Bell Scraps Plans for Usage-Based Billing

The telecom giant’s attempt to charge independent service providers for exceeding bandwidth limits sparked widespread outcry.

Download away! It looks like usage-based billing will not be coming to Canadians who use ISPs anytime soon. Bell had asked the CRTC to allow the company to force wholesale ISPs that use its infrastructure to charge extra if their customers exceeded download limits. Bell initially argued that the smaller ISPs shouldn’t be allowed to clog its networks by offering unlimited download packages, and the CRTC agreed, but everyone from online grassroots organizations to the prime minister spoke out against the idea. Bell has now pulled its request with the CRTC and announced plans to charge wholesale ISPs “aggregated volume pricing” based on overall usage rather than individual customers’ download activity.