MEGO: My Eyes Glaze Over

Looking for Options: Avoiding Telemarketers and Net Throttlers

Feb 28, 2009 Consumer Brands, Customer Service, Internet General, Marketing & Communication

Prepare yourself for a rant.

For some time now we have been searching for a new Internet Service Provider (ISP), one that doesn’t throttle P2P sites (file sharing sites). Sadly, in Canada it seems this is difficult since while we aren’t forced to purchase our access from the operator (in Canada: Bell, Rogers and Shaw are the most dominant players)- the truth is most flow through their network anyhow.

Frustrated with this service and the fact that every month our bill seems to sneak up a few cents, we had also started to look into alternatives to our phone service.  We spend nearly $170 every month for Phone, Internet, and Television service from one provider. Despite calling to take advantage of new bundle packages (note: they didn’t automatically give me the bundle discount- I had to CALL!) our bill is still ridiculously expensive if you consider the fact that they throttle P2P sites on our Internet, the majority of our phone calls are from 000-0000 and 123-4567, and I can get what good TV shows exist, elsewhere – it really makes me question the money being spent!

Today, after dealing with more telemarketers calling (and, yes I signed the useless “Do Not Call list! Reminds me,  check out this hilarious video from This Hour has 22 Minutes) I decided to call and de-list our phone number, hoping that this might help. I really don’t need to have my phone number listed – any one who wants to get a hold of me can e-mail me if they don’t know my phone number! Guess what privacy costs at the phone company – $2 A MONTH. Are you *&^% me? Why should I pay an additional $2 a month to keep my phone number private? Don’t I already pay over $40 to have a land line? Interestingly, someone on Twitter told me that if I wanted to list my cell phone number I would HAVE TO PAY! I began thinking do I need an expensive land line? If I scan my Caller ID, there are only a handful of calls I actually want to take. My family talks to us on Skype, my friends talk to me on e-mail or Blackberry Messenger, or Gmail, Facebook, or Twitter.  So… to solve phone issue – I am going to get VOIP phone service – apparently some actually have a filter for telemarketers!

Finding an alternative for Internet is more difficult. Currently I have been unable to find any ISPs that don’t use the networks provided by the three big guys who currently are throttling certain sites, or throttling during peak hours. In fact, the CRTC will be reviewing this very issue in July.  So far CRTC has taken a “let’s do nothing” attitude. Go figure, they are the same brainiacs that created the Do Not Call Registry which was oh-so successful! The hearing in July will examine the principle of  “network neutrality” in Canada and whether ISPs will be able to continue to “manage” traffic as they have been for the past year. “Network neutrality” is a principle that obligates the companies that own the infrastructure to “refrain from blocking, degrading, or prioritizing certain content, services, or applications based on their source, ownership or destination” (SaveOurNet.ca).  SaveOurNet.ca has an interesting PDF that outlines the issue, the current laws, the facts vs. fiction.

A couple interesting bits and pieces on the issue from SaveOurNet.ca:

• Tiered, non-neutral networks limits customer choice, and determine which Internet businesses succeed by prioritizing or degrading specific content based on who is willing to pay for it. Large ISPs would use traffic management to charge content providers for speedy access for their web users – therefore smaller companies, start-ups (or blogs!) that couldn’t afford to pay would suffer. Interestingly, ISPs could slow down their own competitors. Bell for example throttles P2P sites, yet it is unlikely that they are slowing down downloads to their new Bell Video Store.
• The major ISPs insist that throttling is necessary in order to offer equal service during peak time to consumers. Yet, when asked to produce numbers it turns out that bandwidth us is actually down! So, if we aren’t short on bandwidth – then the only reason to throttle seems to be to make money, and turn web consumers into a commodity.
• A free and equal platform fosters innovation in Canada:  The Internet provides start-ups, and innovators with an incredible platform to reach their customers at a low price. But, if ISPs are allowed to pick and choose “which content gets to ride in the fast lane, future innovators will have to impress (or pay off) the ‘gate-keeper’ before gaining access to consumers” (SaveOurNet.ca). Which begs the question why you would choose to do business from Canadian soil…
• Many consumers are not aware that their ISPs are slowing their speed of access, and incorrectly assume that it is the content provider instead. Imagine you are watching a live-stream video of your favourite author reading and the picture and sound is splotchy and fragmented, how do you rate your experience? Isn’t your enjoyment of the Internet based on the speed at which you can find and do what you set out to do. Do you visit that site again?
• The ISPs built the infrastructure so it is their belief that they deserve to compensated for their investment. However, as SaveOurNet.ca points out – it would be ridiculous to imagine a hydro company charging a premium to particular customers for “enhanced service” – essentially double-dipping by charging us for access and then the content providers to give customers reliable access to content.
• The Internet is ours. I think this is an important distinction to make – the networks provide the access, but they “contribute very little to the resource” (SaveOurNet.ca) The value of the Internet, the information, the content, the social networks, the communication vehicles available -  those are not due to the work of the ISPs they are authored by other companies, supported by volunteers, or created as a collaborative effort of many.
• If net neutrality is not upheld by public policy we can be sure that the ISPs will manage traffic in a way that best satisfies their bottom line…not ours.

Until Monday the CRTC was accepting public input on the issue to review for the public hearing in July. SaveOurNet.ca sent over 5000 letters from web users as of midnight on the 23rd of February. However, we will have to wait until July to see what happens when the CRTC deliberates the issue. In the mean time, I guess I am stuck paying out money for less than adequate service.

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Tags: bell, Bell Video Store, canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, crtc, internet law, Internet service provider, law, net neutrality, rogers, shaw, web