CRTC decision on Internet throttling pits 'innovation and free speech versus monopoly'. Canadians encouraged to get involved in the debate over Canada's open Internet and 'Net Neutrality' -- before a vital February 16 deadline.
Vancouver (10 Feb. 2009) - A national coalition of Internet democracy watchdogs is urging Canadians to get involved in the debate over Canada's open Internet and "Net Neutrality" -- before a vital February 16 deadline.
The CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) is investigating the controversial practice of "throttling" or deliberately slowing down Canadians' Internet speeds.
Several large Canadian Internet service providers have been caught throttling consumers and competitors in recent months, including a high-profile case involving Bell Canada in November.
February 16 is the last day for the public to submit their own comments and arguments to the commission on the issue, online at saveournet.ca.
National coalition campaigning to protect an open Internet
SaveOurNet.ca, a coalition of media watchdogs, industry and public interest groups, says the debate pits the interests of monopoly against the larger interests of Canadian innovation, democracy and a healthy 21st century economy.
SaveOurNet.ca co-founder Steve Anderson said today, "there needs to be some basic rules in place to protect Canadian citizens and businesses from being unfairly throttled, blocked or squeezed out by a few telecom giants. If we don't protect the Internet's level playing field from unfair monopoly -- as the U.S. and other countries now are -- Canadian innovation and new media will lose out."
This is a sentiment shared by James Clancy, the president of the 340,000 member National Union of Public and General Employees.
In a letter to the federal government he said that “concerns over Internet neutrality are rising and there has been a lack of action to date on the part of the government to protect consumers and producers from abusive practices such as traffic throttling … your government must act to ensure the Internet is open and accessible to all Canadians."
"Considering the challenges facing our economy, we should actively support our home grown social, cultural, and economic innovation, not punish it by allowing big telecommunication companies to strangle the lifeblood of innovation - the open Internet."
CRTC hearings to consider future of Internet
In March of 2008 the National Union asked the CRTC to investigate the throttling practices of Bell Canada. Demands for CRTC or government intervention to protect net neutrality have grown since then.
Complaints to the CRTC over throttling come at a time of growing public frustration with Canada's large telecom companies, including recent class-action lawsuits, websites and Facebook groups protesting cell phone rates, and a public rally on Parliament Hill against throttling last spring.
A handful of large phone and cable companies dominate over 90% of Canada's broadband market, leaving consumers with few choices, some of the highest prices in the industrialized world, and mounting evidence that Canada is falling behind other countries in broadband adoption, speed and affordability.
The movement to protect an open Internet recently received a high-profile boost in the U.S., where President Barack Obama and the new chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) both publicly support Net Neutrality.
Steve Anderson said today, "We applaud the CRTC for taking this issue on. Canadians need to encourage the CRTC to consider the bigger picture of monopoly versus innovation. We should protect a basic principle that has been spectacularly good for the Internet in Canada and around the world. Now more than ever, we need to spur innovation and access to information -- not choke it off."
Canadians can send their comments to CRTC by visiting saveournet.ca.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
