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CRTCs New Net Neutrality Rules are not Without Criticism
The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) issued a ruling on Wednesday allowing telecom Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to interfere with Internet traffic – but only as a last resort. ISPs will still be able to use management practices that affect traffic shaping, slowing down of certain applications, and limiting bandwidth usage of heavy downloaders, but with qualifications, such as using “economic measures” to help stop congestion on their networks and ensuring the practice causes the least harm possible to the consumer. In addition, the new framework includes provisions requiring ISPs to provide customers with notice of any changes to network management. These changes must be posted on the ISP’s website with a description of how customers’ Internet services will be affected by the change.
The reaction to these changes appears to be mixed. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre, a consumer watchdog group, stated that this new framework leaves “decisions as to whether economic or technical measures are required” in the hands of the ISPs. NDP digital issues spokesman Charlie Angus and Canadian professor at Columbia University, Tim Wu (originator of the concept of net neutrality) were also critical. Bell was pleased with the decision, and Rogers stated that new framework was not necessary but one with which they could live.
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