Net Neutrality / Internet Throttling Debate

[tissot]

Does it work outside the city? We travel a lot so that was an issue when we were cell phone provider shopping

If you're traveling within the GTA then you should be fine. So far the only cities that support Mobilicity's network are Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton, and Vancouver.

 

[JLankford]

Another hearing @ 330-530 pm, featuring TekSavvy's Rocky Gaudrault & George Burger, Primus' Matt Stein, Jean-Francois Mezei (the sexy Habs fan from Vaxination Informatique), and many more. Not sure if this one will stream live on CPAC, but I hope so.

 

[Jonny5]

This thread has been quiet for a while, but a lot has been going on lately. We may have new rules in place this year.

A lot of people compare our data usage situation unfavorably to the US. I have noticed a lot of news stories in the past year that indicate they are slowly tightening usage restrictions. A lot of the famous unlimited download plans have been abolished. I just found this today: Comcast now terminates your account for using more than 250GB a month.

 

[khris]

What did Rogers have to say today? I didn't see anything in the news.

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

Under a Conservative majority we will see things only get worse in this country for Internet customers, not better. The good old days of the 'net are coming to an end, the Wild West has been civilized.

 

[JLankford]

I've no confidence the Conservatives will live up to their end of things, and save us from the CRTC's blatant agenda, and/or stupidity.

Tony Clement, prior to the elections, was none stop on Twitter going on about how they were going to fight the CRTC and keep net neutrality alive. Now he's been nearly silent on the issue.

Charlie Angus (NDP) is the one MP I really see taking an interest in this, although I hope there are others I'm just not seeing.

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

I've no confidence the Conservatives will live up to their end of things, and save us from the CRTC's blatant agenda, and/or stupidity.

Tony Clement, prior to the elections, was none stop on Twitter going on about how they were going to fight the CRTC and keep net neutrality alive. Now he's been nearly silent on the issue.

Charlie Angus (NDP) is the one MP I really see taking an interest in this, although I hope there are others I'm just not seeing.

I got this robo-response when I wrote him back in March:

Dear Sir or Madam:

Thank you for expressing your concerns regarding usage-based billing (UBB)
for Internet services. It is essential that I hear the views of Canadians
on the issues that matter. Prime Minister Harper and I have been clear
that we cannot support imposing a UBB business model on wholesale Internet
service providers.

Our government recognizes that the Internet and digital technologies are
an increasingly important part of everyday life—including driving
innovation, commerce and social interaction. As the government develops
Canada’s first comprehensive Digital Economy Strategy, we need to look
carefully at how issues like UBB affect the big picture. We will be
guided by our long-standing policies of encouraging competition and
investment, increasing consumer choice, minimizing regulation and allowing
market forces to prevail.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has
chosen to examine these concerns that the government shares with a large
number of Canadians. Details of the CRTC consultation are available at
www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/com100/2011/r110208.htm.

When the CRTC reaches a final decision following its consultations, the
government will carefully assess the CRTC position to ensure that it is in
line with the best interests of Canadian consumers and encourages
competition among internet service providers. I will be recommending that
any decision counter to these foundational principles be reversed.
You can find the latest news on the government’s Digital Economy Strategy
and related issues at www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ic1.nsf/eng/h_00008.html.

Once again, thank you for writing. I trust that this information is
helpful.

Yours sincerely,



Tony Clement