But tell that to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the body supposedly responsible for regulating electronic media for our well-being..

How to watch Hulu in Canada

We already have this in australia but we always get ripped off compared to the rest of the world.

Good. I know it would be hard....but the best way to get them to wake up is to hit them where it hurts. If a bunch of people could get off the net and disable their plans in sync, that would speak volumes.

Maybe good news, Canadian goverment vows to reverse CRTC decision on usage-based internet billing: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/03/canadian-goverment-vows-to-reverse-crtc-decision-on-usage-based/

Technology is supposed to continue to get better over time, not fall back and get worse. This is nothing but corporate greed at its highest. Lack of investment into better infrastructure & decreasing services to make more money thats all this is.

Just got the bad news E-Mail from Teksavvy yesterday

************************************************************

Usage Based Billing-UBB

As some of you know, the CRTC recently rendered a decision forcing all independent DSL and Cable Internet providers to substantially match incumbent (like Bell) usage rate caps. This will influence all of our internet service packages eventually, but DSL residential customers in Ontario and Quebec first, as of March 1. Along with you, we are not pleased with this, and our view is more fully expressed in our press release which you can find here: http://www.teksavvynews.com/

From March 1 on, users of the up to 5 Mbps packages in Ontario can expect a usage cap of 25GB (60GB in Quebec), substantially down from the 200GB or unlimited deals TekSavvy was able to offer before the CRTC's decision to impose usage based billing. Users who were on unlimited package rates will be returned to $31.95 capped rates although larger blocks of bandwidth can be purchased.*

In order to facilitate this transition we have constructed a new easy-to-navigate portal at https://myworld.teksavvy.com where our customers can choose from the amended and new packages.
The details of our new rate plans and charges can be found there. You will be able to register using the account information found at the end of this email. More on the portal below. In addition, in order to accommodate these changes, we have amended our Terms of Service, primarily regarding implementation. The amended Terms form part of your Agreement with TekSavvy and can be viewed at https://secure.teksavvy.com/en/termspolicies.asp.

Please note if you do not choose a new service before March 1, 2011, your existing package will be transitioned into an amended package. Existing packages and the ones they will be replaced with in each case can be found at http://teksavvy.com/en/faq-ubb_on.asp for Ontario and http://teksavvy.com/en/faq-ubb_qc.asp for Quebec.

Content and data like Netflix, YouTube, IPTV, large file downloads or other streaming services can consume large amounts of bandwidth and place your cap limits in jeopardy very quickly. We encourage you to monitor your usage carefully, as the CRTC has imposed a very high overage rate, above your new monthly limit, of $1.90 per gigabyte ($2.35 per gigabyte in Quebec).

The CRTC did however provide an option for insurance usage blocks at $4.75 per 40GB block per month, which can be purchased if you want to reduce your cost for use above 25GB (60GB in Quebec).

Ontario and Quebec up to 5 Mbps users with a monthly limit of 25GB and 60GB respectively:

Insurance Blocks Offered:

* $4.75 - 40GB extra usage
* $9.50 - 80GB extra usage
* $14.25 - 120GB extra usage (maximum 3 blocks)
* $55.00 - 275GB extra usage (maximum 240GB extra usage in Quebec)

To select a new package please visit https://myworld.teksavvy.com
You will be able to register using the account information found at the end of this email.

Unhappy With the UBB Decision? So Are We!-Join Us!

The CRTC decision to impose UBB on the whole market is a big win for Bell and other major carriers, but a big hit to everyone else. To view the CRTC decision, go to:

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2011/2011-44.htm

Like our customers, and Canadian internet users everywhere, we are not happy with this new development. We will continue our efforts to fight the imposition of exorbitant bandwidth charges on usage with virtually no incremental cost to Bell and other UBB carriers, and we will develop strategies to restore the usage levels and costs our customers have come to expect. But we need your support to succeed, and get back to the cost structure we have a right to expect.

If like us you are disappointed with the CRTC's decision, make your views known on UBB and what it means to you (and Canada frankly) by going to www.stopthemeter.ca, where you will find a petition against UBB. Sign it, get involved, and together we will make a difference! Let everyone you know understand that Canada is about to become the most expensive internet market in the industrialized world!

We will keep you informed of our efforts, and look to you for your help.

If you would like to get more involved go to these links to make your thoughts known and join this battle:

* www.stopthemeter.ca - signing the petition will now automatically send our Minister of Industry, Tony Clement, the person politically responsible for the CRTC, an email.
* Join the twitter campaign at http://act.ly/2kw
* Join the Facebook campaign http://www.facebook.com/notes/openmediaca/stop-the-meter-on-your-internet-use/455248704798

Don't worry guys, if it comes to the US, there will be a riot. ;)

Too many people depend on it and people should not get bills that they are not sure of at the end of the month....not with mortgages, car payments, heating bills....etc.

I wonder why we don't get charged based on how much TV we watch, lol. Because it wouldn't make any sense, that's why.

so rodney, when is the rant video coming??

