Indie cell phone provider WIND supports Stop The Squeeze campaign

Image from Kozzi Inc.

Since the launch of the Stop The Squeeze campaign, we've seen an amazing level of support! Most recently, indie cell phone provider WIND Mobile has shown their support in a post on their website. We're very excited to have their enthusiastic endorsement!

WIND is one of the companies that was allowed to enter Canada's cell phone market after the 2008 wireless spectrum auction, when the government used a framework that kept small companies and start-ups from being excluded. By setting aside spectrum from the Big Three mobile providers in that auction, the government managed to create the only competition Canada’s cell phone market has seen in decades.

Part of WIND's post, directed at their customers, reads:

As members of WIND’s community, you’ve been a part of the ongoing battle to create real wireless choice for Canadians by participating in the conversation. A lot of you have also been able to enjoy the benefits of wireless competition firsthand by signing up with WIND. We can’t thank you enough for your support, but all of our progress is in jeopardy if the government does not set aside wireless spectrum for new entrants at the next auction.

They're absolutely right. Canadians, if you haven't already, please visit http://StopTheSqueeze.ca to sign the petition, then spread the word to everyone you know.

The Stop The Squeeze campaign hasn't gone unnoticed by detractors either, making it all the more important that the petition continues to grow. The Big Three cellphone companies have been pushing back against Canadians and independent providers, arguing that only they could use wireless spectrum in the public's interest. Their argument is null —they have exactly the same incentives to act in the public interest as any Canadian provider—and WIND makes sure to clarify that in their post:

Although the incumbents may claim to want to build out their rural networks, you have to ask yourself, since so much of their spectrum is currently unused, why haven’t they done this already? The incumbents clearly want to buy up any available spectrum in order to keep it away from their competition.

All in all, however, we're doing incredibly well. WIND's endorsement is the latest in a flurry of support for the campaign—which is our fastest-growing petition to date. Both the Liberal Party's Critic for Industry and Consumer Affairs Geoff Regan, and the NDP's Digital Affairs Critic Charlie Angus have thrown their weight behind Canadians' demands in an open letter and tweet, respectively.

Thanks, Canadians, for all your hard work in making this a budding success! We can win the fight for a more affordable, competitive, and overall consumer-friendly cell phone market. Keep it up!

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