Slowed speeds after 10 GB might be against the rules
GATINEAU – Who would have thought a routine process of monitoring Internet pricing to make sure Internet Traffic Management Practices (ITMPs) don’t violate consumer rights would bump up against the much ballyhooed new $75 wireless data pricing plans?
The CRTC has long been concerned about some differential pricing practices that could be viewed as unfair, so it decided two years ago to “closely monitor the retail prices and data caps for both wireless and fixed-line Internet services, which will enable it to assess the degree to which prices and network quality are keeping up with the continually growing consumer demand for data.”
So, it is in that context that it proceeded to send, in September 2018, some requests for information to be filed by November 30th. That letter noted: “Net neutrality is the concept that all traffic on the Internet should be given equal treatment by Internet providers, with little to no manipulation, discrimination or preference given. The Commission has issued three decisions that combine to form the current policy framework for net neutrality in Canada.”
It reminded providers that if their networks are congested or can’t perform, they need to improve the networks, not scale back what their customers can do.
Then, on June 28, 2019, the Commission, coincidentally or not, asked ISPs and wireless providers to provide additional information on their pricing practices.
It requested Bell Canada, Eastlink, Rogers, Shaw, TekSavvy, Telus, Vidéotron and Xplornet to conform to the Telecom Policy 2009-657, in which “the Commission directed all ISPs, as a condition of providing retail Internet services, to disclose to their retail customers, clearly and prominently on their websites, information related to their technical ITMPs. The purpose of this disclosure is to adequately inform consumers about these ITMPs and the impact such practices have on retail Internet services.”
The additional questions are, with some variance from ISP to ISP, about their practice of reducing broadband speeds after customers reached certain data thresholds. The carriers were asked to provide information to explain how the reduced speed does not cause degradation to the service, which results in controlling the content and influencing the meaning and purpose of the telecommunications in question.
The deadline for this information is July 29th.
Meanwhile, Rogers, on June 12 announced that it would provide unlimited data for $75/month for 10GB of high speed data. Telus has since matched this offer with “endless data”, as did Bell for a limited time. Once customers hits the data limit that month, however, their access speeds drop to 256 Kbps(Rogers) or 512 Kbps (Telus) speeds. Both companies offer higher data buckets, but for those, the speed is throttled back once the data limit is reached.
Freedom has been doing the same under its $60 Big Gig promotion for more than a year-and-a-half.
The Commission has asked each of the wireless providers this question: “Address, with rationale and data, why these practices should not be considered to amount to blocking the delivery of content or Internet traffic to an end-user. Your answer should include information to explain, for example, how the reduced speed does not cause degradation to the service to such an extent that it would amount to controlling the content and influencing the meaning and purpose of the telecommunications in question.”
Coincidental to the new wireless plans or not, this CRTC process could dramatically impact this new offering if these ITMP measures are found to be contrary to policy.
Meanwhile, we are still waiting for the Internet Code to be published.
