Net Neutrality

Net neutrality is fundamentally the belief that all internet usage should come with no restrictions. Users pay a fee to use the internet and once that access is gained internet service providers should have no input on that usage. Within Canada Network Neutrality is becoming a highly debated topic between internet service providers and neutrality supporters but the public is mostly unaware of the brewing “war”.
Internet service providers currently use two main methods to control internet usage, bandwidth throttling and IP blocking. Bandwidth throttling (also called traffic shaping) consists of internet service providers slowing done the speed of a customer’s service if there bandwidth usage exceeds a certain amount. IP blocking is when an internet service provider deliberately blocks access to an IP address (Internet service providers often do this to websites featuring child pornography).

The issue of Network neutrality truly became an issue in Canada in 2005 when TELUS blocked its subscriber’s access to labor union blogs during an employee strike. TELUS alleged that website suggested that striking workers sabotaged the company by jamming phone lines and posting pictures of employees who chose to cross the union’s picket lines. TELUS agreed to unblock the website once all pictures and postings were removed that threatened and intimidated TELUS workers.

On April 3rd 2008 The Canadian Association of Internet approached The Canadian Radio-Television Commission in regards to Bell Canada. The CAIT claimed that Bell Canada was favouring other applications by intentionally slowing down internet traffic generated by peer-to-peer file-sharing applications to reduce network congestion; the CAIT requested that the CRCT force Bell Canada to stop the practice. In November of 2008 The CRCT ruled in Bell Canada’s favour and claimed that the status was not discriminating.

This ruling is intensifying the fight between private and public interests in regards to internet usage. The CRTC has given internet service providers the right to control the internet. Not only will this affect our internet usage but also our freedoms and creativity.This will enable providers to introduce tiered internet service, providing higher paying users with faster use of the internet and thus disenfranchising the “little guy”.

Law professor, Lawrence Lessig's book, Free Culture: How Big Media Uses Technology and the Law to Lock Down Culture and Control Creativity expresses that "This punitive system of regulation will systematically stifle creativity and innovation. It will protect some industries and some creators, but it will harm industry and creativity generally”(Lessig, 192).

Internet service providers currently have the freedom to place toll booths, speed bumps and congestion on the “information highway”.




Works Cited

"CBC News - Technology & Science - FAQ: Net neutrality and internet traffic management." CBC.ca - Canadian News Sports Entertainment Kids Docs Radio TV. Web. 22 Nov. 2009.
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"CRTC denies CAIP application, but will examine Internet traffic management practices." Site Web du CRTC - Bienvenue | CRTC Web Site - Welcome. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. .

Lessig, Lawrence. Free Culture. United States of America: Penguin Books, 2004.