Canadian telecom regulator holds public consultation on ‘differential’ Internet pricing

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has launched a five-day hearing on the topic of ‘differential pricing practices related to Internet data plans’. As reported by The Globe and Mail, the consultation was generated by a series of complaints received by the CRTC over zero-rating practices of an ISP which allows its premium customers to select music services such as Spotify and Google Music without any impact on their monthly data plans. In opening the hearing, CRTC’s chairman noted that the hearing would be focused on the following questions: ‘Can it be demonstrated that any preference and advantage conferred by [zero-rating] practices is not undue or unreasonable? And that any discrimination is not unjust? How and with what evidence? What regulatory measures, if any, should the Commission implement?’