CRTC and the Throttle Button!

In the continued effort to keep anybody interested informed, I received my response from the CRTC regarding the slowdown of the internet via Bell Canada. I read the documents and I would guess that Bell is looking for money from some of its competitors to expand the networks out there. This is a play with bigger ramifications, lets hope the courts come up with some reasonable solutions that keep the interests of us (the consumers) front and center. Bell screwed up its monopoly for years by offering terrible services and worse prices, they sadly cant be trusted to be the arbitrar of the internet, nor represent the interests of Bell's competition!

Dear Mr. Himel:

Thank you for contacting the CRTC regarding the issue that has become known as "traffic shaping" of the internet. The CRTC is aware of the public debate over this issue and is monitoring its development.

The CRTC does not regulate the retail rates or quality of service provided by Internet service providers (ISPs) to their end customers. I therefore suggest you contact your ISP directly regarding your concerns if you have not already done so.

The CRTC regulates the internet access services that large telecommunication companies such as Bell, Telus and Rogers provide to independent internet service providers. Your service provider is in the best position to evaluate whether it believes its provider or a competitor is involved in inappropriate behavior, and if so, it can provide the Commission with evidence of any alleged wrongdoing and file a competitive dispute with the Commission. The CRTC cannot deal with customer complaints made on behalf of their internet service provider.

The CRTC has received a formal complaint by the Canadian Association of Internet Providers (CAIP) against Bell Canada requesting that the CRTC order Bell Canada to stop "throttling" the access services Bell Canada provides to CAIP’s members in order to provide high speed internet service to their customers. If you are interested in following the outcome of this application you may do so at the following link:

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/PartVII/eng/2008/8622/c51_200805153.htm

In addition, anti-competitive behavior complaints can be submitted by an ISP to Industry Canada's Competition Bureau, at:

Competition Bureau Industry Canada
50 Victoria Street
Gatineau, QC K1A 0C9
Tel.: 1-800-348-5358
Website: http://competitionbureau.gc.ca/epic/site/cb-bc.nsf/Intro