The Globe and Mail covers Friday's University of Ottawa's Centre for Law, Technology and Ethics launch conference. The event includes a keynote from Harvard Law School's Yochai Benkler, the author of a recent FCC-commissioned study on broadband networks worldwide. Benkler's conclusions on Canada have generated considerable discussion and should be […]
Telecom by yum9me (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) https://flic.kr/p/53jSy4
Telecom
Opposition to Seek Debate on Telecom Foreign Ownership Rules
Canada's three opposition parties say foreign-ownership laws in the country's telecommunications industry are unclear and will seek to debate the issue when Parliament returns this week.
Canadian ISPs Fall Short In Meeting Net Neutrality Requirements
Last fall, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission issued its much-anticipated Internet traffic management ruling, better known as the net neutrality decision. The case attracted national interest as the CRTC established several key requirements for Canada’s Internet providers.
These included new transparency obligations that forced ISPs to disclose their network management practices, such as why the practices were introduced, who will be affected, when it will occur, and how it will impact users' Internet experiences (down to the specific impact on speeds). The CRTC also opened the door to complaints about network management practices by establishing a test that any harm to users be as little as reasonably possible.
Several months later, Canada's ISPs have had ample time to comply with the new requirements, yet my weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, Ottawa Citizen version, homepage version) reviews the policies from the biggest ISPs – including Bell Canada, Rogers Communications Inc., Shaw Communications Inc., Telus, Cogeco Inc., and Groupe Vidéotron – and reveals a decidedly mixed bag.
Bell Aliant Sues Rogers Over Internet Ads
The Globe reports that Bell Aliant has fired the latest salvo in the fight over Internet speed claims, suing Rogers over its marketing campaign.
Canadian Gov’t Convinces German ISP To Shut Down Environmental Parody Sites
The Canadian government has convinced a German ISP to shut down two environmental parody sites that were developed by the "Yes Men" and garnered considerable attention during the Copenhagen climate conference. The ISP complied with the request without seeking a court order first and in the process blocked an additional […]
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