Wed Feb 9
Canada's internet regulator, the CRTC, announced Tuesday that it is reviewing its decision that would effectively force many smaller ISPs to charge customers based on the same usage caps.
Many of those smaller ISPs rent network access from Bell to create retail internet packages for their own customers.
The CRTC's ruling that Bell could charge those ISPs — its wholesale customers — based on the same usage-based caps it charges its retail customers would mean those ISPs would have to lower their usage caps and would no longer be able to offer unlimited internet access.
The issue caused a huge public outcry, prompting Industry Minister Tony Clement to warn the CRTC he would overturn its decision if it did not do so voluntarily.
Read more:
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2011/02/09/technology-bell-internet-usage.html?ref=rss#ixzz1DYziXW1SSuggested motivations for a rate increase from one of the commenters on that page:
1: Bell has taken on more business than thier pipe can handle and upgrading or adding more pipes means a loss in net profits, and that makes shareholders unhappy.
2: Bell is losing customers to these smaller ISP's that do not meter data and instead of competing, they are imposing an "Industry standard" upon the smaller provider forcing them to do business the way the Big boys do it.