Michael Geist

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Cable Companies on UBB: No Link Between Cost and Price

The cable company submission to the CRTC on usage based billing confirms what has been readily apparent to consumers for some time: there is no link between the prices charged by ISPs for usage pricing and the actual costs to ISPs. According to the cable companies: In order to be […]

March 29, 2011 — 14 comments — News

Bell To Drop Wholesale UBB For AVP?

Today is the filing deadline for parties for the first round of submissions to the CRTC’s hearing on wholesale Internet access services, better known as the usage based billing (UBB) hearing. Sources advise that Bell may be ready to drop its plans for wholesale UBB altogether as part of its […]

March 28, 2011 — 15 comments — News

How to Vote for the Internet: Election Our Chance To Ask About Internet Policy

The federal election marks the end for at least five government bills focused on Internet and digital policy. Bills on privacy, copyright, and Internet surveillance died on the order paper and will have to start from scratch when a new government is elected in May. Moreover, the much-anticipated digital economy strategy, set for release this spring, has likely been delayed until the fall at the very earliest.

While the legislative process may be on hold, my weekly technology column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes the election campaign offers Canadians the chance to raise the profile of Internet and digital issues even further by voting for the Internet. The Internet is obviously not a political party, but a vote for the Internet means asking candidates for their views on the country’s top digital issues:

March 28, 2011 — 21 comments — Columns

Another Copyright Bill Hits the Scrap Heap: Taking Stock of Canadian Digital Law and Policy Reform

Later today, it appears certain that the government will lose a non-confidence motion, spelling the end to the current Parliament and sending Canada into yet another election. There have been some legislative and policy successes since 2008 including the Anti-Spam law (C-28), a law involving ISPs and child pornography (C-22), and the recent launch of open government and open data initiatives. In addition, the government re-appointed Privacy Commissioner of Canada Jennifer Stoddart for another three year term, supported the entry of Globalive into the Canadian wireless market, and pressured the CRTC to revisit its policy on usage based billing.

Notwithstanding these developments, the focus will undoubtedly shine on the bills and policies that were started but not completed. These include:

the digital economy strategy
a policy on foreign investment in telecommunications
a policy on foreign ownership in book publishing and distribution
a policy on the forthcoming wireless spectrum auction
Bill C-29, a bill to reform PIPEDA
Bill C-32, the copyright reform bill
Bills C-50, 51, 52, the lawful access bills
Bill C-393, the private members bill to facilitate access to generic medicines in Africa

The future for each of these initiatives varies.

March 25, 2011 — 19 comments — News

Rogers Admits Traffic Management Throttles World of Warcraft

Rogers has admitted that its traffic management practices may interfere with World of Warcraft. It says modifications to its software will not be ready until June.

March 25, 2011 — 9 comments — News