With the CRTC's latest ruling allowing Bell Canada to continue to throttle and limit it's customers data transmission the anwser is really easy. Use your rights as consumers and stop giving them any business.
Why is this an important issue? Net throttling gives Big Telecom corporations, such as Bell, Shaw, & Telus, complete control over Canadians access to the Internet. It also limits the competition from smaller Internet Service Providers (ISP's) who are wholesale customers. Through the use of throttling, Big Telecom puts customers of smaller ISP's at a disadvantage in being able to offer the same type of connectivity, fast data transmission time.
I'm not sure why this also hasn't been investigated by the Competition Bureau under the Competition Act of Canada, because this also seems like an effort by Big Telecom to create monopolies and cut out their competition.
Fundamentally, Net Neutrality is an issue of democracy and free speech. With the rise in the popularity, use and freedom of speech that the Internet provides to global citizens, corporate media and political leaders have essentially lost control of how they can control citizens access to information. Think about it, prior to the Internet, almost everything citizens knew was through corporate and local media. Our understanding of every issue that we weren't directly involved in was filtered and disseminated by the media outlets. The control of Big Media (which was often a vehicle of the political and ruling elites) has diminished and corporate media knows it is dying a slow, gasping death. Look at CanWest & CTV's staffing cuts. It would be oversimplifying it to say that's the only reason, but it's important.
As a purveyor of independent news & media, obviously I come from a perspective that Net Neutrality and free speech should be promoted and are of far more relevance than protectionism of Big Telecom's profits. Let's face it, if it weren't for free speech and the Internet, there are so many things the general public would never hear about. So many things that citizens in this fine democracy of Canada would not know about our elected officials and what they're up to on our time and dime.
For instance, did you see the federal NDP's shadow cabinet announcement? I read numerous media outlets every day, didn't see a thing reported. Considering that these MP's were elected by citizens, I think it is in the public's interest to know who they can go to about the many issues that impact life in Canada. I think it's important we know that Glenn Thibeault is the Opposition critic for Consumer Protection. So the citizens of Canada can contact him about Net Neutrality and other relevant consumer issues.: Thibeault.G@parl.gc.ca
A larger argument exists, that Internet throttling is the slippery slope in the cessation of free Internet access. The idea is that the real "plan is to convert the Internet into a cable-like system, where customers sign up for specific web sites, and then pay to visit sites beyond a cutoff point."
"Mike Finch of American Free Press stated that the 'demise' of the free Internet is slated for 2010 in Canada, and two years later around the world! Canada is seen a good choice to implement such shameful and sinister changes, since Canadians are viewed as being laissez fair, politically uninformed and an easy target." He claims that sources working within Big Telecom corporations have leaked this information.
The Official Decision: The Canadian Association of Internet Providers' application regarding Bell Canada's traffic shaping of its wholesale Gateway Access Service
Reference: 8622-C51-200805153
Tell the CRTC's Chair Konrad von Finckenstein what you think about this decision here.
Or call him @ 1-819-997-3430.
Here is a list of CRTC Provincial & Territorial Commissioners to contact them.
Interested parties may submit their comments by February 16, 2009. They may do so by filling out the online form, by writing to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N2, or by fax, at 819-994-0218. The Commission also plans to hold an online consultation to allow the public the opportunity to discuss the issues and questions related to the Internet traffic management practices of ISPs.
Read more about Net Neutrality & Fair Copyright from Michael Geist
CRTC allows Bell to continue internet throttling
Net neutrality takes a big hit
By DHARM MAKWANA, 24 HOURS
Net neutrality took another big hit, local advocates said yesterday.
The CRTC ruled Bell Canada can continue to “throttle” its customers by limiting the quantity of data transmitted on its network at certain times or by certain software usually used for sharing files the size of computer programs, movies or albums.
Steve Anderson, with SaveOurNet.ca, said Bell systems aren’t sophisticated enough to distinguish between the illegal distribution of software and legal use.
“Other services such as phone over Internet or streaming services for the news would be throttled,” he said. “This limits consumer choice onlne, bad for online innovation and bad for freedom of expression.
See Global National's Stop the Throttler video.
For more information about Internet freedom: savetheinternet.com
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