CRTC indecision a set back to Internet freedom

CRTC indecision a set back to Internet freedom

Ruling allows Bell to continue limiting open access to the Internet

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2008: In a disappointing move, the CRTC has chosen not to force Bell Canada to stop its internet throttling practices. The CRTC decision comes in response to a request from the Canadian Association of Internet Providers (CAIP) for immediate relief from throttling for the third-party businesses that lease the Bell Canada network. More than 2,000 Canadians filed letters with the CRTC supporting CAIP’s request.


On April 3, CAIP asked the CRTC for interim relief from Bell’s throttling practices while the CRTC decide whether or not Bell Canada should have the ability to throttle at all. CAIP submitted that Bell’s throttling practices violated telecommunication regulations, provided Bell with an unfair market advantage, and interfered with personal online privacy. Bell Canada was also criticized for enacting these changes without warning to the third-party Internet service providers who lease from Bell.


While the CRTC agreed that Bell Canada’s throttling practices are a serious issue, the Commission refused to interfere and grant relief for those affected. The CRTC found that Bell’s throttling was not proven to cause “irreparable harm” to CAIP as CAIP could not provide documentation of lost customers or revenue. The Commission also noted that the public’s interest is not a factor in considering whether irreparable harm may or may not occur.


“It’s disappointing that Canadian consumers affected by Bell’s throttling aren’t going to get any immediate relief,” Campaign for Democratic Media National Coordinator Steve Anderson says. “But the CRTC still needs to address CAIP’s original complaint. Throttling is about a few large Internet service providers controlling a network and extracting undeserved profits; it affects not just smaller Internet service providers but also Canadian consumers. Given the seriousness of this issue, the CRTC should hold public hearings on net neutrality in cities across the country ”.


Campaign for Democratic Media encourages all Canadians to continue to take action on the issue of net neutrality by visiting http://stopthethrottler.ca.


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Campaign for Democratic Media! is a national, non-profit, non-partisan media reform network working to increase informed public participation in Canadian media policy formation. They strive to generate policies that will produce a more competitive diverse and public service-oriented, media system with a strong non-profit and non-commercial sector.

Contact:

Steve Anderson

National Coordinator

Campaign For Democratic Media

[email protected]

Phone:(604) 837-5730