Category broadband

Image for Bill C-288: Taking your voice to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science, and Technology

Bill C-288: Taking your voice to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science, and Technology

With your help, we told the government that people deserve to get what they’re paying for when it comes to Internet speeds.
Image for BREAKING: New CRTC Announcement means more choice and cheaper Internet prices for Canadians

BREAKING: New CRTC Announcement means more choice and cheaper Internet prices for Canadians

By lowering wholesale broadband Internet rates, the CRTC is lowering barriers for small Internet providers to enter the market!
Image for Federal government announces $1.7 billion investment for high-speed Internet, but questions as to implementation remain

Federal government announces $1.7 billion investment for high-speed Internet, but questions as to implementation remain

The new coordinated broadband fund is a critical commitment from the government, but missing details on the implementation of the plan leave doubt as to how far this promise will go.
Image for The Future of Canada’s Internet Is In Our Hands

The Future of Canada’s Internet Is In Our Hands

Our best chance in decades to put the public interest at the heart of the laws that govern Canada’s Internet is here. This is how we seize it.
Image for Advocates stunned by CRTC’s decision to cut its own Internet speed targets in half for new Broadband Fund

Advocates stunned by CRTC’s decision to cut its own Internet speed targets in half for new Broadband Fund

Canadians are calling on Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains to send the decision back to the CRTC for reconsideration immediately
Image for CRTC report reveals low-income Canadians spending up to 8% of monthly income on communications services

CRTC report reveals low-income Canadians spending up to 8% of monthly income on communications services

Lower cost options are desperately needed to ensure that people are not left behind
Image for Lower cell phone bills are about more than affordability. They help to bridge the digital divide

Lower cell phone bills are about more than affordability. They help to bridge the digital divide

The need for affordable cellphone plans in Canada is essential to bridge the digital divide and provide more Canadians with the array of socio-economic benefits the Internet affords.
Image for So Long and Thanks for All the Comments

So Long and Thanks for All the Comments

It’s goodbye, but it’s not the end. Thank you for everything, and let’s keep working to build a more just world, online and off.
Image for We won! Internet is a basic service for all Canadians!

We won! Internet is a basic service for all Canadians!

This is an incredible, historic moment. The CRTC has just ruled that high-speed Internet is now a basic service, essential to our everyday life.
Image for Big Win for Canadians, as CRTC forces Big Telecom to lower wholesale rates

Big Win for Canadians, as CRTC forces Big Telecom to lower wholesale rates

Regulator steps in to significantly reduce wholesale high-speed access rates charged to independent ISPs, after finding telecom giants ignored accepted costing principles
Image for We can finally put an end to data caps—but will the CRTC listen?

We can finally put an end to data caps—but will the CRTC listen?

Canadians now have a unique opportunity to end mean-spirited data caps as the CRTC announces public consultation, and your OpenMedia team is on board to ensure affordable home broadband and wireless services for all.
Image for Data Caps and Overage Fees: What ISPs Aren’t Telling You

Data Caps and Overage Fees: What ISPs Aren’t Telling You

Telecom companies are keeping Canadians on a short leash when it comes to data caps.
Image for Why are Telus and Bell fighting against ambitious speed targets?

Why are Telus and Bell fighting against ambitious speed targets?

At the CRTC’s broadband hearings, some ISPs are arguing internet speeds are fine. Those same companies deliver some of the slowest services to customers.
Image for ‘You bring a generational change’: Watch OpenMedia present at the CRTC’s Broadband hearings

‘You bring a generational change’: Watch OpenMedia present at the CRTC’s Broadband hearings

OpenMedia commended for bringing a generational change to the CRTC’s broadband basic service offerings hearings.
Image for Speaking up for affordable Internet for all Canadians

Speaking up for affordable Internet for all Canadians

We delivered feedback from over 40,000 people to the CRTC, calling for action to ensure 100% of Canadians have affordable, high-speed Internet access 
Image for Only one in three Canadians are happy with cost of home Internet service

Only one in three Canadians are happy with cost of home Internet service

Data shows Canadians pay some of the highest prices in the industrialized world for middle of the road service.
Image for Budget 2016 investment could have significant impact on rural Internet across Canada

Budget 2016 investment could have significant impact on rural Internet across Canada

Announced investment is a welcome start, but the devil will be in the details.
Image for Aphabeatic: Germany’s broadband plan shames Canada (again)

Aphabeatic: Germany’s broadband plan shames Canada (again)

Germany will have affordable internet connections of at least 50 Mbps by 2018. The Harper government promised 5 Mbps by 2019. Enough said... Which party do you think will do a better job at ensuring Canadians get faster, cheaper Internet? Let us know in the comments below! Article by Peter Nowak for Alphabeatic
Image for Toronto Star: CRTC looks to the future with ruling on high-speed Internet access - Geist

Toronto Star: CRTC looks to the future with ruling on high-speed Internet access - Geist

CRTC's recent ruling on high-speed fibre networks ensures a significant step forward for Canadians’ ability to access affordable Internet options independent of Canada’s large telecom providers. You got us here by speaking out, and believing that we could build a better Internet for Canada. And decision-makers at the CRTC listened! Article by Michael Geist for the Toronto Star
Image for CBC: DEBATE! Is access to high speed internet a right?

