So-called Net Neutrality hearings called by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) have hit a speed bump.
The deadline for public submissions to hearings on Internet throttling or traffic shaping activities by Canadian Internet Service Providers (ISPs) has been moved to Feb. 23, a one-week extension on the original deadline date.
The CRTC notes on its website that “the following changes to the procedure set out in Telecom Public Notice CRTC 2008-19, 20 November 2008:
14. Members of the public who wish merely to file written comments in this proceeding, without receiving copies of the various submissions, may do so by filing such comments with the Commission by 23 February 2009 at the address or fax number noted above, or by filling out the online form.
21. All parties may file with the Commission, serving a copy on all other parties, initial comments by 23 February 2009. Initial comments should address the issues set out above, as well as the responses to the above-noted interrogatories.
Accoring to reports, the CRTC had ordered Canada's ISPs, such as Bell, Rogers and Shaw, to provide traffic information for the hearings
The material was provided on Wednesday, just days before what would have been the point at which submissions to public comments were closed. Some observers are saying the filing timing seems like a tactic to prevent effective response to the important information from ISPs about network management and technical activities related to traffic throughput, quality of service and quality of experience issues.
Organizations such as CIPPIC, PIAC, saveournet.ca and the Open Internet Coalition have voiced opinions on the topic and recommended submissions be made to the CRTC by interested or concernced parties.
The CRTC announcement at http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2008/pt2008-19-2.htm