In recent months, decision-makers have started to listen to Canadians and have begun a desperately needed overhaul of our broken cell phone market. In June alone, Canadians saw the release of a broadly positive CRTC Code of Conduct for cell phone companies, Industry Canada’s subsequent denial of telecom giant Telus’
Continue readingAuthor: Lindsey Pinto
OpenMedia.ca: Citizen participation will open the possibilities of our digital future
OpenMedia.ca would be nothing without its community – that much is certain. Our entire job is to amplify your voices: to engage people in issues that affect our digital future, and to provide information, build online tools, and facilitate discussions that empower you to influence decisions that will affect your
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: What does Ottawa have to say about spying by the NSA?
It’s no secret that China-based Huawei Technologies (pronounced “WAH-way”) has been the subject of national security concerns. Last year, The Globe and Mail obtained government documents detailing Ottawa’s fears around data security in Canadian networks maintained by the controversial telecom giant. read more
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: A government-imposed Internet filter
Who should decide what websites you can access online? The answer is obvious: You. We’ve all heard scary censorship stories, in which oppressive governments block access to information, and only allow residents of a nation to see, read, or watch what rulers permit. These stories usually start off slowly—with justifiable
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Report finds that the best way to manage strong networks is to relax Big Telecom’s grip
Independent research company BuddleComm has released a new report (sadly it’s expensive; if I were you I’d just read Phillip Dampier’s summary here) that looks at the best ways to connect everyone to the Internet. It’s key finding: there’s just no substitute for robust networks managed by independent players. But
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: MP behind defeated online spying bill will leave politics
The MP behind the wildly unpopular (now defunct) warrantless online spying bill C-30 is on his way out of politics. Public Safety Minister Vic Toews will not only be leaving Cabinet, but will be running for the private sector, following one of the strongest online backlashes in Canadian history. read
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: MP behind defeated online spying bill will leave politics
The MP behind the wildly unpopular (now defunct) warrantless online spying bill C-30 is on his way out of politics. Public Safety Minister Vic Toews will not only be leaving Cabinet, but will be running for the private sector, following one of the strongest online backlashes in Canadian history. read
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Leaving the backdoor open: Is the government putting your personal data at risk?
Giant. Unsecured. Data registries. As if it wasn’t bad enough that secretive government agencies are intercepting our personal data. read more
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: OpenMedia.ca calls new Industry Canada framework a welcome step, but clear action required to give Canadians access to affordable mobile service
Squeeze_DemandChoice_200x200_130122.jpg New rules may help address past government policy failures, but much more needs to be done to fix Canada’s broken cell phone market June 28, 2013 – OpenMedia.ca is saying that Industry Canada’s new rules on supporting affordable wireless options for Canadians are a welcome step forward, but more
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Indie ISPs and pro-Internet lawyers take to court to defend Canadians’ right to privacy against a discredited US media firm
You may have heard the news that Canipre—a company that makes its money taking advantage of the Canadian copyright system—is currently working on behalf of U.S. media giant Voltage Pictures, to try to obtain private information about 1,100 Canadian Internet users it has accused of violating its copyright. Clearly it’s
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: MP Borg calls for parliamentary debate on secret spying activities
In light of recent revelations that a secretive Canadian spy agency has been collecting our sensitive personal data, MP Charmaine Borg asked for an emergency debate in the House of Commons yesterday. Her reasoning: “to allow parliamentarians to study in-depth the extent to which the personal information of Canadians, metadata
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: TPP negotiations quietly arrive in Canada
We’ve just learned that the secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations have come to Canada for an intersessional round of talks. iPolitics is reporting that negotiators are in Vancouver this weekend to discuss the TPP’s investment chapter. These “mini-negotiations” were not publicized by Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade –
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Secret Spying
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Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Canadian organizations join new coalition concerned with Internet censorship in controversial international agreement
stand against TPP.png As officials meet in Peru for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Canadian groups are helping launch an international “Fair Deal” coalition May 21, 2013 – Today, OpenMedia.ca and a coalition of organisations representing a diversity of interests have come together from around the world to ask for a fair
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: J.D. Power study shows cell phone rates are rising sharply; OpenMedia.ca available for comment
DC-Fees_200x200_130423.png Cell phone prices rising 13% more quickly than inflation WHO: Steve Anderson, Executive Director, OpenMedia.ca Lindsey Pinto, Communications Manager, OpenMedia.ca WHAT: J.D Power & Associates released a study that shows Canadians are paying 13% more for cell phone service than they did last year – this while Canada’s overall
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: You can stop this man from criminalizing our Internet
Michael Froman has just been appointed chief negotiator for the Trans-Pacific Partnership—an international agreement that could criminalize many everyday uses of the Internet. If you haven’t already, send him a message at http://openmedia.org/froman and help spread the word by sharing this image: Froman now has the unique ability to put
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Hearing Starts Today on Bell’s New Attempt to Take Over Canada’s Largest Independent Content Company; OpenMedia.ca Available for Comment
Takeover_210x150_120816.png Today is beginning of a week-long hearing to determine whether Bell should be given more control over Canada’s media system WHO: Steve Anderson, Executive Director, OpenMedia.ca Lindsey Pinto, Communications Manager, OpenMedia.ca WHAT: The CRTC is holding a public hearing in response to Bell—Canada’s largest telecom and media conglomerate—once again
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Stop Bell’s Takeover
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Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: How we’re doing as we demand choice in our cell phone market
You wouldn’t believe just how well things are going with the campaign to demand more choice in Canada’s cell phone market. From its humble beginning as a letter-writing campaign asking the CRTC to develop national rules to protect cell phone users, the Demand Choice campaign is hitting a stride, and
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: City of Vancouver releases digital strategy while Industry Canada quietly continues to delay
As Canadians wait with increasingly less patience for Industry Canada’s long-promised digital strategy, it appears that one city is taking matters into its own hands. From their mountainous British Columbia home, councillors of the City of Vancouver have crafted a plan that includes providing public wi-fi, sponsoring digital literacy programs,
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