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Canadian Industry Minister Tony Clement has announced that the Harper government will overturn the CRTC's decision that effectively ends "unlimited use" Internet plans if the regulator doesn't rescind the decision itself.

The CRTC decision allows large Internet providers such as BCE Inc's Bell Canada to charge smaller providers who lease space on their networks on a per-byte, or usage, basis. The CRTC is independent but cabinet has the power to amend or rescind its rulings. The government's threatened intervention is an unwelcome development for major Internet providers, which have fought for years for the CRTC ruling that effectively ends "unlimited" Internet download plans.

By Paul Budde, Managing Director of Paul Budde Communication. Paul is also a contributor of the Paul Budde Communication blog located here.

Related topics: Access Providers, Net Neutrality, Policy & Regulation