Reflecting on UBB

Although the flutter has subsided in the past couple of weeks, you might remember the outrage when the CRTC ruled in favour of Usage Based Billing. Despite the fact that most Internet users don't even come close to using their "quota" each month, you'd have thought the sky was falling. While the advent of Internet TV, Netflix and other distractions might point out some shortcomings with Canada's current Internet system (ISPs, bandwidth, lack of competition, charges, etc), I have a different take.

Out here in rural BC, all these discussions and the outpouring of rage are of only academic interest. We get our Internet connection from Telus. You know, the phone company out here. It's almost the only option we have for an Internet supplier. Netflix? Ha! We can't even stream CBC Radio 2 reliably using the Internet and watching a 2-minute YouTube video is often nearly impossible. Sometimes when it rains, or when it's cold, or at irregular times or phases of the moon, the DSL signal just disappears. And let's not bother talking about download speeds. It's faster than a dial-up modem, but that's about all I'd say for it. Right now, I'd settle for something that was always on - reliably.

Life in the 'Slo Lane continues.