Canadian Companies leading global campaign to limit the net
Posted on June 8th, 2008 in canada, links, rants, society, technology, youtube |
Dylan Pattyn, who is currently writing an article for Time Magazine on the issue, has official confirmation from sources within Bell Canada and is interviewing a marketing representative from TELUS who confirms the story and states that TELUS has already started blocking all websites that aren’t in the subscription package for mobile Internet access. They could not confirm whether it would happen in 2012 because both stated it may actually happen sooner (as early as 2010). Interviews with these sources, more confirmation from other sources and more in-depth information on the issue is set to be published in Time Magazine soon.
I was under the impression that net neutrality had been taken care of after legislation in the States rejected the major American ISPs plans to shift their business model similar to that of TV. In doing so, ISPs would basically have total control over what sites or services you access on “their” Internet.
However, here comes news that that win for net neutrality was nothing more than a tiny success in a much larger worldwide battle. It sounds a little out there, but it’s not hard to believe that the major ISPs across the world are planning to collectively restrict the Internet, as we know it, by 2012. What’s absolutely disgusting though is hearing that it’s not Verizon, AT&T, or Comcast leading this transition - it’s Telus and Bell! Of course, Canada already has some of the world’s worst traffic shaping done by Rogers, Bell, and Shaw, so it’s not all that surprising that they want more control over the traffic that’s running through the tubes. And with the Conservatives in power, I seriously doubt that the government will step in and do anything.
I do believe though that the Internet has been so successful precisely because it is a Wild west - content access or control is regulated by collective consciousness of all users worldwide. We the people will not take lightly to any efforts to restrict the web.
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When I was having some net speed problems I called Shaw and whilst I had the guy on the line, I asked if they throttle: he said “no, we don’t … yet.” We both laughed and he said it will depend on what happens with Bell, etc. Today Telus called up trying to sell us a package to get us back but besides the fact that changing my email address AGAIN would be a pain in the ass (I’ve had it since before Gmail showed up), obviously using Telus internet at all would be a huge mistake.
Seeing those logos makes it clear that the mainstream media would win on the internet, too. What would happen to The Tyee, for example? Even if people do pay, we’re paying enough as it is and I wouldn’t doubt that ISPs are making a huge buck off our backs. Why can’t it even be free, period?
(And why is the girl in that video wearing such a low-cut shirt?)
P.S. Shaw does limit their upload speed to 500 kb which is pretty skinny if you like to give back to your Torrent community. (I don’t have a problem with people who download TV shows for free because they missed it when it aired and already paid for it.)