There are only two connection points to the home with regards to broadband/broadcast access. In Canada the vast majority of those two connection points are controlled by two companies: Bell and Rogers Cable.

Both Bell and Rogers have common carrier status (provide dumb pipes to ISPs) and are Internet Service Providers (aka Sympatico/Rogers broadband). They both also have vested interests in monetised content provision over the internet as well as broadcast technologies (Television).

As long as this oligopoly has control of the dumb pipes, they will not do anything to negativly impact their other vested interests in any way.

What is needed is to have the dumb pipes (aka common carrier) be an independent entity alltogether They should not be allowed to be a content provider or direct internet service provider. Their sole business would be to maintain the network infrastructure from point A to Point B. Point A being the home and Point B being an ISP or broadcast provider. They would lease access/broadband to all ISPs and Broadcast providers (including Sympatico, Rogers et al) .

Whoever believes that they own the network now will need to decide what business they want to be in and sell off the rest. In other words Rogers and Bell would no longer own the network and would be ISP/Broadband/telephone service providers only. Or they could sell off the ISP/Broadband/Telephone sections and become the network provider (common carrier) only.

This in effect would definitely open up the market to true competition in the marketplace here in Canada. No single provider or oligopoly would be able to control the network in any preferential manner in effect allowing for true network neutrality.

Another one for Dave Null!
: )

You’ve just touched on what I was getting at.
That’s why I say I won’t be holding my breath waiting for an ax to drop.

Yes, there *should* be an inquiry into all these failings.
There should have been one long ago.
But, if all those who are supposed to be in a position to do such an inquiry are the same people you need to investigate, who’s gonna be doing it?

FYI: The majority of the seats in the CCB are occupied by Bell/ex-Bell/Bell-friendly people.

: (

It was an entire failing with our “watchdog” whom we call the Canadian Competition Bureau.

It was an entire failing by Industry Canada.

It was an entire failure by the then Industry Minister Jim Prentice of the Harper gov and their total lack of understanding and knowledge.

There should be a whole inquiry into all these failings and with the people who hold these positions.

The question is, what will happen with this report, now that it’s out?
Who will take action, and on whom?
I mean, is there anyone in that kind of position that can and will?
[starts holding breath, then decides not to]
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