My MP Responds to C-10 Net Neutrality
Last month (April 2nd, to be exact), I send a form letter to my MP on C-10 Net Neutrality. I typically try to write a letter personally, but I just haven’t been able to find the time for that recently.
Here’s what I sent:
Honourable Andrew Telegdi:
I am deeply concerned about Bell Canada’s recent announcement that it will make its practice of throttling official starting April 7.
Canada does not have strict enforceable net neutrality legislation and so there is very little structure in place to prevent the big ISPs from discriminating by speeding up or slowing down Web content based on its source, ownership or destination.
I am outraged that Canada does not have a policy to protect my ability to communicate and access information freely on the Internet and urge you to take action on this matter immediately.
Sincerely,
Julianna Yau
And here’s the response I received today:
Tags: net neutrality, politicalDear Julianna Yau,
Thank you for your email regarding net neutrality. The issues you have raised are both valid and timely.
The internet is currently unregulated in Canada. Given the fluid and evolutionary nature of the internet, it is extremely difficult to develop effective measures to protect both consumer and internet provider. With that being said, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), is mandated to regulate the internet. Last year, the CRTC announced that it will be holding hearings concerning internet regulations by 2009.
In 2006, the Conservative government advised the CRTC that it should adopt a more hands-off approach and let market forces determine the telecommunications landscape as much as possible. This approach does not afford proper recognition to the rights of Canadian internet users, and has resulted in the problems we are beginning to see now in terms of internet providers’ practice of throttling internet connections.
I have forwarded your email to the Hon. Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry, so that your concerns can be properly addressed.
Thank you again for your correspondence.
Sincerely,
Katherine Preiss
Member’s Assistant
Hon. Andrew Telegdi P.C., M.P.
Kitchener-Waterloo
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By Julianna Yau
On May 6, 2008
At 7:43 pm
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I believe you meant to say “Net Neutrality” and not the recent C-10 which is about funding of the arts (and giving the Minister the ability to unilaterally and unaccountably not fund ‘controversial’ art).
The problem with the Bell Throttling issue is that it isn’t an “Internet” connection that was throttled, but a regulated data connection. The MPs answer may have been technically correct, but is actually unrelated to the Bell Throttling issue that is currently in front of the CRTC.
Ah, you’re right! I can’t even keep it all straight!
High five for government looking as if it cares
who knows… maybe Liberals really do care…
I can’t seem to raise enough awareness about Net Neutrality in my home town, but hopefully I wont have to do too much work.
I feel so helpless now, I left Rogers in favor of Acanac just because they were throttling, and now Bell does it on a larger scale.
I feel like there is no where to run to