Archive for June 1st, 2009

The Agenda’s Decade of Downloading Debate

Last Friday, I appeared on TVO's The Agenda for a 40 minute debate titled "A Decade of Downloading." Other participants include Bob Wiseman (formerly of Blue Rodeo), Matt Hartley of the Globe and Mail, Grant Dexter of MapleMusic, and Andy Maize of the Skydiggers and MapleMusic.  The program is embedded […]

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June 1, 2009 8 comments News

OECD Report Finds Canadian Broadband Slow, Expensive

In recent months, much of the discussion about high-speed Internet service in Canada has focused on two key issues – net neutrality and the need to bring broadband access to the remaining underserved areas in rural Canada.  Both of these issues are now squarely on the public agenda with the CRTC conducting hearings on net neutrality next month and the government committing millions toward rural broadband initiatives in this year's budget.

My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes that issing is a third, fast-growing concern, however.  According to a new OECD report, Canada has one of the slowest and most expensive consumer broadband networks in the developed world. The OECD report, widely viewed as the leading global benchmark on broadband networks, compared Canada with 29 other countries on a range of metrics.  These included broadband availability, pricing, speed, and bandwidth caps.

At first glance, the numbers do not seem that bad, with Canada ranking ninth out of 30 countries for broadband penetration. While that represents a sharp decline from years ago when Canada prided itself in standing second worldwide, its current position is unchanged from last year. Yet the situation becomes far more troubling once the OECD delves deeper into Canadian broadband pricing and speed.

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June 1, 2009 18 comments Columns

Cinema Guzzo Faces $10K Damage Award for Invasive Search

Cinema Guzzo, a Montreal-based theatre chain, has been ordered to pay $10,000 in damages arising from the search of a patron's bag that violated their privacy rights.  The lawsuit over the "abusive search" was first filed in July 2007.  While this case has nothing to do with copyright, how long […]

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June 1, 2009 2 comments News

SaveOurNet.ca To Host Town Hall Meetings Across Canada

SaveOurNet.ca, the group focused on net neutrality, is hosting several town hall meetings across Canada.  I will be participating in the June 10th event in Ottawa, but there are additional events planned for Toronto and Vancouver.

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June 1, 2009 1 comment News

Report Finds Canadian High-Speed Internet Slow, Expensive

Appeared in the Toronto Star on June 1, 2009 as High-speed Net Expensive, Slow: Report In recent months, much of the discussion about high-speed Internet service in Canada has focused on two key issues – net neutrality and the need to bring broadband access to the remaining underserved areas in […]

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June 1, 2009 1 comment Columns Archive