A Brief History of Usage-Based Billing

Though the fight against a metered Internet has not yet come to an end, we at OpenMedia.ca feel it is important to look back and see how far we've come. Usage-based billing may very well be the most widely-discussed Internet issue to surface in Canada. We are confident that the thousands of citizens who have engaged with it will push forward still, and enjoy a victory for the open affordable Internet this year. Vojtěch Sedlák takes us back: May 6, 2010 CRTC’s approval of Bell’s proposal for the introduction of Usage Based Billing (UBB) leads to a wave of opposition from individuals as well as Internet Service Providers. (CRTC decision 2010-255)

October 28, 2010
CRTC gives a green light to the introduction of the Usage Based Billing to wholesale Internet service providers (ISP) as well as retail customers of Bell. The implementation period is set for 90 days from the date of the decision.

November 1, 2010
Openmedia.ca launches an innovative petition at StopTheMeter.ca. Its main purpose lies in pursuing Industry Minister Tony Clement, the CRTC, and all other stakeholders to put an end to usage-based billing, which is recognized as is a blow to consumer choice, to access, and to free expression. Within 24 hours, over thousand people sign the petition.

November 2, 2010
Shaw follows Bell and Rogers in implementing Usage Based Billing.

December 16, 2010
The City of Vancouver passes a groundbreaking motion in opposition to usage-based Internet billing, calling on the CRTC to disallow financial penalties for ‘too much’ Internet use in a first-of-its-kind motion.

January 13, 2011
Canadians across the country are using the Web to express outrage and raise awareness about new Internet usage. The Stop The Meter petition has been now signed by more than 25,000 people.

January 20, 2011
New Democrats join the opposition against the implementation of UBB.

January 25, 2011
CRTC confirms its decision to allow “usage-based billing”. The telecom regulator has now fuelled another round of criticism from citizens’ groups and small telecom providers, which say pricing structure will kill innovation while allowing large Internet service providers, such as BCE Inc., to raise rates and reduce download limits without any competitive threat – all at the expense of the consumer.

January 31, 2011
The Stop The Meter petition has been signed by over 160,000 people, and is shaping up to be the largest online action in Canadian history. The petition draws attention of mainstream media such as Vancouver Sun, CBC or CTV. In a statement, Clement addresses the issue of usage-based billing (Internet metering) directly, stating this decision will be "studied carefully to ensure that competition, innovation and consumers were all fairly considered."

February 1, 2011
The Liberal Party voices opposition to Internet metering, and calls on the Conservative government to reverse the CRTC ruling that allows it. Prime Minister Stephen Harper orders a review of the CRTC’s Internet usage-based billing decision, which has ignited anger among consumers, citizens’ groups and business.

February 4, 2011
The petition has now been signed by over 400,000 people! Victory is in sight.