Liberals Join OpenMedia.ca to Take on Root Cause of New Internet Fees

The Liberal response comes alongside comments from over 85,000 Canadians who have written to the CRTC asking them to re-examine the structure of the Internet service industry, and overhaul of the regulatory framework for broadband competition in Canada.

In the Liberal submission to the CRTC and an email to party members, technology critic Marc Garneau slammed the Conservatives for their current lack of a digital strategy, and failure to “ensure fairness and transparency in building Canada’s Internet capacity” going forward. The email also directly encouraged support for OpenMedia.ca’s campaign.

On Friday NDP's Charlie Angus also responded to OpenMedia.ca's letter from the by making a submission calling the CRTC to broaden the scope of the hearing.

Steve Anderson, OpenMedia.ca’s executive director, says that government support for the expansion of the CRTC proceeding is vital. “In order to move forward we need to address the structural problems that led up to the usage-based billing,” said Anderson.

"We're thrilled to see two major political parties joining Canadians to take on the deeper problems in our telecom system. The Internet is essential infrastructure for the 21st century economy and society at large, and we all need to come together to fix it. I hope the Conservative Government will join us as well."

OpenMedia.ca has a phone meeting with Industry Minister Tony Clement on Tuesday and will raise this issue with him if he hasn't responded yet.

Canadians can send in their comments about the UBB proceeding 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 telecommunications 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 470,000 names have now been added to the website, Facebook, Twitter, and in print.