Usage-based billing: Should the government intervene in the CRTC's decision?
- February 3, 2011 12:50 PM |
- By POV
Industry Minister Tony Clement speaks with the media about internet fees in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Tuesday, Feb. 1. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)
By CBC News
The CRTC must reverse its decision that ends unlimited internet access plans offered by smaller internet providers, or the federal government will intervene, Industry Minister Tony Clement says.
Clement told reporters Thursday that he and Prime Minister Stephen Harper sent a clear signal Wednesday night "that we do expect the CRTC to reverse its decision and to basically go back to the drawing board on this issue, and if they do not do this, we wanted to make it clear cabinet would take its responsiblites to do the same."
Clement said he heard from Canadians on the issue.
"It's a huge issue for a country that wants to move forward on the internet for jobs, for creativity, for innovation," he said. "[We] felt the CRTC ruling would have a huge impact on consumers and would hurt small businesses, would hurt innovators and creators."
Internet consumer advocates have been strongly against the decision, such as OpenMedia.ca, a non-partisan group that drafted an online petition to "Stop the Meter on Your Internet Use." As of Thursday morning, it has garnered more than 357,000 signatures.
Some, however, agree with the CRTC's decision to allow service providers to charge users per byte they use online. CBC Community member Bill Gamble wrote, "Why shouldn't people pay for the volume of the product they use?"
"If you own a home and you use more water, hydro, and natural gas than your neighbour, you pay more... and you should."
Which side of the debate are you on? Should the federal government get involved in the CRTC's ruling? Join the conversation below.
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