Liberal Party supports net neutrality, but mum on private member’s bill

Liberal Party MP and industry critic Marc Garneau has come forward in support of the issue of net neutrality, saying that the party wants “to keep (the) flow of information moving as freely as possible.” In a question and answer session with the grassroots organization SaveOurNet.ca, Garneau, the party's industry, science and technology critic, says the Liberals support the principles of net neutrality. The question and answer session, which outlined the party’s position in more detail than in the past, was also posted on the Liberal Party website. Net neutrality stipulates that users should have free and open access to the Internet. Under the principles of net neutrality, Internet service providers cannot prioritize one kind of content or platform over another. The principle allows all users to get the same open, access online. Garneau tells Tech Media Reports that Canada should follow the example of U.S. President Barack Obama, whose administration has been a vocal proponent of net neutrality and has worked to preserve its principles. MP Charlie Angus, the NDP digital affairs critic, tells Tech Media Reports that he was pleased to hear the Liberals come out in support of net neutrality. “We’ve been working on this issue for a number of years and we’ve heard diddly-squat from the Liberals,” Angus says. “I’m certainly glad they’re following the NDP line and I hope they’ll work with us on bringing forward some legislation.” Angus’ private members bill, C-398, was tabled on May 29, 2009. The bill amends the Telecommunications Act by restricting any network management practices that “would favour, degrade or prioritize any content, application or service transmitted over a broadband network based on its source, ownership, destination or type.” Although all legislation died on the order paper when Parliament prorogued this month, private member’s bills are not affected. “It’s still alive,” Angus says of his bill. Garneau would not comment on whether he would support Angus’ bill, but criticized the Conservative government for failing to take a clear policy position on net neutrality. Last October, Industry Minister Tony Clement said he was studying the CRTC decision on Internet traffic management, and that he did not want “to see a situation where consumers are put at risk in terms of their access to the Internet.” He added: “We are on the side of the consumer, most assuredly.” Critics of the network management practices of Canada’s major Internet service providers say it not only restricts Internet users’ access to content, but also stifles competition. Small wholesale Internet buyers who use the infrastructure of companies like Bell Canada and Telus lose a competitive advantage when their customers’ service is affected by traffic management practices that occur over the entire network. Both Garneau and Angus agree that net neutrality principles would give the Internet wholesale market the ability to compete with the larger companies in the market. “We need more competition, not less,” Angus says. Angus’ private member’s bill would create stricter rules requiring Internet service providers to provide accurate information about a user’s Internet speed and the network management practices being used on his or her connection. The objective is to inform Internet users about their choices and give them the opportunity to compare competing services. Tech Media Reports sought comments from the Conservative government and the Bloc Québécois for their positions on net neutrality but neither responded by deadline.

Liberal Party supports net neutrality, but mum on private member’s bill

News | 01/12/2010 10:29 pm EST

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