By Callam Rodya

Updated on Feb. 5 @ 12:24 a.m.
Updated on Feb. 4 @ 12:32 p.m.

The CRTC, the independent federal body tasked with regulating the telecommunications industry, has backed away from a recent decision to allow the big four internet companies (Bell, Rogers, Telus, Shaw) to restrict access to its internet infrastructure.

Traditionally, the big four have rented out their infrastructure to smaller local internet providers, who then offer low-cost unlimited broadband internet plans to local users.

The CRTC decision would have allowed the big four to impose caps on certain levels of usage and then impose premiums on exceeding them, premiums that smaller companies would have had to, in turn, pass on to customers.

Now, after a wave of backlash from consumers, small business, and politicians, the regulating agency is backing away from the decision, saying it will be postponed until Mar. 1.

Prime minister Stephen Harper and industry minister Tony Clement both took to Twitter this week to deplore the CRTC’s decision on restricting internet access. Companies like Netflix also protested the decision.

The CRTC decision could have potentially affected local internet service providers that lease the infrastructure of their larger counterparts such as Vianet, Persona, Neil Communications, and NetSpectrum.

The CRTC maintains an online inquiry/complaint form. Find it here: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/rapidsccm/register.asp?lang=e.