NUPGE asks federal Liberals to join net neutrality campaign

The principle of net neutrality must be 'enshrined in Canadian law.' - James Clancy

Ottawa (28 April 2008) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is asking Opposition Leader Stéphane Dion to support its "campaign for government action" to protect the neutrality of the Internet in Canada.

"The National Union has become increasingly concerned about the threat to net neutrality and the failure of the Harper government to act to protect consumers and producers of Internet material," NUPGE president James Clancy writes in a letter to Dion.

Enclosed with the letter was a copy of NUPGE"s recent report, The Internet: accessibility and net neutrality. Download PDF

"On behalf of the 340,000 members of the National Union, I am asking the Liberal Party of Canada to take a clear stand in support of seeing the principle of net neutrality enshrined in Canadian law," Clancy says.

"The Internet promises a great deal of benefit to Canadians. Past governments have made considerable investments into developing communications technologies – including the Internet. Our federal government needs to act to ensure the intention of this public investment is realized – an Internet that is open and accessible to all Canadians."

'Throttling' and 'traffic shaping'

Clancy said recent actions by Bell Canada to 'throttle' Internet access for Sympatico users and revelations that Rogers is engaging in 'traffic shaping' have quickly escalated the issue of net neutrality to a serious public concern.

"It is noteworthy that Bell’s announcement followed closely upon growing reports from Sympatico customers that their attempts to download the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation episodes of Canada’s Next Great Prime Minister were being interfered with. These Canadians were trying to download a file which was posted free and without restriction, by their public broadcaster, for download using legal software BitTorrent," Clancy adds.

Pressure is growing on the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to address the issue of Internet neutrality following the filing of an important application by the Canadian Association of Internet Providers (CAIP).

The organization, Canada's largest Internet service provider (ISP) association, has asked the CRTC to direct Bell Canada to stop 'throttling' its wholesale Internet service. This request follows a letter from the National Union calling on the CRTC to conduct public hearings on the issue.

Noted Internet law expert Michael Geist calls the CAIP application "the most significant legal development in the Canadian net neutrality debate yet, since it places the issue squarely before the commission."

"The filing provides additional insights into Bell's action – the throttling has reduced speeds by as much as 90% – and marks an important milestone since the outcome will provide a clear answer on whether Canadian law currently protects net neutrality or if legislative reform is needed,” Geist says.

Lagging the Americans

Clancy says Bell and Rogers are not the first cases in Canada of an Internet service provider interfering with customer access to web content.

"The most notorious example is when Telus blocked access to the website of its striking workers (along with hundreds of other websites)," he noted.

"Our American neighbours are taking this form of interference in Internet service very seriously. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States is conducting an investigation into the blocking of legal peer-to-peer file sharing services by Comcast and other Internet service providers." NUPGE

More information:
? Letter from James Clancy to Stéphane Dion
? The Internet: access and net neutrality
? National Union and Net Neutrality