In a speech at the Brookings Institution, FCC Chair Julius Genachowski, said that the FCC should adopt two new principles in addition to the “Four Freedoms” endorsed by the FCC in 2005. According to Genachowski, the Internet rules are “essential to ensuring its continued openness.”

Genachowski’s speech comes on the heals of a CRTC decision regarding wholesale Internet services that will give Bell Canada/Telus the opportunity to limit competition and further enable them to become gatekeepers of the Internet. Last November, the CRTC also made a decision to allow Bell to throttle other Internet service providers that use its network. Both of these decisions threaten Canada’s Internet openness, choice, competition, and innovation.

The CRTC is currently investigating the controversial practice of "throttling", or deliberately slowing down Canadians' Internet speeds. Several large Canadian Internet service providers have been caught throttling consumers and competitors including a high-profile case involving Bell Canada in November 2008.

SaveOurNet.ca Co-founder Steve Anderson said today, “Once again, Canada appears to be moving backwards while other countries push forward with an innovation agenda. Considering the current economic crisis, it is more important than ever that we support open entrepreneurialism. The CRTC has a chance to do the right thing with their upcoming decision on traffic management.”

Canadians can send their comments to the CRTC by visiting: http://saveournet.ca/content/take-action


SaveOurNet.ca is a coalition of citizens, businesses, and public interest groups fighting to protect our Internet's level playing field. We're calling on lawmakers and industry to protect openness, choice, and access for ALL Canadians — and stopping lobbyists and special interests from ruining Canada's Internet.

Jacqueline Cusack McDonald
Communications
SaveOurNet.ca
(604) 837-5730
jacqueline.democraticmedia@gmail.com
http://saveournet.ca