With election looming and consumer pressure mounting, Bell shifts stance on usage-based billing

Bell was fervently in favour of usage-based billing when the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission announced it several months ago. But times have changed.

After half a million Canadian consumers signed a groundbreaking online petition forged by Vancouver's OpenMedia, the CRTC was forced by the government to review its decision and delay the implementation of UBB. Now, with a federal election announced and internet no doubt still heavy on the minds of consumers across the country, Bell has changed its tune.

Today, Bell will propose to the CRTC "an alternative scheme for the imposition of usage fees on independent ISP," according to OpenMedia.

"We're pleased that Canadians will now have the option to use indie ISPs like Teksavvy and Acanac to access the unlimited Internet," said OpenMedia.ca's Executive Director Steve Anderson. "This is a giant step forward for the Stop The Meter campaign, and a victory for those who support competition and choice in Canada's Internet service market."

"While this is a positive move, it is only a Band-Aid solution to a much larger problem," Steve added. "We at OpenMedia.ca hope the CRTC takes Bell's submission as a sign that widespread usage-based billing is not an acceptable model for Internet pricing, and that it creates policy to support the affordable Internet."

OpenMedia believes that the fundamental structural problems in the telecom industry remain, noting that approximately 94 percent of Canadians use big phone and cable companies, many of which are still imposing usage fees on their customers. The Vancouver company