The European community is taking a stand against cell phone bill shock, and putting a cap on data roaming charges. But here in Canada, we still have the industrialized world’s highest roaming fees, and generally some of the highest cell phone prices. Should Canada have a cap on Big Telecom
Continue readingTag: Cell Phone Squeeze
OpenMedia.ca: CBC: Mobile app empowers people with disabilities
Here’s another reason why protecting our digital future is so important: accessibility. Since we started out, we’ve been getting a lot of email from people with disabilities and elderly people who rely on the Internet, apps, and emerging technologies to improve their quality of life. They (many of you, really)
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Techvibes: Study shows Canada’s cell phone market is overpriced and anti-competitive
Yet another report has recently come out to demonstrate just how closed our cell phone market truly is. We’ve improved in the last four years, but we’re still seeing a situation where about 94% of the wireless market is dominated by only three large companies. Canada’s industry minister has yet
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: CBC: Nova Scotia bill to protect cellphone users
Quebec, Manitoba, Ontario, and now Nova Scotia have introduced or passed legislation to protect Canadians against price-gouging cell phone companies. The bills do not go quite far enough, but they are a welcome step forward for people in these provinces. Article from CBC News: Nova Scotia plans to regulate cellphone
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Winseck: Will a national code for cell phone services serve Canadians?
Check out Prof. Dwayne Winseck’s article about potential national rules for the cell phone industry. We can’t let Big Telecom shape those rules for their own narrow interests—we’re working to make sure that, if developed, those rules build upon and strengthen measures that put Canadian cell phone users first. Have
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Image: The Big Telecom price-gouging cycle
The cycle of telecom price-gouging. Take action: http://pricehike.ca/ Click to enlarge. read more
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Speak Up! The CRTC is listening: Weekly Update from OpenMedia.ca
Hello! Here’s Lindsey with your update: read more
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: CBC: Rogers’ cell phone price-gouging hits BC family in the wallet
This is outrageous: This man’s son was not informed of new fees on his texting and was charged a whopping $1,400 by Rogers—talk about price-gouging! To make matters worse, Rogers terminated their phone contracts and then charged them a contract cancellation fee. We know a lot of Canadians have similar
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: MobileSyrup: What does the future hold for independent cell phone options?
The government is taking a lobbyist-first half-measured approach to our cell phone market. Going forward, it’s essential that we continue working to ensure independent options are safeguarded. Keep up the charge at http://StopTheSqueeze.ca. Article by Ian Hardy for MobileSyrup: Based on some recent stats it’s estimated that the total wireless
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: CBC: Rogers contracts push the envelope, lawyer says
Rogers costumers in fixed-term contracts have no choice but to accept rate hikes or pay steep fees to end their contract. Does this seem fair to you? If you are sick of telecom price-gouging, take action by signing our Stop the Squeeze petition and make the switch to an indy
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: The CRTC wants you to comment on the state of wireless competition in Canada!
The CRTC recently announced that it is looking into creating minimum national standards to protect wireless customers, and is now asking Canadians for input. After receiving several requests to create a national code from Big Telecom as well as from public interest groups, the CRTC is now asking for your
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Big Telecom’s good idea: National standards to protect consumers
You read that title correctly. Here’s the idea: Rogers recently filed an application with the CRTC asking “for stronger protections for customers of wireless services”, not long after Telus made a similar request. Their ask is for minimum national standards to protect wireless customers, as opposed to differing provincial rules.
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Globe: Bell hikes payphone rates
Big telecom company Bell is trying to raise prices anywhere they can, including through payphones. Though not as popular as they once were, payphones are especially useful to those with lower incomes; raising the rates will only serve to make yet another form of communication less accessible. All this while
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Mercer Report: The Bell-Rogers anger continuum (Spoof)
Have you tried ConglomerMate? If you have, you and your loved one should also try making the switch from Big Telecom. read more
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Taking it in stride: Weekly Update from OpenMedia.ca
Hello! Here’s Lindsey with your update: read more
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Letter to Supporters: You’ve done something amazing
Earlier this year things looked pretty bleak for supporters of online privacy, affordability, and openness. From costly and warrantless online spying, to scary new Internet lockdown restrictions, to a hike in cell phone fees, it looked like those in government and Big Telecom had finally had enough of the Internet.
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Postmedia: Consumers reject roaming fees
Canadians pay the highest roaming fees in the industrialized world (study: http://bit.ly/lY5vcB), on top of some of the highest prices for cell phone and Internet service in general. As part of the pro-Internet community, you’ve stood up for access and affordability through petitions like the one at Stop The Squeeze,
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Postmedia: The decision on the cell phone squeeze has come
It looks like Canadians—especially those who added their names to the petition at http://StopTheSqueeze.ca/ or sent our report to their MP—have had an effect in forcing the Big Three to back off. Yesterday Industry Minister Paradis announced rules that were expected to determine whether indie cell phone companies will get
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Government Takes Half-Measured Approach to Crucial Cell Phone Decision
openmedia_logo.jpg Canadians unimpressed with the government’s “fix” for broken cell phone market March 14, 2012 – The government made a decision today that will determine how cell phone pricing and choice will lock in Canada going forward. Industry Minister Christian Paradis announced today that he would not set aside new
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Key Report Highlights Strategies to Fix “Broken Cell Phone Market”
openmedia_logo.jpg Groups OpenMedia.ca, CIPPIC, and PIAC release comprehensive report, as Industry Canada prepares rules for wireless infrastructure auction March 8, 2012 – Adding to the pressure of a 63,000+ signature “Stop The Squeeze” petition launched earlier this year, grassroots group OpenMedia.ca, University of Ottawa legal clinic CIPPIC, and the Public
Continue reading