[Discuss] Net Neutrality Bill Tabled in House of Commons

[Robert Smits]

Net Neutrality Bill Tabled in House of Commons

In light of rumours that the Conservatives are poised to bring in a draconian 
copyright bill that will give away all consumers rights, here's an article 
about a net neutrality bill introduced by the Member for Timmins.

If you'd like to tell him of your support for his bill, you can contact him at 
Angus.C at parl.gc.ca and that of our local MP, Jean Crowder is 
Crowder.J at parl.gc.ca

Net neutrality bill hits House of Commons.

By Peter Nowak CBC News
NDP digital spokesman Charlie Angus doesn't believe the CRTC has all the tools 
it needs to prevent interference in the internet by service providers.NDP 
digital spokesman Charlie Angus doesn't believe the CRTC has all the tools it 
needs to prevent interference in the internet by service providers. (Fred 
Chartrand/Canadian Press)

The NDP has followed through with its promise to introduce legislation to the 
House of Commons that seeks to keep the internet open and free from control 
by service providers.

"This bill is about fairness to consumers," said Charlie Angus, the NDP's 
digital spokesman, in the House of Commons on Wednesday. "The internet is a 
critical piece of infrastructure not just for Canada but for the world ... 
this bill protects the innovation agenda of Canada."

The private member's bill, C-552, is in reaction to moves by some of Canada's 
largest internet service providers (ISPs), including Bell Canada Inc. and 
Rogers Communications Inc., to limit their customers' uses of the internet. 
Bell, Rogers and a few others say a small percentage of customers have been 
congesting their networks by using peer-to-peer applications such as 
BitTorrent, so they have slowed the internet down at peak times of the day.

The ISPs' actions have provoked outrage from internet users, with about 300 
protesters taking to the steps of Parliament Hill on Tuesday. Critics have 
said the targeting of peer-to-peer applications is just the tip of the 
iceberg. If ISPs are allowed to decide which internet applications can and 
can't be used, innovative new companies that were born from experimentation — 
such as Google, Amazon and eBay — may not happen in the future.

"Net neutrality affects everybody, every person, every business, every 
hospital, every institution is involved in the exchange of information over 
the internet," Angus told CBCnews.ca. "This shouldn't be about party lines."

The four-page bill seeks to amend the Telecommunications Act and "prohibit 
network operators from engaging in network management practices that favour, 
degrade or prioritize any content, application or service transmitted over a 
broadband network based on its source, ownership or destination, subject to 
certain exceptions."

It also looks to prohibit "network operators from preventing a user from 
attaching any device to their network and requires network operators to make 
information about the user's access to the internet available to the user."

The proposed bill makes exception for ISPs to manage traffic in reasonable 
cases, Angus said, such as providing stable speeds for applications such as 
gaming or video conferencing.

"There are areas where telecoms have to be able to exercise rights, but that 
doesn't give them the ability to arbitrarily interfere or discriminate," 
Angus said.

NDP wary about government intervention

The NDP is "very wary" about the government intervening in the internet, Angus 
told the House of Commons. But the bill isn't about regulating the internet, 
it's about ensuring there will be scrutiny of those who provide access to it, 
he said.

Now that the bill has been tabled, it has to wait to be called up in private 
members' business in the House. Angus is far down on the randomly generated 
list that determines the order in which members are scheduled to present 
their bills or motions, but he said he will try to trade positions with 
another party member to bring it up the list for discussion.

The point of the bill, Angus said, is to give MPs who otherwise have no idea 
what net neutrality is a reference point. It also gives critics a focal point 
for their arguments.

Officials at Bell and Rogers did not immediately return requests for comment.

A spokesperson for Minister of Industry Jim Prentice also did not immediately 
return a request for comment. The spokesperson also did not reply to requests 
for comment on the net neutrality rally.

Prentice earlier this month told the House that the government was against 
regulating the internet and would leave the matter to be resolved by ISPs and 
their customers.

Below is a commentary from Michael Geist about the bill.


The Angus Net Neutrality Bill

Wednesday May 28, 2008

NDP MP Charlie Angus introduced his private member's net neutrality bill in 
the House of Commons this afternoon.  The short bill seeks to add 
transparency, neutral network management, and open devices to the Canadian 
telecom law framework:

Network operators shall not engage in network management practices that 
favour, degrade or prioritize any content, application or service transmitted 
over a broadband network based on their source, ownership or destination.

The bill includes several notable exceptions to this general principle, 
including action to provide computer security, prioritize emergency 
communications, offer differentiated pricing or bit caps, anti-spam filters, 
handle breaches in terms of service, and to prevent violation of the law.

The bill also focuses on open devices and greater transparency.  It provides 
that "network operators shall not prevent or obstruct a user from attaching 
any device to their network, provided the device does not physically damage 
the network or unreasonably degrade the use of the network by other 
subscribers."  Further, it requires that "network operators shall provide and 
make available to each user information about the user’s access to the 
Internet, including the speed, nature, and limitations of the user's 
broadband service at any given time."  The bill is hardly the "regulate the 
Internet" approach anti-net neutrality advocates would suggest, but rather is 
a measured response that deserves broad support.
-- 
Bob Smits, Ladysmith BC Linux user and Open Source Supporter

Gee, you seem to be under the impression that computer magazines are produced 
for the benefit of computer users - who want to find out whether the 
computers and software are effective, safe, reliable, as fast as they claim, 
user friendly, etc. Computer magazines are produced so that magazine 
publishers make money - as much as possible. Computer "journalists" want to 
keep their jobs, so they want the magazine to make as much money as possible. 
Computer magazines make as much money as possible by selling advertising to 
computer and software manufacturers - who make as much money as possible by 
selling new computers and software. So, in order for magazines to sell as 
much advertising as possible, it is necessary for the journalists to keep 
talking/writing/hyping all the new stuff coming out of the computer factories 
and software producers so that readers will continue to buy the computers and 
software that advertise in the magazines that support the "journalists". 
Anything that is really of value to computer users is there by accident - or 
as the bare minimum to keep computer users paying for computer advertising. I 
mean, sheesh.....doesn't everybody know this stuff....:-)