Recently the CRTC made a decision regarding unlimited internet usage and allowing big companies like Bell, Telus, and Rogers charge additional fees for going over an the alotted monthly data usage. Further, the CRTC also in effect arbitrarily changed the rules on smaller internet providers who buy bandwith capacity from comapnies like Bell and then offer its clients unlimitted usage for a set monthly fee.
In reaction to a large online petition which struck out against this CRTC decision the Harper Conservative government sent a very direct, unambiguous message to the CRTC and the Canadian public, "Go back and re-visit this decision and find another way, and if you cannot find another way to fix this then we will reverse the decision you (the CRTC) has made. Now, I am not much of a Harper fan or a fan of his government, but on this one they got it right.
Quite frankly, I am getting sick and friggin tired of this CRTC. I don't know a lot about them or their function but I know that I am paying through the nose to companies like Bell and Rogers for the services which I get from them already. I know that they place monthly data download limits, especially on cell phone packages, unless you pay through the nose for an unlimited data plan. And God forbid if you ever go over the amount allocated because they can charge you fees which may force you to mortgage the house in order to pay them.
So I guess what I am really saying here is that I am sick and tired of the packing which Bell and other providers are allowed to levy on me. AND I am truly disgusted with this CRTC bunch trying to legislate even more power to these big companies to have even greater power to put the screws to my monthly budget. Let's face it, most everybody is extremely dependent upon the internet and fairly speedy access to it, in order to work, communicate, play and even take care of household bills... AND let's face it, we were led by the noses in that direction, it being 'the way of the future' and all! Now that we are very dependent upon the convenience of the internet these providers, who were granted license to set up this infrastructure at their own cost as well as with the help of generous government taxpayer subsidy, these greedy enterprises now feel it is time to milk our dependence for EVERY dollar they can get.
Before you surmise that I am a socialist and anti big business and anti profit, think again... I make a living from investments and companies being well run and making great profits. What I don't like is government, or independent government agencies like the CRTC, legislating that one company can inordinately put the screws to consumers and then limit competition so that the big Canadian company is forced into market dictated, reasonable pricing.
Who is the CRTC supposed to protect? Again, like I stated earlier, I don't know much about them, but from what I can see, and how their decisions affect my monthly budget, this group is nothing more than a lobby group with extreme powers to control access to media and communications.
Another CRTC decision in recent times which affected the consumers on a large scale was stating that big cable TV and satellite TV providers need to share a portion of their profits, in a larger amount, to local TV stations to protect local programming and to make these stations viable. Now, I love to turn on the LOCAL news at 5:30 and YES, I even watch the longer version of the same stuff at 6:00 pm and I even toggle between NTV and CBC to make sure I get as much local news as possible. But, I do not feel driven to pay more than the enormous amount I pay already for cable TV, so that I can prop up NTV or any local TV station. I am pretty sure that this company is doing well enough without an additional smack at my monthly budget. That being said, the CRTC stated that the onus was on the likes of Bell and Rogers to share more of their profit with the local providers, which in turn, both Bell and Rogers stated, with a written and online media campaign that "if they are forced into this then they therefore must pass on the additional costs of operation 'suggested' by the CRTC to the consumer."
The bottom line for me on this is again, the CRTC, from its lofty perch is deciding to drive up the cost of Cable or internet service and I am forced to pay for their great decisions each month. I am sure Canadians are not that gut wrenched at the thought of small market TV stations having to close due to poor revenues. Look at Newfoundland and Labrador, this is a very small market and I am certain that NTV, due to its well led management team, has been able to adapt and overcome many of the foolish government policies which affect their business in the past and stay profitable and even expand their operations greatly.
When the CRTC, which tries to make itself seem like it is 'pro the little guy' or even the little TV stations by strongly worded statements to the big boys to share their profits with the 'less fortunate', they know that, if in fact they want this to be in any way a genuine demand on the likes of Bell and Rogers to be nicer and share their profit, that they MUST also legislate that these companies be very transparent about their revenue intake and that they not be allowed to pass on these additional costs to the consumer... but of course the CRTC did not do that because they know full well that these costs are going to be passed on to the consumer and they are so protected in 'whatever role they play' that they are not worried about negative public feedback. In fact, it seems they couldn't care less. Even right now they have not agreed to comply or even come close to reviewing their previous decision.
They, the CRTC make decisions which ultimately create more profit to media providers and drive up the cost to the consumer. I think it is time for the Harper government, or which ever government gets to deal with this crowd, to dismantle them altogether as they are bad for the consumer. The CRTC should try to stop operating under the guise of protecting Canadian TV and communications providers from the world and the big bad USA... in fact, aren't we supposed to be operating under free trade? aren't we supposed to be part of a larger global community? AND, isn't 90% of the programming we get coming from the USA anyway?
These most recent decisions of the CRTC made me, who normally didn't give much attention to this "CRTC", feel a strong disdain for their aloofness and pure arrogance toward the consumer. I am especially disgusted by the lofty assumption that they can simply legislate from 'on high' and we just have to take it. Enough is enough, get rid of those appointed to the CRTC who have already milked the tax-payer enough. Maybe the CRTC should stand for "Crooks Ripping-off The Consumer".
I think if these big companies want it where they can charge for usage amounts then I think the consumer should be able to choose to be reimbursed for what they don't use or be able to carry it forward for future consumption.
What about this:
1. charge a flat rate per channel on TV with discounts for selecting more channels, in stead of paying for tons of channels which never get utilized?
2. being able to carry forward unused minutes and unused data on cell phone plans?
3. being able to carry forward unused data in internet plans?
4. if someone does go over their data on their cell phone or internet package that an amount of cost plus 15% (an acceptable profit margin I know most of my clients would love to recieve on their investments)?
5. creating policies and proposals for fairness, and getting what you pay for and paying for what you use.
But NO... the CRTC nor the big providers would not hear of that, would they? They invented the 'up-sell' long before Tim Hortons ever asked "would you like a boston creme donut with that?".
I guess the bottom line is that they, the big Cable and Internet providers and the CRTC have one of those complimentary yet parasitical relationships where if you scratch my back then I'll scratch yours. The only real decisions which need to be made by these guardians of the public media is "how can we do this where we get the maximum profit we want and take full advantage of the consumer's pocket book without them starting to revolt?" It is the screw that is being put to you slowly and methodically in increments whereby the pain is not so sharp that you pull away completely.
I think that consumers voting online to have a reversal of this insane CRTC decision and the government actually acting on behalf 'of the people' is very refreshing. No committee was struck to see if an online petition should be started and no committee was struck to see if maybe the government should challenge this CRTC crowd... in stead people knew they were being ripped off and they and their government did something about it.
Well done Canadians!!!! and well done Harper government!!!!
