By Frank Moher
So, all you digerati who are celebrating this morning because the Conservatives have told the CRTC to rescind its decision on user based internet billing, or else: do you really want the federal government calling the shots on this? The Tories especially?
One can’t help but admire the campaign run by openmedia.ca that has gathered some 358,000 signatures (and counting) on a petition against running the meter on broadband usage, and turned the issue into a political lodestone I haven’t managed to become as exercised about it as many of you because, as a Shaw Cable customer, I’ve been living with a broadband cap for, well, ever. Not that they’ve ever enforced it, and not that I usually get very close to exceeding it. But then, it’s a fairly cushy 100 gb/month plan, and I get a deal on it because it’s bundled with my cable TV. I realize that if you’re getting gouged on a 50 gb/month plan, and now facing the prospect of getting further gouged, you have every reason to be pissed-off.
But do you really want Industry Minister Tony Clement as your knight-in-shining-armour? It was Clement’s tweeted confirmation on Wednesday night that the government would force the CRTC to reconsider its ruling, or see it reversed in cabinet, that set off general jubilation across the Canadian Internetz. But that’s a very slippery slope he’s leading you down on his white charger. Give the Tories the idea that it’s okay to meddle in the decisions of its putatively independent regulator, that that whole “arms-length” approach to broadcasting is so 20th-century, and things could get really ugly really fast. Especially with a government that’s once again nosing around the idea of selling-off the CBC.
Clement’s meddling comes on the heels of Heritage Minister James Moore’s decision to override Library and Archives Canada and force them to show the documentary Iranium. As sage arts journalist Jamie Portman wrote in the Ottawa Citizen, that set a bad, bad precedent.
“For all his grandstanding about safeguarding democracy and the Canadian government from the bullying tactics of the Iranian Embassy in Ottawa, the bottom line is that a minister of the Crown has violated the arm’s-length relationship that exists between independent federal cultural agencies and the politicians.
In brief, Moore should not be telling his agencies what or what not to do.”
Who knew Clement and — why look! Who’s that over his shoulder? Looks like PM Steve! — would follow up on Moore’s precedent so quickly? But that’s what’s happening here. You may like what they’re doing in this instance. But when the time comes that they stick their fingers in someplace else they don’t belong, and you don’t like what they’re up to, those of you huzzahing today about the Cons’ intervention are going to be in a very poor position to complain.
“do you really want the federal government calling the shots on this?”
In case your ignorance is too great, the CRTC ***IS*** part of the federal government.
“The Tories especially?”
Better a party concerned about REAL COMPETITION than those left winged pieces of garbage that LIKE to create monopolies. As it was, ROGERS and BELL virtually WERE government. There was no competition, and if the Liberals and NDP had their way, it would REMAIN that way. The ONLY reason why the NDP and Liberals came out against UBB is because they NEED to do something to appeal to people, and this issue is BIG for everybody who understands it.
“But do you really want Industry Minister Tony Clement as your knight-in-shining-armour?”
It doesn’t matter WHO it is, as long as the CRTC doesn’t have the teeth to keep destroying everything they can. When the CRTC does something DESTRUCTIVE, *SOMEBODY* needs to kick them in the teeth! Mr. Clement is now 2 for 2 in beating down the CRTC — we NEED MORE of this. Slippery slope? I *** SURE HOPE SO *** !!!
Now take your left winged drivel that is driving this country into the ground, and shove it.
The CRTC does not really have a policy decision reversal process so the only thing that can be done is Government over turn. This is not precedent setting as stated above so there is no slippery slope here. Only the Government and all other parties realizing that it is in their political interests to listen to the Canadian public. I am glad they are interceding but I just wish it would have never gotten to this point in the first place.
The other point I would like to make is what is the course of action for Canadians when a bureaucratic organization that is not elected consistently ignores evidence and seems to be lacking technical understanding of the issue at hand? I work in telecom R&D and have monitored these proceedings from the start and it has always been clear that the CRTC does not understand this discussion. Since I can take action as a private citizen when the Government does something I don’t like vs. my inability to influence the CRTC I do not have a problem with this at all.
You misunderstand. We’re not championing Tony Clement as the saviour of the industry, we’re just happy he did the right thing. If the government can’t tell the CRTC what to do, then who the hell do they represent? They’re not elected; they’re appointed, and most of them are long-time telecom employees. They’ve proven in recent years beyond a shadow of doubt that they are either a) totally incompetent when it comes to decisions regarding Internet access, or b) completely in the pockets of Big Telecom. If the government can’t reign them in, then who can? We need some kind of accountability.
Actually, not the first time its happened.
This happened previously with Wind Mobile! The CRTC need to be told that they don’t work for Rogers and Bell and be told that they work for Canadians.
Now don’t get carry away because we seems to give all the power to the Tories.
We need Industry Minister because CRTC has no backbone and captured by telcos/cablecos and we need to overturn that decision. In an ideal world CRTC should look after our interest, not telcos/cablecos.
UBB could only be fair if they are actually regulated like an actual utility services, which markups are regulated. If the reports of the cost of $/GB (about $0.01 – $0.03) for ISP is anywhere close to the actual cost, my $40 monthy plan could give me almost 1 TB/month… then yeah, why not UBB?
Regulatory Capture, its obvious that the CRTC has been captured. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that until some of the CRTC start seeing the prospect of jail time and step down from their posts the federal government must constantly step in.
This is the process for a regulatory body that is independent of the government that is suspected of being captured by industry. We have no choice. Then comes pressure to resign, and possible criminal action of fraud if any sold proof could be found.
This is the process i just don’t understand why journalists who should know better have to always have this explained.
If Clement was doing this on his own, I may agree with you, but he is doing it because millions of Canadians raised their voices in protest. I can’t remember last time Canadians were so unified about anything.
So, Clement is just part of the process – decision is overturned by Canadians themselves.