[discuss] Net Neutrality: A Public Discussion (in Ottawa) on the Future of the Internet in Canada

[Russell McOrmond]

http://www.librarianactivist.org/2007/01/09/net-neutrality-panel-discussion/

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Net Neutrality: A Public Discussion on the Future of the Internet in Canada
February 6, 2007 , 7 pm
Admission: Free
Ottawa Public Library Auditorium
120 Metcalfe St.

Moderated by Pippa Lawson, Executive Director, Canadian Internet Policy
and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) at the University of Ottawa

Panelists:
* Michael Geist:  Professor of Law, Research Chair of Internet and
E-Commerce Law, University of Ottawa
* Ren Bucholz:  Electronic Frontier Foundation Policy Coordinator, Americas
* Andrew Clement:  Professor, Faculty of Information Studies,
University of Toronto; Principal Investigator, Canadian Research
Alliance for Community Innovation and Networking

Please join us for a an important public discussion on the future of
the Internet in Canada. Network neutrality recently became a major
issue in the United States when telecommunications companies issued
public statements asking for the ability to charge Internet
content-providers for preferential access to Internet users. That meant
that big corporations, especially media conglomerates, would get to
Internet users fastest while smaller ones, which would be unable to pay
the "tolls", would be left trailing. Meanwhile, Internet users could be
restricted from using certain applications, and would likely have to
pay more to access content of providers that weren't part of the
telecommunications company's exclusivity deals.

Net neutrality has been an issue in Canada for at least two years, but
the release in March 2006 of the Telecommunications Policy Review
Panel's Final Report renewed both corporate and public interest in the
topic. In the United States, net neutrality is currently on hold as
legislators debate the issue; in Canada, the federal government is
considering major changes to telecommunications regulation and its
commitment to network neutrality is uncertain - hence the need for
public debate before more decisions are made.

We are also inviting politicians to attend this panel discussion, and
we hope that with a good turnout, our policy-makers will understand
what an important issue network neutrality is for Canadians, and that
the separation of telecommunications companies from content providers
is in the interest of all Internet users. While the Internet has
largely been managed as a democratic commons there are hints that it
can become a privately-controlled medium. The 2005 move by Telus to
block customer access to the "Voices For Change" Telecommunications
Workers Union website is but one example of a private-sector threat to
network neutrality.

For more information on the topic, please visit the following websites
and online news articles:

Battle over 'net neutrality' arrives in Canada
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2006/11/02/tech-neutrality.html

The Telecom Policy Review: The Rest of the Story
http://michaelgeist.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1181&Itemid=85

The Alternative Telecommunications Policy Forum
http://www3.fis.utoronto.ca/research/iprp/cracin/alttelecompolicyforum.ca/

Net Neutrality in Canada
http://www.neutrality.ca/


If you are unable to attend, please note that a video of the event will
be made publicly available. Please contact us for link information.

We hope to see you there! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you
have any questions, comments, or suggestions.

Cheers,
Sabina Iseli-Otto (sabina  at- alumni.uwo.ca) & Danielle Dennie
(danielle.dennie -at mail.mcgill.ca), librarians at large


-- 
  Russell McOrmond, Internet Consultant: <http://www.flora.ca/>
  Please help us tell the Canadian Parliament to protect our property
  rights as owners of Information Technology. Sign the petition!
  http://www.digital-copyright.ca/petition/ict/

  "The government, lobbied by legacy copyright holders and hardware
   manufacturers, can pry my camcorder, computer, home theatre, or
   portable media player from my cold dead hands!"