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Canada's CRTC Wants Your Thoughts On Broadband
And will likely ignore them just like they always have...

As with the FCC in the United States, Canadian users have had no shortage of disdain for the Canadian regulatory agency the CRTC, with some users even pushing to have the agency completely disbanded. Users complain that being staffed with phone and cable executives, the CRTC essentially exists to rubber stamp the ambitions of Canada's largest operators. That hasn't been good news for Canada's independent ISPs, who like in the States are now facing extinction under rules largely crafted by their larger, wealthier competitors.

The results have been stark and obvious, with Canadians facing some of the lowest caps and highest overage fees anywhere, and after a promising start -- Canada is sliding down global rankings of broadband prices, speed and availability. Our Canadian readers might be interested to know the CRTC is now supposedly looking for public input on their next round of regulatory decisions, and is asking users what role the CRTC should play in getting broadband more widely deployed. Says the agency in their FAQ:
quote:
This consultation is important for Canadians because it will set the minimum level of service that they can expect from their telephone and Internet service providers. . . At the end of this consultation, the CRTC will review and analyze the comments. The comments will help the CRTC in making decisions on the issues raised in this proceeding.
Given user complaints that previous consumer input has been ignored (and in one instance user private data accidentally shared with the world), users in our forums aren't exactly brimming with hope about this latest public "consultation." The problem, just like in the States, is that those with the most money craft telecom law, and consumer involvement in the process is all-too-frequently paid empty lip service for show. Still, it might be worth letting the CRTC know Canadian consumers are at least paying attention to what the CRTC is doing.
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hurleyp
join:2000-06-20
Ottawa, ON

hurleyp

Member

CRTC means...

...Canadian Roadblock to Telecommunications Competition.

The CRTC is bureaucratic relic from the 70's - it's time to shut it down.
munky99999
Munky
join:2004-04-10
canada

munky99999

Member

Comments incoming

When I clicked the link. there was only 2 pages of comments. I finished typing mine up and submitted. There are 45 pages of comments now. All of 30minutes.

Barry
join:2008-11-04
Burlington, ON

Barry

Member

I think I just wasted 10 minutes of my life

I posted my 2 cents just like I did with the tv input they had a while back. I'm sure it's just a pr stunt to make it look like they actually care.

hgfdfgh
@shawcable.net

hgfdfgh

Anon

Re: I think I just wasted 10 minutes of my life

ditto!

Quake110
Premium Member
join:2003-12-20
Ottawa, ON

2 edits

Quake110

Premium Member

CRTC is corrupted!

Bah... The CRTC is a corrupted organisation which only listens to the big telecom companies ($$$).

Therefore, those old bureaucrats will never listen to reason because all they want in their remaining life is to retire with their bonuses.
lacalau
join:2009-07-15
Canada

lacalau

Member

Kill the CRTC!

The CRTC just found an other reason to not be shutdown by the popular demand.

The Canadian gouvnerment should nationalize the internet. But it will probably not happen as they are currently trying instead to privatize almost all services.

n2jtx
join:2001-01-13
Glen Head, NY

n2jtx

Member

Re: Kill the CRTC!

said by lacalau:

The Canadian gouvnerment should nationalize the internet. But it will probably not happen as they are currently trying instead to privatize almost all services.

Canada may have a better shot at it than the United States. They are not as indebted as we are and the political forces towards a nationalized system may have greater support. Plus, Canadians are being screwed much worse than we are here in the States. I'll be in Mississauga in a few weeks and I am sure I'll get an earful from several of my friends on this.

dsoegiarto
join:2010-04-16
Ottawa, ON

dsoegiarto

Member

Comment added

Why not. I got an extra 10 minutes.

Had to create an account tho... ugh...

Chuck Carlso
@teksavvy.com

Chuck Carlso

Anon

Canada's CRTC Wants Your Thoughts On Broadband

If satellite internet from America had faster speeds Canada's broadband industry would be extinct. That being said hopefully America can produce faster satellite internet to finally put an end to cough throttled, capped, port blocked, no usenet oh and one of the most expensive internet services in the world. Good god i can't believe with the new HST more people haven't switched to dial-up from America.

runzero
join:2005-09-16
DC

runzero

Member

Re: Canada's CRTC Wants Your Thoughts On Broadband

Trust me, you don't want expensive satellite internet with its 1000 ms latency and 2 GB cap. I would take Canadian broadband over it any day.