Bell Reinvents Usage Based Billing…. It Shouldn’t Fool You

Bell is clearly feeling the heat as they announced to the world via The Globe And Mail (which is owned by Bell Globemedia) that they’re altering their usage based billing plans:

In its original proposal, Bell asked the federal communications regulator to let it charge small Internet service providers, which lease space on its network, by the amount of data each of their customers downloads.

Instead, Bell is suggesting an aggregated volume pricing scheme, whereby smaller ISPs are charged for the data used by all their customers, instead of being charged for each customer who goes over set limits.

For consumers on the unlimited plans of wholesale Internet providers, Bell’s capitulation means that the huge price increases and onerous download caps many feared will not be implemented, at least for now. The issue will again be debated at regulatory hearings in July.

This according to Bell means that they’re taking usage based billing off the table. Hmmm…. I’m not impressed. Neither is Industry Minister Tony Clement:

In a message to The Globe and Mail on Monday after Bell said it would revamp its proposal, Mr. Clement wrote: “I’m not impressed.”

Here’s why you shouldn’t be impressed. It’s the same usage based billing scheme made to look different. Thus Bell is just trying to use smoke and mirrors to extract as much cash as they can. Don’t be fooled. Instead, tell Bell and the CRTC that this is unacceptable.

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