Tens of thousands of Canadians are speaking out for lower cell phone bills – and this report suggests our pressure could be starting to deliver results. Keep up the pressure at https://OpenMedia.ca/gatekeepers Article by Peter Nowak for AlphaBeatic Something very unusual is happening in Canadian wireless services: for the first
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OpenMedia.ca: Canadaland: Rogers has some ‘splaining to do
This telecom giant is showing a disturbing lack of transparency when it comes to how it shared Canadians’ private information with government and what they received in exchange for that information. If this gets you as riled up as we are, go to https://OpenMedia.ca/DefendPrivacy right now and demand better. Article
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Michael Geist: 2 out of 3 ain’t enough
Two of Canada’s biggest telecoms have done the right thing and publicly announced that they will not share subscribers’ private information without a warrant any more. It doesn’t seem like much to ask for, but Bell is still holding back. Add to the pressure at OurPrivacy.ca Article by Michael Geist
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Michael Geist: Come Back With a Warrant: How Will the Canadian Government Respond to the Supreme Court?
Tens of thousands of Canadians have spoken out about how the government is obtaining our private information without a warrant. Following a recent pro-privacy Supreme Court ruling, the ball is in the government’s court. How do you think Peter MacKay will respond? Article by Michael Geist Canadian Internet and telecom
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: City News: Rogers, Telus will no longer hand customer info to police without a warrant
Under pressure from thousands of Canadians, two of Canada’s telecom giants have announced they’ll no longer hand your private information over to the government without a warrant. Way to go, Canada and thanks for speaking out at OurPrivacy.ca! Article by Jim Bronskill for City News Two major telecommunications firms —
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Alphabeatic: Wireless data prices and the collective cost to our intelligence
Is your wireless bill making you dumber towards the end of the month? Article by Peter Nowak for Alphabeatic It dawned on me recently that I tend to be dumber at the end of the month than at the beginning. It actually has nothing to do with lunar cycles, but
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Government’s own report confirms Canadian wireless prices still amongst highest in industrialized world, while more affordable new entrants starting to have positive impact on costs
BT-price-gouge_v2.png New entrants hugely outperform the Big Three when it comes to wireless costs – but the Big Three is still blocking many Canadians from these affordable alternatives July 14, 2014 – A new government report released this morning has confirmed that Canadians are still paying some of the highest
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Global: Mother of dead student hounded for 3 years by Bell for $215
Stay classy, Big Telecom. Article by Sean O’Shea for Global Christine West of Lindsay, Ontario has grown frustrated with opening up the mailbox on her front porch. She’s worried she’ll find another collection letter addressed to her middle daughter, Katie. read more
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Measures to improve Canadians’ access to independent wireless services hailed as a positive step forward, although more will be needed to lower prices and boost choice
gatekeepers-share.png Industry Minister James Moore has announced that vital digital assets will be set aside for affordable new entrants in upcoming auction of AWS-3 wireless spectrum. Canadians have been calling for this type of set-aside for years. July 7, 2014 – Industry Minister James Moore has announced new measures aimed
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: TelClarity: The outrageous markup on wireless roaming costs.
CONFIRMED: Canadians are getting the shake down on wireless roaming rates, which average between a 50,000 – 200,000% markup. Think that’s ridiculous? Article by Andrew Seipp for TelClarity The wholesale cost of roaming is a closely guarded secret, but recent revelations by Wind have shed light on shockingly high margins.
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Mobilesyrup: OpenMedia’s Access My Info tool requests the data your ISP has shared with the government
Are your Internet or cell phone services provided by the Big Three? Are you concerned about what private information they store about you? Then you should give our Access My Info tool a try at: https://OpenMedia.ca/MyInfo Article by Daniel Barder for Mobilesyrup It recently came to light that in 2011
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Wired: Researchers Find and Decode the Spy Tools Governments Use to Hijack Phones
Our friends at Citizen Lab have succeeded in reverse engineering spyware that is infecting people’s cellphones in democracies and dictatorships alike. Article by Kim Zetter for Wired Newly uncovered components of a digital surveillance tool used by more than 60 governments worldwide provide a rare glimpse at the extensive ways
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Globe and Mail: Quebecor ‘ready, willing and able’ for wireless expansion: CEO
Greater wireless choice may be on the horizon if the government can get roaming rates under control. Would you switch providers if you had a different option? Article by Christine Dobby for The Globe and Mail Quebecor Inc. gave its strongest hint yet that it will expand its wireless business
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: New Access My Info tool empowers Canadians to learn what information their telecom collects about them, and shares with third parties, including government entities
share_pop_300_4.png Tool built by privacy experts helps shed light on the data telecom companies collect and retain about Canadians June 16, 2014 – Canadians have a new way to learn more about the information being collected about them by their telecom provider. A new online tool which is launching today
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Huffington Post: Canada’s Wireless Price Inequality Proves We Could Be Paying Way Less
Article by The Huffington Post Canada Question: How much do you pay for 10 gigabytes of data and unlimited calling in Ontario? Answer: Just about double what it costs in Manitoba. read more
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: What do you think about Big Telecom blocking access to content and services in Canada?
For a long time now, Canadians have been getting the short end of the stick when it comes to accessing exciting, affordable, and innovative Internet and mobile phone services. Without rules that allow for truly open networks, Big Telecom giants have been able to dominate as the only game in
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: OpenMedia continues to fight against Big Telecom’s efforts to delay our hard-won consumer protection rules.
Just under a year ago, Big Telecom quietly put forward a motion in the Federal Court of Appeal to delay, in part, implementation of the CRTC’s new rule to protect cellphone users. A few months later, the Federal Court of Appeal officially announced they would hear the case. At the
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Financial Post: More choice could add $1 billion to Canada’s economy
Greater wireless choice could be a tremendous boon to Canada’s economy, according to reports. Tell Industry Minister James Moore that Canadians want much greater choice in their wireless market at
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Prevented Telus/Mobilicity takeover is welcome news, but more govt action needed to level playing field and ensure wireless choice
Screen Shot 2014-05-21 at 12.05.42 PM.png Affordable, independent providers are struggling because of years of a history of regulatory coddling of Big Telecom, says OpenMedia.ca May 21, 2014 – The withdrawal of Telus’ bid to take over Mobilicity is welcome news for Canadian wireless users, but more government action needed
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Words by Nowak: The reality of wireless bills in one simple chart
Actually, no, wireless bills are not going down. If you’re sick and tired of price-gouging, send James Moore a message at https://openmedia.ca/gatekeepers Article by Peter Nowak Further to my post yesterday about whether wireless bills have gone down… I got an email from Geoff White, counsel for the Public Interest
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