OpenMedia.ca

Citizen engagement meets policy work as we push for strong national rules to protect cell phone users

We at OpenMedia.ca have been working hard to ensure your voices are heard as the CRTC works to develop national rules to protect cell phone users.

If we’re successful this Code of Conduct could play a big role in increasing cell phone providers’ transparency, curbing certain price-gouging practices, and dialing back the all-too-common punitive long-term cell phone service contracts. As only three large companies continue to control 94% of Canada’s wireless market, the CRTC rules could Read more »

Techvibes: Telus Wants to Buy Mobilicity Immediately for $380 Million

We're working hard to make sure your voices are heard on the proposed Telus takeover of Mobilicity, one of our largest independent cell phone providers, as demonstrated in this article. If the government allows this deal to go through, it will mean even less choice and even higher prices for Canadians.

It's time to stand together and send Industry Minister Paradis a clear message - add your name at http://DemandChoice.ca/

From the Techvibes Newsdesk:

Telecommunications giant Telus has agreed to acquire discount wireless carrier Mobilicity for $380 million. Read more »

Bell/Astral still bad for Canadians- and they know it

The CRTC held a public hearing last week in response to Bell—Canada’s largest telecom and media conglomerate—once again attempting to take over Astral Media. Last year, the telecom giant unveiled a $3.4B plan to take control of Astral, one of Canada's largest media companies. Canada already has one of the most highly concentrated media systems in the industrialized world, and this deal would only make this situation worse by giving Bell a monopolistic share of the media market.

After thousands of Canadians and public interest groups decried the original takeover attempt, the CRTC denied the deal, saying that Bell had not proven the takeover would benefit the broadcasting system or be in the public interest. So Bell came back with a slightly watered-down version of its original proposal to take over Astral, which included dividing some assets up with Shaw, another one of Canada’s largest media and telecom conglomerates. Read more »

Here's your update

Here’s a special update from your OpenMedia.org team.

New reports state that you’ve made Internet censorship a “challenging” issue for those behind the extreme Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.[1] In response, lobbyists and government representatives from a dozen countries are meeting in Peru at this very moment to “accelerate” the secretive process.[2]

We’ve got a plan. Our supporters recently told us[3] we should build our own international Internet freedom partnership of citizens, civil society groups, and innovative businesses from around the world.

So, today we’re launching a new international coalition called Our Fair Deal. You can be a founding member and stand against Internet censorship at this unique moment by signing onto our statement of principle: “We reject copyright proposals that restrict the open Internet, access to knowledge, economic opportunity, and our fundamental rights.”