‘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.

I started at OpenMedia two weeks ago. Last Thursday, I watched my new colleagues Josh Tabish and Laura Tribe, with our consultant Dr. David Ellis, present at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission on behalf of Canadians.

Their submission was clear, thoughtful and interesting — which is saying a lot for a 90-minute intervention on telecom policy. OpenMedia’s ability to distil dense government policy on technical issues into straightforward concepts that affect people’s daily lives, and then translate that unease with the way things are into action, is something I’ve admired for years.

As an online journalist, making information interesting, engaging and entertaining has been my guiding principle during the last decade while working with organizations like the CBC, Calgary Herald and now-defunct OpenFile.

The CRTC chair himself thanked OpenMedia for bringing people to the hearing.

“You do bring a generational change to those that attend our hearing,” said Jean-Pierre Blais (see para. 19492), noting how the hearing room was full of supporters — most rallied by OM to come out in a show of solidarity.

University of Ottawa communications professor Dwayne Winseck, who presented earlier in the hearings on behalf of the Canadian Media Concentration Research Project, also pointed to the vitality OpenMedia brought.

Room is full @ #talkbroadband& that's b/c @OpenMediaOrg brings boring telecom policy 2 life. It's a key role & 1 I wish existed when I bgan

— Dwayne Winseck (@mediamorphis) April 28, 2016

Gr8 things bout @OpenMediaOrg is that it marshalls wide range of ppl's excitement re usually boring topic: telecom policy #talkbroadband

— Dwayne Winseck (@mediamorphis) April 28, 2016

Watch it for yourself, OpenMedia’s portion starts at 1:53:36 in. The prepared presentation is 10 minutes long, and if you really want to nerd out, there’s another hour and a half of smart questions and considerate answers.  

As OpenMedia made clear in the presentation — ensuring all Canadians have access to affordable, reliable internet won't be easy. It won't happen overnight, but with enough of us raising our voice, it can happen.

If you haven’t already, sign (and share) our petition at UnblockCanada.ca and help us keep the pressure up so the CRTC does the right thing, and plants a bold flag for Canada’s digital future.