Reversal of Usage-Based Billing Decision Points to New Era of Internet Governance

Engagement Group finds Industry Ministers comments encouraging sign for Canadians

February 3, 2011 – OpenMedia.ca is reacting positively to Government's confirmation that they will enforce a reversal of at least one of the CRTC's decisions regarding Internet metering.

Considering the lack of details, and a huge spectrum of possible actions before the Government, OpenMedia.ca vows to increase the pressure until we see an end to unreasonable Internet usage fees, and big telecom is held accountable to the public.

Canadians will no longer settle for half-measures, and they expect a full overturn of the decisions that allowed Internet metering. The success of the Stop The Meter campaign thus far points to a new level of citizen engagement with Canadian Internet governance.

"Developments in the Stop The Meter campaign are bringing about a new way forward for communications in Canada," said Steve Anderson, OpenMedia.ca's national coordinator. "Canadians, in showing that they are organized and united, have moved the political process."

Anderson continued: "Canadians have seen behind the curtain now and have come to the conclusion that the future of the Internet should not be decided by lobbyists and captured regulators."

One thing is now clear: Canadians will decide the future of the Internet, not industry 'stakeholders'.

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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 350,000 names have now been added to the website, Facebook, Twitter, and in print.