Steve Anderson’s blog

We received this letter from a supporter of OpenMedia.ca:

"I am totally blind. I own a company called ebony consulting here in Toronto that specializes in teaching mostly in Ontario, but also a number of clients outside the province who are blind.

The computer is our pencil and paper. Digital cameras are our eyes. And the nerve centre that collates it all is the internet. Using the internet, a blind person can buy an ebook on the day it's released and read it in braille at the same time as their sighted friends are reading in print.

Canadians and even the CRTC^[1] know our cell phone market is broken. Canadians pay some of the highest prices for some of the worst service in the industrialized world, and, as we showed in our recent report,^[2] we’ve been subjected to systemic mistreatment by the Big Three cell phone providers. Big Telecom lobbyists have responded to these findings by essentially plugging their ears and callously refusing to take ownership over these experiences.

A case in point is the 42-page response to our report (nearly as long as our report itself) that was recently published by Telus’s director of broadband policy, Craig McTaggart. It seems that Telus, as one of three firms that controls 94% of the market, would like to shoot the messenger (which in this case is citizens across the country) rather than treat Canadians with the respect they deserve.

Our findings have been supported by University of Ottawa professor Michael Geist^[3] and award-winning technology journalist and commentator Peter Nowak,^[4] who were also criticized by Telus recently. Much of McTaggart’s nitpicking and PR spin has been dealt with by Geist and Nowak on their blogs, so we’d like to specifically address the criticisms of OpenMedia.ca in Telus’ long-winded response.

We won! The government has finally listened to Canadians and killed online spying bill C-30! Way back in June 2011 when we worked with Canadians from across the country to launch the StopSpying.ca campaign all the pundits and "experts" said we couldn't win. Well Canada, you just proved them all wrong.

This is what the Minister said today: "We will not be proceeding with Bill C-30 and any attempts that we will continue to have to modernize the Criminal Code will not contain the measures contained in C-30, including the warrantless mandatory disclosure of basic subscriber information or the requirement for telecommunications service providers to build intercept capability within their systems,"

Since the recent passage of the government's problematic Internet lockdown bill C-11, old media conglomerates have been dreaming up ways to put it to use in their quest to protect out-dated business models. This is very reminiscent of Canada's big telecom companies who tried to impose a pay-meter on the Internet use of all Canadians in an effort to prevent us from cutting our TV subscriptions in favour of online video.

In this case these old media bureaucracies are trying to get Internet service providers to pass along the private online information of Canadians they accuse of violating copyright rules. What a good way to scare us away from using the Internet as source of content.

The media conglomerates appear to be targeting independent Internet service providers. First it was Teksavvy who took some measures to push back against media company Voltage. You can see my posts on that case here and here. Now it's Distributel, an independent internet service provider, who is being asked by NGN Prima Productions to turn over our online information.

Rogers has struck a backroom deal with Shaw¹ to take over systems crucial to delivering our mobile Internet and phone services – systems that were promised² to create new independent choices for Canadians, not more control for Big Telecom.

We do not deserve this. OpenMedia.ca has joined experts and advocates to send a letter³ to our Industry Minister telling him to block this shady backroom deal and stand up for greater choice in Canada!

The Industry Minister is about to make his decision. We need you to add your voice right now for him to stop it. Demand choice over the future of Internet access by clicking here now.

What does the Internet mean to you? Connection to loved ones? Opportunity to succeed? Free expression?

Whatever the reason, you helped fight for Internet freedom, and you’ve become an inspiration to people all over the world.

Some are calling January 18th Internet Freedom Day. Let’s get started early by taking a moment to share these accomplishments with ..well... the Internet: Share this celebratory image on Facebook, Twitter, or Google +, or simply forward this email.