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CRTC Finalizes ISP Usage-Based Billing / Canada Bandwidth Cap Thread: News in OP/p275
BTP
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Update: March 16
A little update regarding Usage Based Billing. Remember that 60 day delay? Well, here's where it got us (as taken from NeoGAF).
.....and also this.
Looks like it's time to kick up another shitstorm, and the kick needs to be soon if there's going to be another election call.
[/Update: March 16]
Canadian Internet just got FUCKED!
Shamelessly CnP'd from NeoGAF.
This is completely insane. I'm at a loss for words.
A little update regarding Usage Based Billing. Remember that 60 day delay? Well, here's where it got us (as taken from NeoGAF).
http://www.thewirereport.ca/reports/content/12129-scope_of_crtcs_ubb_review_limited_to_billing_practices
“In reviewing the billing practices for mandated wholesale residential high-speed access services in this proceeding, the Commission is inviting comments on proposals for billing practices that implement these two principles, and is not limited to examining only usage-based billing,” the CRTC said in a letter to parties participating in the proceeding.
The two guiding principles for the review, the CRTC said, are that “ordinary consumers served by small Internet service providers (Small ISPs) should not have to fund the bandwidth used by the heaviest retail Internet service consumers”; and that “it is in the best interest of consumers that Small ISPs, which offer competitive alternatives to the incumbent carriers, should continue to do so.”Several small ISPs and public interest groups had called for an expanded proceeding that included a comprehensive review of the regulatory framework governing the incumbents’ sale of wholesale Internet services to small competitors.
“The CRTC will not be expanding the scope, as requested by several parties, to include the billing practices for retail Internet services. There is no evidence that market forces are not working properly in this unregulated market,” the commission added in a release Friday.
In other words, the CRTC is going to come back with the exact same shit and it's not going to do anything to help retail customers.
.....and also this.
This is kind of weird:
The CRTC said its review of "wholesale residential high-speed Internet access services" in response to the controversy over usage-based billing and bandwidth limits will include a public hearing on July 11 in Gatineau, Que.
Why are they having a public hearing on July 11th when their decision has to go down no later than May 1st?
Looks like it's time to kick up another shitstorm, and the kick needs to be soon if there's going to be another election call.
[/Update: March 16]
Canadian Internet just got FUCKED!
Shamelessly CnP'd from NeoGAF.
CRTC Finalizes ISP Usage-Based Billing [Canada Bandwidth Cap starting March 1st]
first of all, I think this only is a very small affect on gaming, and more affect on just regular using of internet in general
obvious steam gets affected the largest right now, but at the same time, it means services like onlive is basically dead
more broadly, newly launched services like netflix is going to be dead once the UBB takes into effect
here is one of many kickers: bell's own streaming services will NOT be accounted for in your bandwidth
how convenient for bell (and roger i guess) eh?
links (follow the links within links for more info):
just hit up the forums at dslreports if you want to get informed and keep updated
want to do something about it (probably wont help, but better than nothing):and i thought the cap was gonna be 60gb, but 25 is just a kick in the balls1. Go here: http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Comp...spx?Language=E
2. Type in your postal code, find your MP's name and email address.
3. Compose a email. You don't have to write an essay. If you wish keep it brief, or if you are well informed, feel free to air your frustration.
For those that don't know, for all Bell and Bell reseller providers, starting March 2011:
- Bandwith cap will be 25GB(confirmed by Teksavvy CEO). That's upload and download, together.
- $1 per GB you go over, up to $22.50. $0.75 per GB after that.
- ALL DSL RESELLER PRICES WILL GO UP TO MATCH BELL PLAN PRICES, AND RISE WHEN BELL PLAN PRICES RISE.
For those on Rogers, or Rogers reseller providers:
- Same deal, coming down the pipe a few months later (early summer).
More information:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/canbroadband
http://www.openmedia.ca/meter
http://www.stopthecap.com/
This is completely insane. I'm at a loss for words.
BTP on
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection & DS High Scores Thread
I WILL NOT BE DOING 3DS FOR NWC THREAD. SOMEONE ELSE WILL HAVE TO TAKE OVER.
