200GB to 25GB: Canada gets first, bitter dose of metered Internet

What a HUUUUUUGE SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is going backwards! How could a SANE gov't allow this!?!? HOW!?!?!?

Metered Internet usage (also called "Usage-Based Billing") is coming to Canada, and it's going to cost Internet users. While an advance guard of Canadians are

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expressing creative outrage at the prospect of having to pay inflated prices for Internet use charged by the gigabyte, the consequences probably haven't set in for most consumers. Now, however, independent Canadian ISPs are publishing their revised data plans, and they aren't pretty.
"Like our customers, and Canadian internet users everywhere, we are not happy with this new development," wrote the Ontario-based indie ISP TekSavvy in a recent e-mail message to its subscribers.
But like it or not, the Canadian Radio-Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) approved UBB for the incumbent carrier Bell Canada in September. Competitive ISPs, which connect to Canada's top telco for last-mile copper connections to customers, will also be metered by Bell. Even though the CRTC gave these ISPs a 15 percent discount this month (TekSavvy asked for 50 percent), it's still going to mean a real adjustment for consumers.
This is going to hurt

Starting on March 1, Ontario TekSavvy members who subscribed to the 5Mbps plan have a new usage cap of 25GB, "substantially down from the 200GB or unlimited deals TekSavvy was able to offer before the CRTC's decision to impose usage based billing," the message added.

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CONTINUED: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/n...m_campaign=rss

Should be banned to do stuff like this. Metered internet will be the end of the Internet, and is frankly censorship.

PeteEU said:

Should be banned to do stuff like this. Metered internet will be the end of the Internet, and is frankly censorship.

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Im not sure the "end" of the internet.... but it could be the end of a gov't that does it.

The Giant Noodle said:

Im not sure the "end" of the internet.... but it could be the end of a gov't that does it.

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But it aint the government that is doing it.. it is the companies no? That the government is in the pocket of the companies is another matter.

If there was competition in the market, then a company would be bat crazy to even attempt such things.

Meh, I'm actually OK with metered internet. I have a big problem with ISPs trying to regulate what content you can access and/or trying to charge you different rates for different internet services. But what's so wrong with metered internet? Someone who downloads 50 movies a day probably SHOULD pay more than grandma who checks her email once a week. They're placing more strain on the ISP's service.

Sounds like hardware protectionism. Steam isn't going to do well if this catches on in the United States.

Kandahar said:

Meh, I'm actually OK with metered internet. I have a big problem with ISPs trying to regulate what content you can access and/or trying to charge you different rates for different internet services. But what's so wrong with metered internet? Someone who downloads 50 movies a day probably SHOULD pay more than grandma who checks her email once a week. They're placing more strain on the ISP's service.

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That might be true if everybody got the same service. However many people get different types of services. If you are a gamer or you love downloading or watching movies then you are most likely paying 40 bucks or more while granny who only checks her email once a week is using the service that costs 20 bucks or less.

Kandahar said:

Meh, I'm actually OK with metered internet. I have a big problem with ISPs trying to regulate what content you can access and/or trying to charge you different rates for different internet services. But what's so wrong with metered internet? Someone who downloads 50 movies a day probably SHOULD pay more than grandma who checks her email once a week. They're placing more strain on the ISP's service.

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Problem is that there wont be a service for big downloaders since those are the people they are after. They want to get rid of them. They will set a max of 50 GB or what ever, and to be brutally frank 50 GB is not much these days with YouTube and Netflix, online games and so on. I eat through 500 mb a day easy with basic surfing, email and a bit of news clips. Since I reinstalled my machine about 2 weeks ago, I have used 33 gb download and only downloaded a total of 1 movie and 4 tv episodes which is 2ish GB alone... and I only have a 1mb connection. The rest is normal usage like online games, facebook, Skype and so on.

No what this is all about, just as the "net neutrality" **** in the US, is the fact that the ISPs refuse to invest in the infrastructure to cope with the increased demand. And the worst part is when they start charging more for specific services like Youtube or Netflix or whatever.. what is next? 2 dollars a month extra to be able to use Skype or Google Talk?

Now personally I have no problem with a tier system of 1 mb and 10 GB a month for next to nothing and having the big downloaders like me pay more, but for god sake make it a realistic download max. 100GB as a minimum. And the biggest idiotic part is them offering 5 mb connections with small max downloads like 20 GB.. it is like they dont know wtf they are doing. Anyone accepting a 20 GB limit would never ever need a 5 mb connection, since it can suck the limit dry in no time.. What is next.. 100 mb download speed for 10 GB max a month?

Kandahar said:

Meh, I'm actually OK with metered internet. I have a big problem with ISPs trying to regulate what content you can access and/or trying to charge you different rates for different internet services. But what's so wrong with metered internet? Someone who downloads 50 movies a day probably SHOULD pay more than grandma who checks her email once a week. They're placing more strain on the ISP's service.

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It's not actually like that. Gigabytes aren't stored in some silo where if you use too many they run out. Rate of transfer is the issue, not the amount.

25GB, by the way, is ****ing nothing.

Kandahar said:

Meh, I'm actually OK with metered internet. I have a big problem with ISPs trying to regulate what content you can access and/or trying to charge you different rates for different internet services. But what's so wrong with metered internet? Someone who downloads 50 movies a day probably SHOULD pay more than grandma who checks her email once a week. They're placing more strain on the ISP's service.

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Not only is that shooting yourself in the ass.... its also lining the pockets of an industry that is ALREADY a whore! Hey, while we are at it, lets pay more money for cable TV! The more TV we watch the more it will be! You will pay $20/mo for 7 hours of TV. :roll:

On top of THAT what about the sites you subscribe to already!?!? Netflix!?!? Skype!?!?! Porn!?!?! Online Games!?!? You pay monthly subscription cost for that. THEN..... in order to access what you paid for already..... you can get and WILL get cut off from those sites. Not only is this injustice cutting off our flow of information to the WORLD..... it is also screwing the free market on you and I shopping! Its screwing corporations AROUND THE WORLD!!!!! :soap :soap :soap

If America allows this its time for some MAJOR change in how America governs itself. This was allowed because of Industry Lobbyists in Canada. Its all about THEIR money.

The Giant Noodle said:

What a HUUUUUUGE SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is going backwards! How could a SANE gov't allow this!?!? HOW!?!?!?


CONTINUED: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/n...m_campaign=rss

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For those of you who enjoy rationed Healthcare, we now present... Rationed Internets for the Sheeple.

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zimmer said:

For those of you who enjoy rationed Healthcare, we now present... Rationed Internets for the Sheeple.

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:slapme: I see the FUD guys got to ya.