CRTC Ruling on Internet Usage Will Be Reversed, One Way or the Other

Industry Minister Tony Clement says Ottawa will intervene if the agency doesn’t overturn it’s own ruling on unlimited internet packages.

Two things were confirmed yesterday: Tony Clement likes making important policy announcements via Twitter, and Ottawa will ensure usage-based internet billing does not become mandatory in Canada. The CRTC recently ruled that major telecom companies could force independent internet providers to charge customers who breach download limits hefty fines. Major telecom companies argue that the independent internet providers, which lease the major companies’ networks, were getting a free ride by charging their customers a flat rate for unlimited internet use. When asked via Twitter if it was true that Ottawa would overturn the decision if the CRTC refused, Clement responded, “True. CRTC must go back to the drawing board.”