Spoiler contains Friend Codes. Won't you be my friend?
I WILL NOT BE DOING 3DS FOR NWC THREAD. SOMEONE ELSE WILL HAVE TO TAKE OVER.
Spoiler contains Friend Codes. Won't you be my friend?
Spoiler:
Posts
25 GB is downloading Dragon Age: Origins and Awakening. Just insane.
:v:
Is there any way to monitor how muhc bandwidth you actually use? I'm uncapped, but would be interesting to know.
But, seriously, internet caps sux.
Steam: Elvenshae // PSN: Elvenshae // WotC: Elvenshae
But, starting this year companies are doubling or tripling their speeds, however there's a strong rumor of a usage cap coming in with these speed increments.
Like, people would just not take it.
Downloading World of Warcraft will put you over the monthly cap. Downloading Starcraft 2 plus patches is close to half I believe. Good luck ever using STEAM for anything other than small indie games.
But 105,000 e-mails! Holy crap! That's so many internets!
there isn't a limited amount of internet that they are rationing out
i mean, sure there is a limited amount of dns and routing servers that they have
but that should limit the bandwidth they make available, not the amount of gigabytes they can allow people to use on their lines
so it just stinks horrendously of policy for profit
which, i assume is a pretty obvious point to figure out
but still, sad day
I think it's this.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2011/2011-44.htm
I WILL NOT BE DOING 3DS FOR NWC THREAD. SOMEONE ELSE WILL HAVE TO TAKE OVER.
Spoiler contains Friend Codes. Won't you be my friend?
More Friend Codes!
Mario Kart Wii: 3136-6982-0286 Tetris Party: 2364 1569 4310
Guitar Hero: Metallica: 1032 7229 7191
TATSUNOKO VS CAPCOM: 1935-2070-9123
Nintendo DS:
Worms: Open Warfare 2: 1418-7870-1606 Space Bust-a-Move: 017398 403043
Scribblenauts: 1290-7509-5558
On a practical level, buying additional bandwidth isn't all that expensive if you already have a reasonably cheap dsl plan. I'm with Primus, for example, and their new cap is 25GB (previously unlimited), with additional 40GB blocks costing $5 each. So, for an extra $15 a month, I'm getting 145GB (25GB base + 120GB addition) which is more than enough to handle my streaming / downloading habits between netflix, xbox live, etc. Regardless, I can't stand how this decision is going to force the market in a very specific, bell / rogers centric direction, since I doubt most people are going to be willing to pay those extra bandwidth charges.
CRTC goosery makes me sad.
tails Gets trolled
Didn't Canada used to be the premier country when it came to telecommunications? How far we have fallen.
There is no justification for this except greed.
Canadian videogame retailers will be happy with this.
When you're in a multi-member household, how many fights will break out because "Nuh-uh, Sam used up the limit" and so on? I can only imagine a house with 2 or more teenagers.
Ugh...
Gamer Tag: LeeWay0
PSN: Leeway0
how the fuck do these things happen in a democracy
someone should run on a platform of fast internet and no caps. he'd win.
Registered just for the Mass Effect threads | Steam: click ^^^ | Origin: curlyhairedboy | blog
This can't happen.
PSN ID: Wraithverge
I may as well cancel Netflix now. I'm never gonna get a chance to use it ever again. And say goodbye to ever using Steam again.
Gamer Tag: LeeWay0
PSN: Leeway0
But it's going to take a whole lot of voices to make them really over turn it I bet.
As someone who remembers having caps that low in Australia
MANY ARGUMENTS.
Why would you do that to your own product? "Yes, I'd like to sell you a car. If you put more than 15 miles on it a month, we'll charge you a per mile fee. Anytime you want to go over 55, you need to call customer service for a special dispensation. Brakes will be disabled after every 75 uses until a small reactivation fee has been paid. Wait, where are you going? What do you mean you'll take the bus? The bus is for losers!"
In my City Bell has awful service but we switched over to Cogeco since Bell's DSL was completely shitty and now there going to charge even more for their terrible service? Fuck. That. Shit.
And it won't be long till the others follow suit. Wait I just realized Cogeco already does this
I have a email to write