Charlie Angus Submits Bill on Net Neutrality and Stands Up for Consumer's Rights

May 29, 2008

Three cheers for MP Charlie Angus for standing up for citizen's rights in the Digital Realm. Angus' bill supporting Net Neutrality amends Canada's Telecommunications Act to prohibit various forms of discrimination such as throttling certain types of traffic by Bell. The bill allows ISPs to charge what they like, but not decide what "content" gets throughput and which doesn't.

Does it really make sense for a Internet provider to be deciding "good content" vs. bad content? Or what search engine goes fast and which goes slow. Everyone can see that this a huge conflict of interest. The Voice of IP (VoIP) phone service they offer will work and their competitors won't. The search engine they make a deal with will load faster.

Call to Action

If you don't want your Internet throttled, take 30 seconds RIGHT NOW to:

1) Email Charlie Angus and thank him at: angusc@parl.gc.ca

2) Email your Member of Parliament and urge him or her to support this bill.
Find their email here.

Even better than an email (they pay more attention), is dropping a postcard or letter (postage free of course) to your MP, leader of the parties, etc.:

Your MP's Name Here
House of Commons
Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Not sure what to succinctly. How about one of these:

Protect consumer rights. Support the Net Neutrality Bill.
Keeping "Toll free" Internet Roads. Support the Net Neutrality Bill.
Don't create 2 tiered Internet system, where some sites get privileged
over others. Support the Net Neutrality Bill.
Your short message here .. leave better ideas in the comments and I'll add them to this list.

It's only by speaking up that your Member's of Parliament even knows that you care.

Haven't kept on Net Neutrality

This video gives a clear explanation of net neutrality. At the end, just substitute House of Commons for Congress when they urge you to write your representative.