Former astronaut fights higher Internet rates, usage caps

NEWS RELEASE

LIBERAL PARTY OF CANADA

************************* Liberals oppose CRTC decision on usage-based billing OTTAWA - The Liberal Party of Canada is standing up for Canadian consumers by opposing the decision by the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on usage-based billing.

“We do not agree with the CRTC’s decision on usage-based billing, and we will bring the fight for an open and innovative Internet environment to Parliament,” said Liberal Industry, Science and Technology Critic Marc Garneau.

Canadians who want to take action and join the Liberal opposition to the usage-based billing decision can get involved through the Liberal Party website.

Citizens’ groups and small telecom providers are upset that the CRTC has allowed usage-based billing to go ahead, which allows large Internet service providers to raise rates and reduce download limits for consumers.

“The CRTC’s decision limits competition and choice for consumers,” said Liberal Consumer Affairs Critic Dan McTeague. “Places like Ontario will now face 25-gigabyte (GB) download caps, compared to the U.S. which enjoys caps of 250 GB.

“This CRTC decision will limit Canadians’ ability to use services like Netflix or watch the news streamed over the Internet. This shows yet again that under a Conservative government, CRTC has come to mean ‘Consumers Rarely Taken into Consideration.’”

“Liberals believe in more Internet competition, not less,” said Liberal Heritage Critic Pablo Rodriquez. “Canada needs more investment in high-speed Internet and we believe more competition will increase that investment. We are calling on the government to review this decision.”

In 2009, Liberals joined with the Consumer’s Association of Canada to call for the federal government and all parties in the House of Commons to support measures that will increase cell phone and Internet competition, such as net neutrality.

To view the Liberal proposals for internet and cell phone service, click here. *************************////