Canada is about to appoint the Telcos as the gatekeepers of the internet. Why the frick does the internet need a gatekeeper?!

Published on February 8th, 2007

Posted by SN in General

The Inquirer – 08 February 2007:

INTERNAL DOCUMENTS dug up by the Canadian press indicate that the Tory government is planning to drop net neutrality in a bid to prop up the telcos who offer Internet access.

The documents show that senior advisers to Industry Minister Maxime Bernier, who has previously declared a “consumer first” approach, say he should really be listening to those nice people at the large telecommunications companies like Videotron and Telus.

Bernier was advised that major telecom companies were “determined to play a greater role in how Internet content is delivered” and that “they believe they should be the gatekeepers of content, with the freedom to impose fees for their role.”

17 users responded in " Canada is about to appoint the Telcos as the gatekeepers of the internet. Why the frick does the internet need a gatekeeper?! "

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# 1 Mike Voice said, on February 8th, 2007 at 7:50 am

Of the people, by the people, for the people…

So, it is not only the USA where that idea has been flushed away?

# 2 Chris Swett said, on February 8th, 2007 at 7:52 am

The only reason for a “gatekeeper” is to collect tolls and/or to filter content.

# 3 SN said, on February 8th, 2007 at 8:09 am

1. Thanks, I sort of know how a gatekeeper operates. I was actually wondering why Canadians need one.

# 4 Gig said, on February 8th, 2007 at 8:10 am

Why Canada? I thought our neighbors to the North lived in a land of milk and honey where everyone was happy and all rights were preserved without question.

# 5 Sam Ward said, on February 8th, 2007 at 8:13 am

There are gatekeepers for ALL newspapers. It’s called “Editors.”

But on the Internet, the gatekeeper is…TIME Magazine’s Person of the year 2006, YOU, as in everyone who uses the Internet.

So Canada is trying to make it so you are not the “gatekeeper” but putting a telco as a “gatekeeper.” Kinda sounds like our situation in the United States right now.

# 6 Mark Derail said, on February 8th, 2007 at 9:00 am

More like our Tories in now in the Lobbying Business.

Just the our Heritage Minister accepting money for the companies promoting DRM in exchange of favorable legislation.

At least our press is covering this well so far.

# 7 Named said, on February 8th, 2007 at 9:22 am

Brian Mulroney sucked GHB’s cock so hard he turned American, and the conservatives have never been the same again…

# 8 AGP said, on February 8th, 2007 at 9:42 am

This is the rant I just sent off to our Minister of Industry and my local MP. Probably wont do any good but if you don’t try…

Dear Minister Bernier

I quote from this article

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/business/070206/b0206149A.html
> Documents obtained by The Canadian Press indicate that senior >advisers to Industry Minister Maxime Bernier, who has previously >declared a “consumer first” approach, are carefully heeding the >arguments of large telecommunications companies like Videotron >and Telus against so-called Net neutrality legislation

If this is true you will be leading us back to the monopolistic structures of the communications providers of the past. Deregulation was to bring competition and lower prices for consumers and business, to some degree it has. Although it has had more of an effect of building national monopolies as opposed to regional ones. Now there is some competitive technologies being developed on the Internet they want it stopped. The only controls to be placed on access should be on individuals the result of legal action relating to a criminal offense and not by some corporation trying to rebuild their monopoly. To proceed down this road _is_ anticompetitive _will_ stifle innovation. I am not aware of any communications company in financial difficulties, in fact the case seems to be quite the opposite. This is essentially censorship, is that where we want our private corporations? I think not. Their motivation is profit not the good of the country at large and their success does not necessarily equate to good for Canada and Canadians. Markets only have so much capacity. Without creativity and innovation the only way to grow is through “mergers and acquisitions” = monopoly building. Creativity and innovation are expensive, it’s a lot cheaper to M&A and lobby the government for more power. Keep the power in the hands of all Canadians.

# 9 Floyd said, on February 8th, 2007 at 10:07 am

What I want to know is, per Ghostbusers, who is the keymaster (regulator)? Sounds like the Canadian telcos have that job too–fox guarding the henhouse.

Isn’t most high speed Internet access in Canada through cable companies, like here in the US? Telcos are the route for dialups in the US of course, and do provide DSL. However, the US telcos are effectively monopolies in their service areas. How is Canada different?

# 10 Named said, on February 8th, 2007 at 11:43 am

Cable, there are a few choices. Rogers, Videotron, Cogeco, Shaw. Of course, they’re all regional powers. In fact, Rogers and Shaw did a swap of territories. Real boys club.

For DSL, you have Telus, Bell, Alliant. These are regional powers too. But, in the DSL market, there are a lot of smaller players that resell the big guys network.

So, all the decisions can be made by about 8 CEO’s and everything can be throttled accordingly. And you can’t switch providers. Unless you move Provinces.

# 11 Lee said, on February 8th, 2007 at 1:33 pm

Check the Interior Minister’s bank account! Politicos for sale is the primary “feature” of all kleptocracies.

# 12 jbellies said, on February 8th, 2007 at 2:11 pm

10, 9 My ISP (in Victoria, BC) can be connected through via cable (Shaw) and will soon have a telco offering. They charge the same price as Shaw does. But in general they offer better service (a robust mail filtering language, better News feed …). I’m not sure, but I *think* the only reason that happened is because the CRTC forced the cable companies to open their networks.

# 13 Milo said, on February 9th, 2007 at 6:11 am

The Conservatives in Canada will be lucky to last another six months.

# 14 Steve said, on February 9th, 2007 at 7:04 am

Isn’t this the pot calling the kettle black? I must say though that I’m getting tired of telcos and the recording industry continually crying the blues about how hard done by they are.

# 15 John C Dvorak said, on February 9th, 2007 at 7:05 am

Hey, if they want to be gatekeepers then let’s start to sue them over illicit porn and illegal activities they would now be responsible for. They have the money to pay!

# 16 Mike Voice said, on February 9th, 2007 at 7:23 am

15 Hey, if they want to be gatekeepers then let’s start to sue them over illicit porn and illegal activities they would now be responsible for.

I like the way you think.

Are they going to “gatekeep” spam, as well…

That I would be willing to pay for.

# 17 jbellies said, on February 9th, 2007 at 7:15 pm

15 And let’s not forget the 40 years in jail for all the telco execs. How about the same for everybody connected with the Super Bowl?

The British comedy show French & Saunders Live (filmed in the year 2000) had an actual pornado as part of the comedy routine. Good thing Britain isn’t in Connecticut any more. The Julie Amero story has scrolled off the blog, but let’s not forget her.

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