[Advisors] Rogers cuts off rural portable internet service on Mar 1 - upgrades clients to flex data rate plans

[Norah Fountain]

Hi -sorry to use the interesting open data initiative in Toronto to sound
off on another problem, but I'd like to hear what you think about a lack of
choice for last mile situation:

Tomorrow, rural Muskokans who bought Rogers Portable Internet hubs get cut
off. They are getting upgraded to Rogers Rocket Hubs that promise download
of 7.2 and up load of 5.6. A bit faster and Sounds good, but here's the
catch. With their OLD Rogers equipment that they bought outright, they had
no limits on data usage. One fee for month - whatever data you used. Now
they are forced to accept Flex Data Plans. So if they go over, their monthl=
y
bill goes up. Permanent Muskokans have some of the lowest incomes in the
province. But they have little choice as for some, the Rogers internet is
the only internet they can access. Rogers says they can only go forward, no=
t
backward with technology. But why should the offer to their clients change
without any flexibility on their end? Rogers also told me that my client
will lose his name@rogers.com address (not a biggie you would think given
gmail etc) but many people here use Internet for their business and have
their emails printed on hard copy materials. You'd think Rogers would bend =
a
little?

Or is this just whining?



On 29/02/12 10:10 AM, "michael gurstein" <gurstein@gmail.com> wrote:

> A very interesting "open data" initiative in Toronto.
>=20
> M
>=20
> -----Original Message-----
> From: civicaccess-discuss-bounces@civicaccess.ca
> [mailto:civicaccess-discuss-bounces@civicaccess.ca] On Behalf Of Harvey L=
ow
> Sent: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 5:53 AM
> To: CivicAccess-discuss@civicaccess.ca
> Subject: [CivicAccess-discuss] Wellbeing Toronto input please...
>=20
>=20
> This posting is sent from my role as Project Manager for Toronto's still
> relatively new online "open data" mapping application called "Wellbeing
> Toronto" (www.toronto.ca/wellbeing). For those that don't know about it (=
we
> did not engage in any formal media release) this app is a new way to
> distribute govt data within a business context (in this case healthy
> neighbourhoods).  We just finished  yesterday building in links for the d=
ata
> to be passed to the city's Open Data Website which now means easier pass =
of
> data across both open data initiatives here at the city and thus ensuring
> the same "date vintage". We will be providing enhancements this summer wh=
ich
> will permit the download of address based human services as well once we =
get
> past a few more internal approvals. Please give it a try as we wish to
> solicit input as we move forward in more data and enhancements for the
> public. Its not perfect but a start. Thanks.
>=20
> Harvey Low
> City of Toronto
> =20
> _______________________________________________
> CivicAccess-discuss mailing list CivicAccess-discuss@civicaccess.ca
> http://lists.pwd.ca/mailman/listinfo/civicaccess-discuss
>=20
> _______________________________________________
> Advisors mailing list
> Advisors@tc.ca
> http://victoria.tc.ca/mailman/listinfo/advisors
>=20

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Norah Fountain=20
Communications Specialist
Your message is my life=B9s work.
T: 705.762.2122

Strategist. Writer. Speaker.