The Canadian federal government has announced it will review a new regulatory procedure that effectively prohibits small internet service providers from offering customers a flat fee for unlimited downloads - a measure that critics have argued merely favors large service providers.
The regulation stems from a decision made last week by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
According to the Victoria Times-Colonist, "smaller Canadian Internet service providers, who operate via networks owned by bigger telecom firms such as BCE, will soon have to pass along the bulk of their host's charges for extra bandwidth use."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper summarily opposed the ruling, asking Industry Minister Tony Clement to lead a review of the decision.
"I will be reviewing this decision very, very quickly and will be making recommendations very, very shortly," Reuters reports Clement as saying.
Clement's decision could be made within a few days, although the regulation itself is not due to take effect until March 1.
Harper's opposition to the decision is consistent with his storied opposition to federal intervention and red tape, as the prime minister recently launched a program aimed at reducing such liabilities on the nation's small companies.
