Citizen Outcry Over Internet Metering Garners a Response from the CRTC

Media Regulator May Take Steps Toward Increased ISP Competitiveness

February 8, 2011 – One The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has today taken a small step toward creating a more affordable Internet for Canadians, says citizen engagement group OpenMedia.ca. The Commission has launched a proceeding to reexamine billing practices between Big Telecom and independent Internet service providers (indie ISPs).

In describing the motive for the proceeding, the CRTC cited “the great concern expressed by Canadians” over their Internet metering decision. The citizen outcry over this move toward higher prices for Internet, which included over the 400,000 citizens who signed OpenMedia.ca’s Stop The Meter petition, has finally influenced the policy-makers.

Though the CRTC continues to use the largely discredited rhetoric of “ordinary” customers funding the practices of “heavy” Internet users, it has also reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that there exist competitive alternatives to large Internet distributors.

“Citizens who have come together to voice their opposition to Internet metering have another victory to enjoy today,” said OpenMedia.ca’s national coordinator Steve Anderson. “The CRTC, a body whose existence does not depend on voters’ wills, has been moved by a strong and unified public.

“If the political action surrounding usage-based billing had not yet demonstrated the awesome power of the Internet, surely this move by the Commission is a testament to the leveling of ground between citizens and policy-makers.”

The CRTC is now seeking input on whether, on a regulatory level, caps should be included in the sale of bandwidth, and may hold an online or oral public hearing in coming months. Canadians can submit their comments through the OpenMedia.ca website at: http://openmedia.ca/crtc

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Contact

Lindsey Pinto
Communications Manager, OpenMedia.ca
778-238-7710
[email protected]

About OpenMedia.ca

OpenMedia.ca is a national, non-partisan, non-profit public engagement organization working to advance and support an open and innovative communications system in Canada. Our primary goal is to increase public awareness and informed participation in Canadian media, cultural, information, and telecommunication policy formation.

About Stop The Meter

In October, Canadians were outraged by the news that the CRTC had decided to allow Bell and other big Internet service providers (ISPs) to impose new fees on independent ISPs – usage-based billing. Now every Internet user in Canada is likely to feel the sting of a less affordable Internet, and a less competitive Internet service market. Recognizing the importance of this issue, OpenMedia.ca launched the Stop The Meter campaign.

Since its inception, this multi-platform petition, based at http://www.StopTheMeter.ca and in French at http://openmedia.ca/compteur, become a record breaker and a game changer. Over 400,000 names have now been added to the website, Facebook, Twitter, and in print.