As users of the Internet, we’ve been ignoring the fact that nothing is really free. Whether we view a page, video, movie or get email, receive a bill, invoice or a file, we’re paying our Internet Service Provider (ISP) for our access. Verizon in the US has just announced that it is scrapping its unlimited plans and introducing tiered plans just as AT&T had previously established. In Toronto, Canada, the main ISPs are Bell and Rogers. On average, there rates are between $40 and $50 every month. For that price, you are allowed between 25 and 50GB a month. This is substantially less than the 200GB average offered forthe same price in the US. Not only that, they (Rogers specifically) have been noted for throttling the bandwidth at peak times. Obviously, these are the times that most people use the Internet!!! Plus, there are severe pricing penalties on overages. So now, Netflix at $7.99 a month is not really just a matter of including HST is it? A marathon movie session may mean that you risk going over your 25/50 GB limit.
Now the point is that with businesses relying on customers to have Internet access, we are gradually getting used to consuming more on the Internet. Thus, for example, businesses save cost on envelopes, printing and stamps by posting their bills online. The customer now picks up the tab for retrieving this – even the ISPs.
Now the more sophisticated users (geeks?!), have already moved onto resellers such as Teksavvy, who offer more liberal allowances (200-300GB/ month). The major ISPs have already tried to take them out of the business but for the time being the CRTC has decided to let things be.
My only fear is that we users,(especially) in Canada, not be held to ransom with the draconian rules like that of wireless phones. Innovation and excellence can only thrive in an environment where access to information and the free sharing of ideas is unhindered. Access to the Internet should not make the gatekeepers unreasonably rich. Either governments should allow true competition in the business landscape by removing preferential treatment or they should side with the good of the common man and establish some precedence.
