Despite many fears and concerns, the internet can be a powerful tool for people to enact change within their community. Recent events in Egypt had people messaging and tweeting information and updates to relatives friends and supporters during the uprising to oust the dictatorship there. Information is power and the internet provides a forum in which the public can share ideas, initiatives and gather support for their cause.
Here in Canada there is a similar drive underway to send the government a message. No, there is no ouster planned, but the very way we use the internet is being challenged by the large telcom companies. Internet companies are in the process of instituting usage based billing or charging you by the byte similar to the way data is charged for smart phones. The explosion of streaming media content available online as well as services such as Netflix which can be viewed through the computer, Wii and Playstation consoles is in direct competition with these big telcom companies satellite and cable television services. This a blatant attempt to gouge consumers and control the internet. Protectionism at its finest Canadian style. Yours truly had his bandwidth allowance cut by over 60% recently despite a $5 hike in the monthly bill! Smaller ISP’s which purchase their bandwidth from the big guys are being forced into the same deal leaving the consumer with no where to go. This will only serve to stifle Canada’s digital competitiveness and put a strain on small businesses and families.
Here’s where you can do something about it though. Public outcry had the government recently re-thinking their decision to allow the CRTC to allow this. Several online petitions have cropped up to allow the peoples voice to heard on this issue. http://www.stopthemeter.ca/ has more information on this important issue as well as a petition that you can sign that will be sent to Konrad Van Finckenstein of the CRTC.
This is your chance to have your voice heard – act now!!
Here in Canada there is a similar drive underway to send the government a message. No, there is no ouster planned, but the very way we use the internet is being challenged by the large telcom companies. Internet companies are in the process of instituting usage based billing or charging you by the byte similar to the way data is charged for smart phones. The explosion of streaming media content available online as well as services such as Netflix which can be viewed through the computer, Wii and Playstation consoles is in direct competition with these big telcom companies satellite and cable television services. This a blatant attempt to gouge consumers and control the internet. Protectionism at its finest Canadian style. Yours truly had his bandwidth allowance cut by over 60% recently despite a $5 hike in the monthly bill! Smaller ISP’s which purchase their bandwidth from the big guys are being forced into the same deal leaving the consumer with no where to go. This will only serve to stifle Canada’s digital competitiveness and put a strain on small businesses and families.
Here’s where you can do something about it though. Public outcry had the government recently re-thinking their decision to allow the CRTC to allow this. Several online petitions have cropped up to allow the peoples voice to heard on this issue. http://www.stopthemeter.ca/ has more information on this important issue as well as a petition that you can sign that will be sent to Konrad Van Finckenstein of the CRTC.
This is your chance to have your voice heard – act now!!
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