That’s a wrap: All of OpenMedia’s submissions to the CRTC on basic Internet service levels

Here’s how we put open Internet supporters voices on the public record during the CRTC’s Review of basic telecommunications services hearing.

After more than a year collecting Canadians voices, working with experts and policy advisors, and presenting to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), OpenMedia submitted our final report on what the basic level of service for high-speed Internet in Canada should be.

This submission, put on the public record on June 13, lays out our rebuttals to the final arguments of other participants in the Review of basic telecommunications services hearing, including large incumbent Internet service providers such as Telus, Bell and Shaw.

Read our nine-page final replies submission here.

The final response from us, and other participants which can be found here, were based on final interventions submitted at the end of May.

You can also check out our submission on how Canadians should have access to high-speed Internet for $30 a month, with minimum guaranteed speeds of 5/Mbps for uploading and 5/Mbps for downloading here. If you don’t have the time to go through all 24 pages, get the gist of it, with our TL;DR blogger summation here.

Then, back in April, OpenMedia’s Josh Tabish, Laura Tribe and consultant Dr. David Ellis presented to the Commission during the hearing.

Read about how CRTC Chariman Jean-Pierre Blais thanked OpenMedia and our supporters — you — for bringing “generational change” to the hearing here.

Or, better yet, watch it for yourself, OpenMedia’s portion starts at 1:53:36 in.

You can also read our comments submitted mid-way through the proceedings in February here.

I know what you may be thinking, Dear Reader: “This is great, and I’m all riled up for more participation in policy change to make the Internet more open and free for all Canadians —  what’s next?!”

Well, have I got news for you. The Commission has already announced a new hearing that will begin on Halloween. The CRTC is asking Canadians what our laws should be around Net Neutrality and zero-rating.

Our first big deadline for this hearing is June 28.

Already, more than 15,000 Canadians have signed on to our letter to the Commission asking for four things:

• Put an end to data caps;
• Outlaw zero-rating;
• Ensure there are mechanisms for enforcement and transparency; and
• Maintain no blocking, no throttling, no paid prioritization.

If you haven’t yet, please sign on to our letter to add your voice to the public record. If you’ve already signed it — thank you! — please share it with your networks both on Facebook and Twitter.

We’re working now on our first detailed submission and will report back to you as we submit it.