Angered by the Bell ‘keep on throttling’ decision?
p2pnet news view Freedom | P2P:- Bell Canada’s claims of an endorsement from the CRTC, which has ruled aqainst halting the company’s abuse of its customers, users and ISPs alike, proved to be as empty as Bell spokesman Mirko Mr 5% Bibic’s statement that the decision, “is good news for Internet users across Canada who benefit from better managed networks”.
The CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) on Thursday turned down the CAIP (Canadian Association of Internet Providers) demand that Bell Canada halt the traffic-shaping practices it uses.
But in response to a CBC suggestion that the CRTC is behind Bell, “Absolutely not,” CRTC vice-chairman Leonard Katz told the CBC, stating »»»
In fact, someone told me Bell put out a press release that said the commission upheld its position that network management practices are a fundamental right of theirs. That’s not what we said at all.
‘Network abusers’
Ottawa Gal first focused attention on the Bell Sympatico P2P black list almost exactly a year ago.
Following the Rogers lead, “for the past while Sympatico users have been complaining they were being throttled to 30kB/s on torrents,” she wrote.
“But, all that’s been said is: it’s the user’s problem or not enough seeders. But a couple of days ago it came to light what’s been happening. Sympatico is now throttling (’traffic management’) and also degrading users’ speed profiles for anyone they deem ‘network abusers’ in undisclosed areas, and any time of the day they deem fit to throttle.”
Now, in 2008, “Canadians as a whole, have until Feb to file with the CRTC on all issues pertaining to Neutrality,” she says, going on
“This of course includes the throttling method used and the impact on certain technologies (hardware and software innovations).”
Lack of leadership
“Sadly, the Commission appears to have missed the important link between CAIP’s complaint and Net Neutrality,” says CAIP.
“As we see higher and higher prices for retail broadband access in Canada when relative prices in other leading economies have steadily fallen in sync with falling equipment and bandwidth costs, this decision has done nothing more than postpone the commission’s ultimate decision on this linkage,” .
“In Canada we continue to see a lack of … leadership from regulators and legislators,” ays CAIP chairman Tom Copeland.
“Canada has no formal broadband policy, no anti-spam legislation and no leadership on Net Neutrality. Canadians should be
very concerned.
“Canadians need political leadership on these issues sooner rather than later.”
We do.
And the only way to make that happen is to let them know they depend on us, and not ther other way around.
“I think it’s kind of useless to just whine and bitch about the CRTC and the throttle,” says Ottawa Gal.
“It’s done. Energy can be better focused for a cause instead, and we can put into work something someone can read and understand when they find their way to this forum (which they will).
“Maybe we should organize a list of resources including »»»
Links to issues people should be concerned about
Canadian Net Neutrality links
Lists of important people we can try to get involved
List of websites we should contact who’d help spread the word to make people aware of what’s going on
Standard letters people can submit to the CRTC, to their MPs, to the local and national print and electronic media
Maybe someone can contact WoW for an official statement on the throttling of their payfor service.
Maybe someone can contact Google to bolster awareness on the Canadian Net Neutrality debate
Maybe someone can contact the likes of the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic and see what direction/guidance they can offer?
Right.
The CRTC has promised a, “separate proceeding to consider both wholesale and retail issues,” with February 16, 2009, as the deadline for comments.
The fight has only just started and the sooner Canadians start doing something about it as customers with rights instead of mindless cash cows, the better off we’ll be as the February deadline approaches.
There’s no point in protesting – no chance of anything being done?
Then consider this:
You and the Net can make the difference.
Ottawa Gal’s original exposure of the Bell throttling plan was an expression of online outrage from one angry woman. But a year later, Bell has been called publicly to account for its practices. And the battle is far from over.
Write to the CRTC. Tell your brother to write to the CRTC. Get your aunt, your uncle, your friends and work-mates to write to:
The Secretary General
CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N2
Fax: 819-994-0218.
Don’t just stay tuned, DO SOMETHING!
[Ottawa Gal is a long-time p2pnet reader and comment poster who’d rather remain anonymous. She says she works in the University, likes her cat, reality TV, and Doctor McDreamy. Her favourite web sites are the Michael Geist blog and p2pnet.net. “Privacy on the net is also important to me,” she says. “I need a tinfoil hat 
” She’s also the mother of, “two darling little girls who tore down my ceiling fan three days ago thinking it would be fun to hang from it.” So she advises parents to, “never have an armchair around from which little ones can reach fans”. (No one was hurt 
) ]
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turned down – Bell Canada says ‘Thanks’ to the CRTC, November 21, 2008
CBC – We’re not endorsing internet throttling: CRTC, November 20, 2008
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November 22nd, 2008 at 5:03 pm
“The fight has only just started and the sooner Canadians start doing something about it as customers with rights instead of mindless cash cows, the better off we’ll be as the February deadline approaches.”
Well said!