Harper Expresses Concern Over Internet Usage Ruling

Industry Minister Tony Clement hinted the government might reverse a CRTC decision that would effectively end limitless internet pay packages.

Appropriately enough, the prime minister took to Twitter to show his displeasure over last week’s ruling by the CRTC that gave internet service providers the right to charge their customers more when they exceed pre-set download limits. Harper said he was concerned about the ruling’s impact on consumers and announced that he had ordered a review of the decision, to be completed by March 1. Industry Minister Tony Clement strongly hinted that he would ask the CRTC to reverse the decision, which has been the target of a popular online campaign. More than 300,000 people have signed the “StopTheMeter” petition. Critics of the CRTC ruling say that as society becomes more dependent on the internet, usage-based billing will restrict innovation.