Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world. It was once so rich that Concorde used to fly from Caracas to Paris. But in the last three years its economy has collapsed. Hunger has gripped the nation for years. Now, it’s killing people and animals that are dying of starvation. The Venezuelan government knows, but won’t admit it!!! Four in five Venezuelans live in poverty. People queue for hours to buy food. Much of the time they go without. People are also dying from a lack of medicines. Inflation is at 82,766% and there are warnings it could exceed one million per cent by the end of this year. Venezuelans are trying to get out. The UN says 2.3 million people have fled the country - 7% of the population.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Industry News: Canadian Government to Netflix's Rescue Over Web Fees...

February 1, 2011

Federal government to review regulatory ruling that forces smaller ISPs to introduce usage-based billing.
TORONTO – Netflix has an unlikely friend in Ottawa as local cable and phone giants look to thwart the U.S. subscription streaming giant by imposing web usage caps.

Federal industry minister Tony Clement is to review a CRTC decision to force smaller Internet service providers (ISPs) to introduce the same usage-based billing as larger players Rogers Communications, BCE Inc. and Shaw Communications.

"As Canada's industry minister, it is my job to encourage an innovative and competitive marketplace and to ensure that Canadian consumers have real choices in the services they purchase," Clement said in a statement.

The feds' intervention follows Netflix last week revealing Canadian ISPs are driving the U.S. video streaming giant to early profitability north of the border, but that download caps imposed by Rogers, BCE and Shaw threaten to slow its Canadian expansion.

"Netflix favors the unlimited up-to-a-large-cap model. The marginal cost to deliver a marginal gigabyte over a wired network is less than a penny, but Canadians would be paying much more than that," Netflix said in an online blog of usage penalties to be paid if Canadian Internet users exceed their data consumption caps.

Netflix last September expanded into Canada with a $7.99 a-month pure streaming service, in competition with local broadcasters, cable and satellite TV operators.

A Credit Suisse report that measured the cost of consuming the Netflix Canada service for one month over a Rogers Communications connection recently concluded Canadians pay a steep premium to use the U.S. video streaming service.

To offset the extra charge from usage-based billing, the Credit Suisse report predicted Canadians will be forced to "trade down" to lower cost cable or satellite TV packages.

Federal minister Clement insisted the recent CRTC ruling that stops smaller ISPs from offering unlimited data usage packages stifles competition. "Increased competition can lead to more choice, lower prices and better quality services for Canadians," Clement said.

Thank you Hollywood Reporter


A.
www.chicas-productions.com
Posted by Essentials by APA at 12:09 AM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)