CBC: DEBATE! Is access to high speed internet a right?

DEBATE! Is the Internet a human right? What do Canadians stand to gain from the CRTC's basic services hearing? (faster, cheaper Internet, maybe?) Our own Josh Tabish went on CBC's 'The 180' to argue YES! against Roslyn Layton, Ph.D. fellow in Internet economics at the Center for Communication, Media and Information Technologies at Aalborg University in Denmark. Check out this article to hear the full 15 minute debate recording and read a summary of the discussion: Article by the CBC
Image for  Our crowdsourced policy became government policy. The CRTC heard your call, Canada.

Our crowdsourced policy became government policy. The CRTC heard your call, Canada.

We Won! As you may have heard, a major ruling on Wednesday from the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ensures a significant step forward for Canadians’ ability to access affordable Internet options independent of Canada’s large telecom providers. In short, the ruling creates fair rules forcing Big Telecom to make their digital infrastructure available to small independent ISPs (i.e., outside of Big Telecom) at a reasonable rate, so they are empowered to sell ultra-fast fibre Internet services to Canadians. This means faster, cheaper fibre connections could be coming to your household soon!
Image for Measure the health of Canada’s Internet and… win an awesome gaming rig?

Measure the health of Canada’s Internet and… win an awesome gaming rig?

Over the past couple months, our small team at OpenMedia has been helping get the word out on a big project designed to measure the health of Canada’s Internet: CIRA’s Internet Performance Tool. But today, our friends at CIRA (Canadian Internet Registration Authority) have partnered with NCIX, a major Canadian retailer of computer components, to bring you an awesome contest – and we thought you might want to know about it.
Image for Globe and Mail: Coalition calls on CRTC to force expansion of broadband access

Globe and Mail: Coalition calls on CRTC to force expansion of broadband access

Article by Christine Dobby for The Globe and Mail  A coalition of groups representing consumers, seniors and anti-poverty activists is calling on Canada’s telecom regulator to force industry players to expand access to high-speed Internet for low-income households and those living in rural areas.
Image for Vancouver 24hs: BC groups push CRTC for cheaper Internet

Vancouver 24hs: BC groups push CRTC for cheaper Internet

Ensure Canadians get faster, cheaper Interner while there's still time! Speak out at UnblockCanada.ca Article by Stefania Seccia for Vancouver 24hs.  This Tuesday is the deadline to submit initial comments on the fast-approaching hearings for cheaper, faster Internet — and so far 25,000 people have signed a petition and scores of others intend to hold a Vancouver rally in support of it.
Image for Washington Post: Even U.S. Bourbon makers call for more ISP choice

Washington Post: Even U.S. Bourbon makers call for more ISP choice

Canadians deserve faster, cheaper Internet choices independent of Big Telecom. Even U.S. Bourbon makers at Jim Beam have figured this out, and are calling on THEIR leaders in the U.S. to increase ISP choice. Read about their call below and call on our leaders to do the same in Canada at UnblockCanada.ca/ Article by Brian Fung for the Washington Post What does a centuries-old whiskey company have to do with the Internet?
Image for Canada’s historic chance to be the fastest team on the ice

Canada’s historic chance to be the fastest team on the ice

Right now, we face a unique opportunity to kickstart Canada’s Internet, and improve the level of service Canadians can access into the 21st century. The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission has begun their review of what constitutes basic Internet service in Canada, and their deadline for input is rapidly approaching. This is a tremendous opportunity for us to stand together, and demand access to faster, cheaper Internet for 100% of Canadians. For years, Canada has had one of the least ambitious digital strategies in the industrialized world, with Internet experts like Michael Geist asking, “Why does Canada still lack a coherent broadband goal?” I mean, think about this: in 2015, the U.S. government set their basic broadband speed to be 25Mbps. What’s Canada’s target? 5 Mbps… By 2019. This is embarrassing, but the government can change our targets if we speak out now. It’s no secret that Big Telecom has you locked into some of the slowest and most expensive Internet service in the industrialized world. It’s not fair: we deserve the same level of service as our international counterparts. When it comes to Internet speeds, Canada doesn’t want to be just a contender. We want to be the fastest team on the ice. Now, the good news is that the CRTC’s review of basic telecommunications services is rapidly approaching and could ensure all Canadians have access to faster, cheaper Internet for future generations. But we’re short on time. Add your name NOW, and we’ll send your message before their final deadline.
Image for New report: Canada falling further behind global counterparts on Internet access

New report: Canada falling further behind global counterparts on Internet access

This week, experts at the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) – the body that oversees Canada’s .ca domain – released their 2014 Factbook, which chronicles Canada’s advancement on Internet issues over the past year. The Factbook investigates how well-positioned Canadians are in the areas of access, cost, and usage. The report shows Canada continues to slip further behind our global counterparts. For example, Canada has crashed from 2nd place in 2001 on broadband penetration amongst industrialized nations to 16th place in 2014.

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