Innovative Petition to Stop Usage-Based Billing Receives Overwhelming Number of Hits on First Day

Internet users take to social media websites to express disdain over impending billing changes

November 4, 2010 – On Monday, a photoshopped image of a parking meter, whose red ‘expired’ tag reads “Too Much Internet”, was uploaded to a website run by the media engagement organization OpenMedia.ca. In less than 24 hours over a thousand people added their names to a petition to “Stop the Meter” on their Internet use.

The innovative petition, which gathers signatures via Twitter, Facebook, and a static webpage, states that the CRTC’s decision to allow incumbent ISPs such as Bell, Rogers, and Shaw to implement usage-based billing “is a blow to consumer choice, to access, and to free expression.” Internet metering would be devastating not only for the user experience, but for all innovation and entrepreneurship online.

Less than twenty minutes after the petition was officially launched, Industry Minister Tony Clement responded with a Tweet (the Twitter version of the petition is directed to his account).

Due to the overwhelming popularity of the petition, the OpenMedia.ca network is launching an official campaign to persuade the Industry Minister, the CRTC, and all other stakeholders to put an end to usage-based billing.

“People want more Internet, not less,” said Steve Anderson, OpenMedia.ca’s National Coordinator. “Usage-based billing runs explicitly contrary to the principles of an open Internet and to consumer choice.”

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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.