[CAnet - news] Cable company lobbying for Internet 'transmission tariff'

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[Some excerpts from Globe and Mail article -- BSA]



Videotron lobbying for Internet 'transmission tariff'


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061101.gtvideotron01/BN
Story/Technology/home


OTTAWA - With video and music downloads gobbling up Internet bandwidth at an
ever-expanding pace, cable company Videotron is pushing for content
providers like movie studios to share some of the cost to expand broadband
pipelines.

Videotron boss Robert Depatie wants the federal government to slap a
transmission tariff on providers - like the music and film industry - so
they can shoulder part of the burden.

The Quebec company will invest $300-million this year as its average
customer uses four times more bandwidth than just a year ago, Depatie said
Tuesday in a speech at a telecom conference.

He called it unfair for studios and companies like Apple and Amazon.com to
use that extra service without cost - which he compared to free shipping.
But Depatie said he's against raising rates for Internet service and that
it's only fair for content providers to help foot the infrastructure cost.

"We build the network, renovate the network, spend the money on marketing to
get customers, we invoice and service those customers. We pay a great deal
of money," he said in an interview.


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[email protected]
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skype: pocketpro
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