Two of Canada’s biggest media conglomerates, Bell and Rogers, are partnering up. Their goal? To take control of the iconic Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment group. The CRTC approved the deal yesterday, which includes three TV channels, several sports teams, and even some real estate holdings. With the CRTC giving
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OpenMedia.ca: TorrentFreak.com: New data exposes Canadian ISPs throttling download speeds
Canadian citizens are paying for Internet access, but Big Telecom isn’t being completely open about the restrictions that they’ve been imposing. With new data just published by the Measurement Lab, Canadian service providers such as Bell and Rogers have been exposed as interfering with over 75% of torrent transfers and
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: The Globe & Mail: Rogers says defence of false advertising case a ‘slam dunk’
Last week we shared how Rogers is trying to seek court approval for using false advertising in their campaigns. By claiming ‘fewer dropped calls’ without the requisite data and testing, Rogers is now faced with a $10M fine by the Competition Bureau. In opening remarks to the trial made late
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Where we are today
Lobbyists have been seeking greater control over the Internet on multiple fronts – but citizens have been coming together in huge numbers (and across borders) to use the Internet to save the Internet. This is revolutionizing politics around the world. As we head into fall, we’re energized to see that
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Postmedia: Rogers seeks court approval to lie to Canadians
Today Rogers is butting heads with the Competition Bureau in the Ontario Superior Court. This big telecom company is seeking court approval to lie to Canadians in their advertising. This after Rogers was called out for making false claims in their ads. Pro-Internet community member Brian Kno—who shared this on
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: The Globe and Mail: Where are Bell’s ‘tangible benefits’?
For whom does Bell toll? The Canadian consumer, apparently. More details have emerged on Bell’s avoidance of paying obligatory ‘tangible benefits’ in their takeover of Astral. These tangible benefits are intended to be a key source of funding for Canadian programming, helping to support Canadian Music Week and the hiring
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: CBC Market Place: Rogers raises fees at will, despite contract
Canadians pay some of the highest cell phone fees in the industrialized world, and we’re often left to fend for ourselves when Big Telecom is suspected of wrongdoing. As the economy still struggles and the outrageous cost of online spying looms, we simply can’t afford this any more. read more
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Video: Bell’s touch tone phone charge
Another example of how big telecom companies price-gouge Canadians. Let’s continue to grow our community so we can change the industry and safeguard the possibilities of the open and affordable Internet. Here’s our crowdsourced action plan. Here’s where you can send our plan, and the research report we produced to
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: Financial Post: Big telcos warn of ‘market shake-out’ if pick-and-pay TV model adopted
Big Telecoms Rogers and Shaw are lobbying against the so-called ‘a la carte’ model that would allow customers to pick and pay for individual channels. The CRTC also expressed concern over the pick-and-pay system saying that a lack of choice and flexibility could lead to consumers leaving the broadcasting system.
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: Canada is a Pro-Internet Trendsetter: Weekly News Update from OpenMedia.ca
Hello! Here’s Lindsey with your update: read more
Continue readingOpenMedia.ca: CNET: U.S. ISPs take copyright law into their own hands
Since big telecom companies have major content assets and are ISPs, there’s a good chance we’ll see this sort extra-judicial online censorship in Canada before too long. What can you do? Switch to an indie ISP. And if you haven’t already, give us key input to help us improve our
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: 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: If we don’t keep up the charge, Canada will continue to fall behind
As the government tries to tell us not to worry about the online spying bill—they’re misleadingly indicating that they’re stepping back in order to wait out the outcry—Big Telecom is also trying to convince Canadians that we’re leading the world in all things digital, not falling behind. But the unfortunate
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