Rogers to Stop Throttling the Internet

Big Telecom company responds after being caught restricting access to online services

February 3, 2012 – In what pro-Internet group OpenMedia.ca is calling a victory for Internet openness, Rogers has responded to the CRTC’s Compliance and Enforcement division saying that they will cease throttling (the slowing of traffic) on their networks.

In a letter to the CRTC, Rogers acknowledged the complaints made by the Canadian Gamers Organization (CGO)—a group that spent the past year demonstrating Rogers’ discriminatory practices to the CRTC—and laid out a timeline for the correction of this problem:

New technologies and ongoing investments in network capacity will allow Rogers to begin phasing out that policy starting in March 2012. These changes will be introduced to half of Rogers existing Internet customers by June 2012 and to its remaining customers by December 2012.

OpenMedia.ca, a grassroots group that promotes an open and accessible Internet, has long decried the lack of enforcement of Canada’s Internet openness rules for the inadequate protection it affords online choice and innovation.

“We are extremely pleased that Rogers was forced to stop restricting access to online services,” says OpenMedia.ca Executive Director Steve Anderson. “We commend the CRTC for moving on this, and hope that this serves as a strong reminder to all ISPs that Canadians will stand up for the open Internet when pushed.”

CGO founder Jason Koblovsky did, however, share concerns about the move: "Rogers failed to provide the CRTC with technical data as to which games and applications they have tested themselves. Without the technical data from their tests on online games, the Canadian Gamers Organization worries that Rogers’ response may be an attempt to mislead the CRTC and the public. We continue to call on Rogers to make these numbers public.”

OpenMedia.ca pushed for and won Internet openness rules in 2009, but has since been pushing for enforcement of those rules—the consumer complaints process is the sole mechanism in place. The group says that Rogers’ response to the CRTC represents a potential first step in changing this broken system.

Find the letter from Rogers here [PDF].

About OpenMedia.ca

OpenMedia.ca is a grassroots organization that safeguards the possibilities of the open and affordable Internet. The group's primary goal is to increase informed participation in Internet governance.

About the Canadian Gamers Organization

Canadian gamers need a voice both politically and legally. The Canadian Gamers Organization (CGO) helps Canadian gamers have a voice among industry, regulators, and politicians.

Contact

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