Attention Canadians, to the barricades!

[Off_White]

Your license to spray is being threatened, ya'll oughta do something about it.

 

Pay-per-byte

[G-spotter]

y2k!

[JayB]

They had this system in NZ - and the end result that internet connections were slow, costly, and a pain to tap into while traveling. However, pretty much everything in NZ was expensive as hell - so internet services didn't really stand out. I suspect that's because they have more of a consumption based tax regime there.

 

However - I'm not convinced that it's the end of the world easier. Under the current system folks that use the internet for e-mail and routine browsing wind up subsidizing the bejesus out of people that download terrabytes of content.

 

Seems like the prime beneficiaries now are people and businesses that are able to transfer their transmission expenses onto everyone else, and they'd be the one's bearing the brunt of any change to volume-based pricing.

[Hugh Conway]

I suspect it's because it's a tiny island in the middle of fucking nowhere and isn't particularly related to their tax structure.

[JayB]

Paying more could be a function of geography for sure. A price structure where you pay by the bit rather than a flat rate for unlimited use - don't see any possible connection to geography there - but if you can demonstrate that's the case, great.

[G-spotter]

Gee how does the data get to and from NZ?

What do you think the Internet is like on South Georgia? or Kerguelen?

[JayB]

You're on a roll today, Drew! This takes me back to your rousing defenses of the "Fat Virus," homeopathy, and other greatest hits.

 

Yes - being remote probably accounts for each bit being expensive. It doesn't explain why they price bandwidth consumption per-bit as opposed to a flat rate for unlimited data.

[Hugh Conway]

It doesn't explain why they price bandwidth consumption per-bit as opposed to a flat rate for unlimited data.

 

Why does America pay a shit ton for text messages and cell plans in general? Why does my dog lick his non-existant balls?

[minx]

it always costs me a fortune just to turn on my damn phone on in Cananda. internet/data is too expensive when i go there already. that place is just too bloody expensive in general. and lame. except for their bacon. the bacon is a plus. but those ketchup chips whats up with those? why do the bars close so early? anyway, canada sucks except for all the cool climbing and skiing. and some of the people. and the bacon. but really canada is just a pain in the ass b/c internet is so expensive and now its going to get more expensive