CRTC Calls Out Rogers For Internet Throttling

CRTC asks the cable giant to come clean with customers

January 14, 2011 – Last fall Rogers customers reported problems accessing content after the company experimented with its traffic-slowing technology. A Canadian citizen, Mr. Justin McKillican, complained that the cable giant broke the CRTC’s Net Neutrality (Traffic Management) rules by not disclosing the practice. Yesterday the CRTC sent a letter to Rogers advising that it has received a growing number of complaints and that its public disclosures have not been compliant with CRTC Internet traffic management policy requirements. The letter added that it has received additional complaints about the practices and wants a response from Rogers by February 14, 2011.

National Internet openness coalition, SaveOurNet.ca, commends the CRTC for following up on the complaint, but is concerned by its focus on disclosure, rather than the anti-competitive throttling that Rogers has since admitted to. Discriminating against online P2P services could be considered unjust by CRTC’s guidelines, and yet this has not been addressed in the letter. Even if Rogers complies with the letter, unjust Internet throttling will continue unpunished.

The SaveOurNet.ca Coalition renews its call for OpenMedia.ca again calls on Industry Minister Tony Clement to mandate CRTC Internet openness audits of Canadian ISPs.

“This is a good first step, but the CRTC needs to actually put a stop to unjust throttling of online services”, said Steve Anderson, National Coordinator of the SaveOurNet Coalition and OpenMedia.ca. Anderson added, “Allowing this to continue is anti-competitive, bad for consumer choice, and stifles online innovation. Canadians want more than transparency, they want the CRTC to ensure the Internet remains a level playing field.”

Canadians can send letters to Tony Clement at: http://www.saveournet.ca/action

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Contact

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

SaveOurNet.ca is a coalition of citizens, businesses, and public interest groups fighting to protect our Internet's level playing field.

OpenMedia.ca is a national, non-partisan, non-profit public engagement organization working to advance and support an open communications system in Canada. Representing over 450,000 Canadians OpenMedia.ca is Canada's largest network of organizations and people defending digital rights for Canadians.

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