Michael Geist - CRTC Sets Timeline for Throttling Case

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CRTC Sets Timeline for Throttling Case

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CRTC Sets Timeline for Throttling Case

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Thursday May 15, 2008

The CRTC this morning issued its promised plan for addressing the substantive issues raised by the CAIP complaint over Bell's throttling practices. The plan has an aggressive timeline with all submissions in by June 26th and a decision promised within 90 days. Bell and CAIP have been asked to respond to a series of questions, with the CRTC giving Bell two weeks to provide much more detail on its network congestion claims and its network management practices. Interested parties - ie. the public and other businesses - will have the chance to file comments by June 12, 2008. Combined with the new media discussion document slated to be released later today, CRTC Chair Konrad von Finckenstein wasn't kidding when he told an industry conference in a speech earlier this month that the throttling issue "will have wide-ranging consequences and will lead to a much wider debate. This will undoubtedly occupy much of our time this year."
Tags:bell, caip, crtc, net neutrality, throttlingShare: Slashdot, Digg, Del.icio.us, Newsfeeder, Reddit, StumbleUponEmail Print PDF

Comments

Not so bad

Written by Antoine W on 2008-05-15 09:46:13

I was dispirited by yesterday's decision to allow Bell to continue this practice. However, I hope that through an honest discussion and public consultation, the CRTC will come to respect the rights of Canadian customers.

Mr. Geist, thank you for helping me keep up to date on this subject.

I doubt it

Written by ScytheNoire on 2008-05-15 11:51:08

I highly doubt any branch of the government will do anything that is good for the people or the future of Canada. They are on a warpath to do all they can to continue to cater to corporations who want nothing than to drain our economy and send Canada down a spiral of self-destruction.

I'm very dramatic.

Still has a familiar smell

Written by Devil's Advocate on 2008-05-15 12:31:34

I can't help thinking that, though a final judgment has not been made, we may still be getting a picture of how it's going to go.

Frankly, it doesn't surprise me.

If the CRTC placed any merit on the arguments against the throttling, it could have at least requested that Bell hold off on it, at least until the judgment could be passed. It's not like Bell would be suffering any actual "damages" by turning it off in the interim.

But, by stating, at the same time, that throttling has serious implications, they are admitting there IS a great possibility that damage is being incurred by CAIP's members.

Their willingness to favour the party that is not even vulnerable is just another demonstration that the CRTC is not there to protect anything but corporate interests.

It's one thing to step up to the plate, but you need to at least take a swing at a perfectly good pitch!

Edward Palonek

Written by Edward Palonek on 2008-05-15 15:33:27

Well at least they have set up a date. It is interesting to see how slowly they actually are working. This issue while being an important one is relatively simple when quantified with economics. Throttle = limits information sharing = slows economic growth.
[ link ]

Filing Comments

Written by David L on 2008-05-15 15:38:40

"Interested parties - ie. the public and other businesses - will have the chance to file comments by June 12, 2008."

I have been seeking the contact information to file a comment, and haven't been successful. Can anyone post this?

Contact Info

Written by David L on 2008-05-15 15:45:35

[ link ]

Scratch that - I'm trying this.

Telecommunication is the backbon of comp

Written by Dmathew on 2008-05-15 21:24:42

Why Canada,lags innovation and protecting 18th cent: telephone inventor. It is clearly known to the Public about total monopoly practice. When telecommunication with Higher bandwidth will creates more innovation and subsequent economic growth. Is it a political hurdle to a nation weeping for innovations and informations. Change is inevitable for inevitable economic growth. This will happen only with independent internet providers service.

contact Bell

Written by Paul on 2008-05-15 22:45:20

The CRTC gave us a contact at Bell - if you're a Bell subscriber it couldn't hurt to drop them a line and let them know of your distaste for their actions:

Mr. Mirko Bibic
Chief, Regulatory Affairs
Bell Canada
bell.regulatory@bell.ca

What about Rogers

Written by Paul Adamson on 2008-05-16 14:39:30

I know this fight comes from Bell\'s resellers and competitors, but what about Rogers\' traffic shaping? If Bell are truly shown to be in the wrong here, (deep packet inspection is hardly neutral behavior) would Rogers not also be in the wrong?

Then there\'s Shaw in the west, who deliberately lower QoS on VoIP traffic that\'s not their own private IP-based phone service...

Something needs to be done

Written by Dave on 2008-05-19 13:55:32

If Bell and Rogers invested as much into improving their network as they have been into inspection and shaping, then maybe they wouldn't be in this mess.

Shaping internet traffic because people are using their service too much is unbeleivable, its comparable to if Bell stopped allowing you to call long distance on your phone because you do it too much.

I have also heard that Rogers and co have started shaping encrypted traffic on their networks. So good luck if you have any sort of corporate VPN.

The CRTC better look at this issue very carefully, before Canada gets left behind the rest of the world in another area of technology service industry(ie Wireless/Cell service in Canada).

You will probably be able to get a better highspeed connection for less money in most parts of Africa if this keeps up.

Will they do something ?

Written by marcel on 2008-05-20 00:54:47

With their decision do leave Bell continue it's practice
it clearly shows that the CRTC doesn't work for canadian but for canadian companies as it always did.

ctrtc

Written by Chris on 2008-05-21 11:17:08

As I read furthur into Appendix of what they want Bell to do, it seems to me that taking a reasoned approach might be the best thing.

Its asking bell to back up its wild statements, and 'advert-speak'.

things like, show us the conversations about why you didnt upgrade the network.
As well as Prove to us that there is that amount of use, by so few people. Show Us also how the traffic from your customers grew on a seprate part of the table, from when the GAS customers grew.

Looks like they are on the hot-seat.