According to rumors it is headed to the US within a couple years. But that's a different topic. This has got to be stopped. My ISP has released they're "insurance" policy and its pretty much costing $5 for each 40GB block up to 270GB. After that you cant buy any more insurance and it will cost you 1.95 per GB!!!! Whats even worse is that a lot of people will not know about these insurance blocks and will have to pay $1.95 per GB after 25GB.

I cannot believe how low the cap was set. It really should be at the very minimum 50GB and possibly even 60GB. Everything is done over the net these days. I even download Games off steam just cause its faster and saves on gas and you sometimes get very good deals. With the introduction of streaming videos within the last couple years you can really eat up your 25GB bandwidth on a 5Mbit line withing a couple days.

Money hungry assholes. If you look at the people in the CRTC they are all so old and haven't got a f-ing clue as to what the internet is used for. Just old timers who i bet are taking a share of the money Bell and Rogers are going to be making off this. I don't understand how you can charge $1.95 per GB when it costs you 1 cent per GB when before it cost you 5 cents and Bell was charging 50 cents per GB?

This has gotten way out of hand. Not to mention Bell and Rogers throttle the hell out of our lines. ISP's are a total joke in Canada. Glad im with Teksavvy. Bell is never making another penny off me ever again! At least not from me directly. I know Teksavvy uses Bell's lines.

Signed. I'm not Canadian, but it doesn't matter. This can't be allowed to happen. Not in Canada, or anywhere. The internet is not some luxury for the wealthy. It's become an integral part of civilized society where we live, work, and play. And putting extra fees on it's use? Arbitrary fees just so some fat cat can buy another luxury car, vacation house, and private plane? What's next? Extra fees on your phone service? Character based billing for mail??? It has GOT to stop!

If Canada gets away with it, why not the US? Or Europe? Japan? Australia? It won't stop with just Canada. Monkey see, monkey do, and all that. But if we, the people, the taxpayers, have any amount of power at all, we have to muster it all right now and fight this.

If it comes to pass, This is one internet user who will opt out. I will give up the internet completely, and I urge anyone who's life isn't heavily dependent on internet usage to do the same. I know it will be tough, but this is a pivotal moment in our history. This is something that has the potential to shape the future of our world in an immense way, and if we let greedy fat cats make the decision for us, and then give them our money anyway, what kind of future will it be? What will the world be like in 10 years? In 20? 50?

The answer? Not pleasant. Because this isn't just about the internet. It's human greed. And that is something which knows no limits.

Not for much longer. Most small ISP buy internet in bulk from the major providers, like my small ISP Teksavvy gets its connection from Bell and re-sells it. I haven't heard anything from them yet but rumors are going around that by March unlimited will be a thing of the past for every ISP in Canada small or large.

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 GO UP TO MATCH BELL PLANS, AND RISE WHEN BELL PRICES RISE.
More info:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/canbroadband
http://www.openmedia.ca/meter
http://www.stopthecap.com/

Way to go Strombo :)

I agree, this needs to be stopped and I'm going to use all my influence to help as well.

We need to turn this into a political issue if we ever want to get anything accomplished. So the facebook protests,online petitions, and electronic e-mail forms to the CRTC have done nothing, and will continue to be unheard since most of the CRTC board are ex Rogers,Bell, & Telus employees who still have stock in the companies I would like nothing more than to see them make more money. There is going to be an election on the horizon here in Canada whether we like it or not and all parties are looking for new policies to attract voters, lets get them to put this issue on the burner, write and e-mail your MP in your district and tell them to bring up this issue or get a new job.

I'll let Strombo sum it up:

I signed the petition :)

Funny thing is, the smaller telecoms seem to claim to provide unlimited bandwidth.

Wow, I'm with you ALL the way Rodney, this is crazy.

I was on a limited data plan with Verizon a few years ago....I ended up blowing my plan to $475 (in a month). I paid it, cut the contract and got away from that crappy plan.

Metered usage of something like the internet just sucks, so much I'd give it up. I cannot afford those types of expenses and I'm dead serious, I'd just give up the internet at that point.

Besides, this policy conflicts with video streaming/online gaming services.

Steam should be at the frontier to oppose these greedy people, because you can't play unless you're connected to the internet, and you download games via steam from the Internet....

This conflicts with several large online services and applications that are popular, I really hope they get on the ball to opposing this. I have to help my grandma with taxes and a heating bill that gets to $500 in the winter...the last thing I want is another bill that's adjustable.

I agree, it's a total ripoff, especially with lots of online movies sites, like Netflix. Fact is, most everyone today uses up GBs like nothing else and they are banking on it. It's just another cash cow for ISPs :/ I actually have the fastest service Rogers (Canada) offers and they still have a GB limit. grrrr.. I can see way many people are very upset.

Unless we band together on this in protest, the Internet prices will only rise and be metered. Do something: http://www.stopthemeter.ca

I really need to do a rant video on this to help in the war against UBB.