Rogers
has struck a backroom deal with Shaw1 to take
over systems crucial to delivering our mobile Internet and phone
services – systems that were promised2
to create new independent choices for Canadians, not more
control for Big Telecom.
We do not deserve this. OpenMedia.ca has joined experts
and advocates to send a letter3 to our Industry
Minister telling him to block this shady backroom deal and stand up for
greater choice in Canada!
The Industry
Minister is
about to make his decision. We need you to add your voice right now for
him to stop it. Demand choice over the future of Internet access by
clicking here now.
The deal will
allow our biggest mobile phone and Internet provider, Rogers
Inc., to go around the spirit of Canada’s key digital policy
rules4 so they can grow even
bigger – and jack up your bill. The move will freeze
independent choices out of the market and all but guarantee
that Canadians have only three mobile telecom giants to choose from.5
Years down the
road, if we do nothing, we will look at this as the moment when choice
and affordability were killed in Canada’s mobile Internet and
phone services. Please
don’t let this happen. Industry Minister Christian Paradis
can block this move by Rogers – but he will only do so if we
all take a second to raise our voices now.
We know that Big
Telecom's backroom deals are killing choice for citizens. But the
pro-Internet community has proven that we can push leaders to stop
these shady deals. When we come together, we stop the cheaters and take
power over our digital rights. But we must take action as a
community now to make Big Telecom play fair.
With hope,
Steve, Josh,
Lindsey, Diana, and Reilly—on behalf of your OpenMedia team
P.S.
OpenMedia is a small non-profit organization working overtime to
safeguard your access to the open Internet. We rely on donations from
people like you to maintain our efforts. If you can, please join us by
chipping in whatever you can afford to sustain us today.
Footnotes
[1] Shaw sells
Rogers, Inc. an option to eventually buy its wireless licences. Source:
The
Globe and Mail
[2] In 2008, the
government reserved a set amount of Canada’s wireless
spectrum for new entrants, calling it the “the new entrant
set-aside”. If the backroom deal goes forward Rogers,
Canada’s largest incumbent cell phone company, will get
control of this resource. Source: Industry
Canada
[3] Find the
letter here.
[4] Industry
Canada clearly stated that only "new entrants" were eligible for the
AWS wireless spectrum set aside in 2008. Industry Canada further stated
that “changes made after the application deadline which
create an Association with another applicant are not permitted, and any
applicant who has formed such an Association will be disqualified from
participating in the auction.” Source: Industry
Canada
[5]
Canada’s wireless industry is overwhelmingly dominated by
Bell, Telus, and Rogers. Source: The
Globe and Mail |
