UBB-What is it?

The Internet is a wealthy source of information.  Our social lives are on it. Our communication is on it. Our kids research and gain knowledge on it. The Internet allows us to have a voice and access information and other services on demand when we want wherever we want. The Internet is a tool that we have come to depend on, many tools can be offered using the Internet. The Internet has grown and grown.
But thanks to UBB it will become smaller. We will be limited to this vast resource.
What hold on a second? What is UBB?

UBB What?

What is the UBB and how is it effecting us?

The UBB stands for 'Usage Based Billing.' Which is basically charging/paying per Gigabyte you download from the internet, and yes surfing the internet and going on websites does count as "Downloads" So everytime you go on facebook, you have to pay. Every Google search you have to pay.

Did you know that around 1hr of HD video streaming is around 4GBs? And that Company's such as Rogers are charging as much as $5 per extra GB.

So?

So? So? So?

What does this mean for me?

Instead of paying the regular monthly rate for unlimited usage you will pay a certain amount for around 60GB, and than a couple dollars after.

Rogers charges $5 for an extra GB.

Bell charges $1-$2.

This increase in price will mean we are paying for Less internet, Companies such as Netflix will be worried about this. Some small internet companies do not agree with the UBB, but are being forced to, since the big companies own the internet lines. 

Bell and Rogers are forcing small companies into the UBB because of two problems:

1. Competition, It will decrease it

2. Video Streaming, 

Online movie/show streaming websites such as Youtube and Netflix are taking away customers from the Satelitte and Cable services these big companies provide, In order to stop this customer decreasing the UBB has been put in place.

The Shocking Truth

Did you know that it only costs Bell an extra 3-10cents to download one GB, yet they are charging over a dollar. I personally don't think its right to control our usage of the internet. Technology should be expanding, and with many websites taking on GB sucking new technologies, and many companies using the Web to advertise for services and products using games and videos, this will all have to be cut in order for some CEO to make more money.

What Can I do?

A petition to stop this madness has been going around called "Stop the Meter." For more information visit:

http://openmedia.ca/meter