ISP Usage Based Billing in Canada
By Merzalof 57 Comments
Most of you probably don't know, but a group in Canada (CRTC - Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunication Commission) is implementing ISP Usage Based Billing in Canada, starting March 1.
Here is some background reading to inform you on the topic
Official Decision and Statement
Some consumer backlash
Group and Petition against the cap
What does this mean?
This means that if you go over your bandwidth cap (usually 25-50 gigs) in a month you have to pay the ridiculous amount of 1-2 dollars PER GIG that you go over.
I don't think it will affect things like gaming (XBL, PSN, Wii, etc....) but it really will hurt when you buy something off STEAM and have a 20 Gig download sitting there and you get charged for downloading something you purchased.
Steam is going to get killed, OnLive is going to get smoked, as well as my new favorite toy - Netflix.
I know that Canada is a big place and to set up the infrastructure across the country costs a bunch and we don't have the population density to pay for it. But honestly, in this day and age where technology is so prevalent and I use the internet from the time I wake up until the time I go to sleep, I am just really upset about how this turned out.
Some of the only options now are to talk to the MP (gov't rep) and get a voice heard, but even that seems like a drop in the bucket.
Anyways - just curious to see what people's thoughts were and if anyone else has experienced UBB and caps in their country.
57 Comments