Cell Phone Horror: Weekly News Update from OpenMedia.ca

Hello,  Here's Lindsey with your update:

Great news: decision-makers at the CRTC have finally agreed to develop national rules to protect cell phone users! But to do it right, they need to hear your cell phone horror story. Yesterday, we launched a tool for you to do just that, so please take a moment to tell your story now.

For the Internet, 

- The OpenMedia.ca Team

Recent News

Globe and Mail: Online campaign takes on 'telecom price-gouging'

Last week, the CRTC put forth a call for public comments to help shape the future of Canada's wireless market. This week, we're launching a new campaign to ensure that Canadian voices are heard loud and clear.

With your support in speaking out, we're already gaining traction in media outlets nationwide. Make your voice heard and share your story to the CRTC at CellPhoneHorrorStory.ca. Read more »

Cell Phone Horror Stories

Have you ever been overcharged, put on hold for an unconscionable amount of time, or otherwise treated unfairly by a cell phone company?

...That means you have a cell phone horror story. Tell us what happened at http://CellPhoneHorrorStory.ca, and we’ll use it to push for new rules ensuring cell phone fairness, affordability, and choice.

People like you have been speaking out about unfair treatment from big telecom companies, and you’ve had an effect... Read more »

Canadians invited to tell their cell phone horror stories, as CRTC considers new protections

Public interest group asks citizens to show the human side of a broken cell phone market

October 17, 2012 – In response to the CRTC’s recent call for citizen comments about national standards to protect cell phone users, grassroots group OpenMedia.ca is calling on Canadians for their cell phone horror stories. The group is also voicing concern that the Big Three cell phone companies (Bell, Rogers, and Telus) will use the CRTC process to weaken consumer protections.

On Thursday last week, the CRTC (Canada’s telecom authority) requested citizen input on the development of a code of conduct for wireless companies. Canadians have been speaking out about unfair treatment from big telecom companies for years.

OpenMedia.ca is launching CellPhoneHorrorStory.ca today to give citizens an easy way to make the CRTC aware of the real human consequences of our broken cell phone market. The Big Three cell phone companies (Bell, Rogers and Telus) control nearly 94% of the market and many Canadians feel trapped by long-term restrictive contracts, price-gouging and disrespectful customer service. Read more »

Over +115,000 signatures on StopTheTrap.net

Thanks to your support, we've reached 115,000 signatures on our campaign against the Trans-Pacific Partnership and its invasive Internet provisions. That's 115,000 citizens worldwide who won't stand for a restricted Internet, won't allow the collection of our private data and won't put up with harsh criminalized fines for everyday users.

We're amplifying our 115,000 voices and we're not done yet. Help us put the TPP's Internet trap to bed by signing and sharing our petition at StopTheTrap.net. Read more »

Macleans: Trans-Pacific Partnership could choke the free Internet

With Canada formally joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade negotiations last week, invasive copyright provisions could cost Canadians in having their personal data compromised, online access restricted and Internet actions criminalized.

Join over 115,000 people worldwide in speaking out for Internet freedom at StopTheTrap.net.

Article by Jesse Brown for Macleans

Yesterday, Heritage Minister James Moore announced that Canada has formally joined the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a group that is discussing a major trade agreement among us and Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the U.S., and Vietnam. The deal is at the negotiation stage now, but all countries at the table are expected to sign in late 2013. Read more »

Is the Online Spying Bill C-30 gone for good?

A recent article has suggested that with the prolonged Parliamentary absence of Online Spying Bill C-30 – the warrantless legislation that would compromise Canadian Internet security – it could in fact be gone for good.

We're staying vigilant and pushing our government for a definitive promise to all Canadians that these costly and invasive measures won't resurface.

Tell your MP to stand with us and speak out against Bill C-30 at StopSpying.ca. Read more on this news article at The Globe & Mail. Read more »

The Georgia Straight: CRTC eyes new wireless rules, asks Canadians to help

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has announced they will hold a public hearing and consultation to create measures that will protect cell phone users. We're making headway in fixing our broken telecom market thanks to your support of our StopTheSqueeze.ca campaign and our crowdsourced Action Plan.

Read more on these developments in our Press Release, send your comments to the CRTC via email, regular mail or fax and stay tuned for more information on how you can make your voice be heard.

Article by Stephen Thomson for The Georgia Straight

OpenMedia, a Vancouver-based open-Internet advocacy group, is pleased the CRTC is developing a retail code intended to protect users of mobile wireless services.

The CRTC said Canadians have complained about the cost of such services, how clear contracts are, how prices are advertised, and customer service quality. Read more »

OpenMedia.ca pleased with CRTC plans to protect Canadian cell phone users

Grassroots group lauds announcement of public consultation for national rules for wireless

October 11, 2012 – Today, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced today they will hold a public hearing to develop measures to protect cell phone users.

Grassroots group OpenMedia.ca is welcomes this consultation, noting that with only three large companies controlling 94 percent of the cell phone market in Canada, there simply isn’t enough choice to ensure Canadians are getting a fair deal. Read more »