 13, 2010 at 4:47pm
Isn't this exactly what is happening with how the wireless carriers charge us for our cell/smartphones? I know of bills incurred 17K for a few weeks away!
Part of my business is actually helping a company mitigate those costs. It was be crazy to see this happen with the internet but anything to make money. I can add that to services we provide. I will write the CRTC also!
HellSlayerAndy
Dec 13, 2010 at 5:01pm
Jeez....how the mighty have fallin'
Seems like only yesterday many many civic governments were discussing 'public wifi' as a basic service because MORE and MORE services, particularly government, are being offered only Online
...and then Poof!
Now it's reduced to gutless symbolism to cover up the fact that 'centrist' parties don't have anything meaningful to offer anyone anymore...other than free market 'blue sky' and a willingness to limit criticism to their political opponents' only and NOT the globally integrated CORPORATIONS that authored it.
LGM
Dec 13, 2010 at 7:41pm
If that happens, I'll drop my internet completely. It's becoming more commercialized by the minute - way too many advertisements - and more like tv everyday. Enough already.
james green
Dec 13, 2010 at 7:53pm
On this one I applaud Vision but sure wish they would deal with issues like taxes, the O Village Debt, homelessness,debt, crime, affordable housing,
and other areas they have a mandate to deal with.
Tami Starlight
Dec 14, 2010 at 3:28am
Yea right James.
Another patsy to mess with the last election. Paid off!
Sad.
Just like the CRTC.
Public my a**.
They are about as crooked as they come.
We need to fire most of the higher ups and reconfigure the whole damn CRTC!! In bed with the major corporations.
Mainstream corporate media concentration is so bad, it is sickening.
Time to demand change to the CRTC.
Write your so called elected officials and mobilize.
Stop supporting the crappy media we have. Can-West/Global, CTV, Bell, Rogers, even CBC TV! etc.....etc.
wetcoaster
Dec 14, 2010 at 8:28am
Canadian providers have the highest profits in the world. Can I spell gouging?
Other
Dec 14, 2010 at 4:24pm
Lets take a fresh XP install, do a windows update, and find out you've just use 3.5 GB of your download limits (just for 1 box), and that's just the OS. Add the other MS Bloatware and their updates and you can easily exceed 10GB in a month.