Bill C-288

Dan Mazier says small internet service providers (ISPs) support his push to have telecom companies share the typical download and upload speeds of internet services with customers.

The Conservative Member of Parliament’s move is part of Bill C-288. Introduced in June 2022, the bill is an amendment to the Telecommunications Act.

“Consumers need that information to make an accurate decision,” Mazier said during Monday’s industry and technology committee meeting.

If passed, the bill would require carriers to make information on fixed broadband services they offer accessible, including service metrics during peak periods.

As Cartt points out, the bill will eliminate language including “up to” and “maximum” that telecom providers use when sharing information on available internet services.

“It would level the playing field,” Mazier said. “I’ve heard very positive feedback from the smaller internet service providers, interestingly enough.” Consultations with larger companies led to mixed reactions, he said.

OpenMedia offered its support for the bill back in September, stating the bill would help Canadians make educated decisions.

“If an internet provider is advertising certain speeds, consumers have the right to know before they buy if those speeds accurately reflect average network performance,” OpenMedia’s campaigns director, Matt Hatfield.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Canada issued new policy directions for the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) last month. The Commission is tasked with ensuring a number of issues regarding wholesale internet, including that larger players offer the services at reasonable prices.

Source: industry and technology committee Via: Cartt

OpenMedia is asking the government to do more to address internet speed reporting from Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

The non-profit specifically points to Bil C-288, a bill that seeks to revise the Telecommunications Act to require ISPs to publicly share broadband network performance.

OpenMedia argues the private member’s bill will help Canadians make educated decisions when picking internet services. It will also see service providers compete on the network performance they’re providing customers.

OpenMedia’s campaigns director, Matt Hatfield, says the matter addresses truth and transparency.

“If an internet provider is advertising certain speeds, consumers have the right to know before they buy if those speeds accurately reflect average network performance.”

Hatfield said the bill hosts particular importance for Canadians residing in rural areas and those who rely on low-cost services. “High-speed internet underperformance is irritating; but when lower-speed internet underperforms, it effectively denies people an essential service.”

The group says Canada is behind in adopting such legislation. Australia and the U.K. recently adopted reporting requirements, and the FCC in the U.S. has required companies to provide labels that inform customers on a range of factors, OpenMedia says.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: OpenMedia