The Day Canadian Internet Will Be Put on Life Support is March 1st

[Wezil]

Yeah, it is nice when the right move is also the popular one.

[Wezil]

The main problem I have is even if the CRTC reverses its decision, we're still screwed with the major ISPs.

Every region basically has a duopoly (cable or DSL) and they work together to ensure the consumer is ****ed.

Rogers and Bell are two of this nation's worst companies. They would both be doomed in the face of true competition.

[Wezil]

Can someone rephrase this in tech-stupid terms for me?

“There is no particular reason for Internet congestion to occur on the Bell network due to the independent ISP’s customers, since their access to the Internet comes after they have been connected to the independent ISP,” Mr. Geist said in a post to his personal blog on Tuesday morning. “While Bell would undoubtedly respond that [Gateway Access Service] is an aggregated service (meaning the independent ISP customers and its own customers are aggregated over part of the network), there are mechanisms to address this issue without imposing UBB.

[Asher]

Can someone rephrase this in tech-stupid terms for me?

“There is no particular reason for Internet congestion to occur on the Bell network due to the independent ISP’s customers, since their access to the Internet comes after they have been connected to the independent ISP,” Mr. Geist said in a post to his personal blog on Tuesday morning. “While Bell would undoubtedly respond that [Gateway Access Service] is an aggregated service (meaning the independent ISP customers and its own customers are aggregated over part of the network), there are mechanisms to address this issue without imposing UBB.

The ISPs are lying when they say that the added network load from the independent ISPs would congest their network. The ISPs have their own network infrastructure -- they just use the same "last mile" cable/phone lines into the house as Bell/Shaw/Rogers/Telus/whatever. But there are technologies out there that act as giant switches, so it's either/or. Either TekSavvy uses the line to the house, or Bell does. The argument that TekSavvy's users slow down Bell is bunk.

The most infuriating part of this is the CRTC doesn't have anyone technologically competent to review the patently absurd claims, or ask simple questions like "if this is such a problem for you, why does no other country on Earth seem to have it?"

[Wezil]

The ISPs are lying when they say that the added network load from the independent ISPs would congest their network. The ISPs have their own network infrastructure -- they just use the same "last mile" cable/phone lines into the house as Bell/Shaw/Rogers/Telus/whatever. But there are technologies out there that act as giant switches, so it's either/or. Either TekSavvy uses the line to the house, or Bell does. The argument that TekSavvy's users slow down Bell is bunk.

I understand now. TY.

The most infuriating part of this is the CRTC doesn't have anyone technologically competent to review the patently absurd claims, or ask simple questions like "if this is such a problem for you, why does no other country on Earth seem to have it?"

Apparently.

I was curious about NYE's earlier questions of cost and bandwidth wrt TV. I read in the same article that above quote was from that it costs less than a penny per GB of internet data. Overage fees are $1 - 2.50 for that same GB.

[notyoueither]

The main problem I have is even if the CRTC reverses its decision, we're still screwed with the major ISPs.

Every region basically has a duopoly (cable or DSL) and they work together to ensure the consumer is ****ed.

I'm interested in addressing that. This is not new. I've had a lifetime of being a cash cow for the telcos. I'm about fed up with it. When you consider how much cash we fork over for landline, cell, texting, cable TV, and internet access, amounts likely well in excess of what is paid in other places... the amounts, and the amount of gouging, get large.

Do you know of any groups interested in doing something about it?

[notyoueither]

I was thinking that a few non-lazy people could put together some information and feed it to our lazy journalists, as a start.

What are fees for service in various places in Europe, and US, and the rest of the developed world. Show Canadians a comparison of London and Toronto, Calgary and blah, Moncton and blech, and so on.

I think the large service providing companies have been able to do what they do for so long due to ignorance of the population and laziness of the media.

[Wezil]

In the case of Bell, the Telco is the media.

[Asher]

That's also the case with Rogers and Shaw.

[Asher]

It costs Canadian ISPs about $0.03 per GB

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/gadgets-and-gear/hugh-thompson/what-is-a-fair-price-for-internet-service/article1890596/

Yet overage charges are $1-$5 per GB.

[Wezil]

That's a hell of a mark up.

[Asher]

Their bull**** about how "the internet use is increasing by 50% every year!" is also infuriating. The technology has been demonstrably advancing faster than that. They just don't want to spend their profits upgrading infrastructure, which they SHOULD be doing to keep Canada competitive.

Time for the government to take a strong arm here.

[Fake Boris]

That's also the case with Rogers and Shaw.

Ditto for Quebecor/Videotron.

[Asher]

Victory!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/crtc-will-rescind-unlimited-use-internet-decision-or-ottawa-will-overturn-it/article1892522/

The Tories have said unless the CRTC rescinds this ruling, they're going to overturn it.

They're also hauling the chairman of the CRTC infront of a committee to explain himself tomorrow.

[Provost Harrison]

The nature of how your telecoms regular is acting suggests to me they are heavily "in the pockets" of the industry itself and need a bit of clearing out.