CBC cites OpenMedia.ca's letter to supporters in their report on closed-door CRTC meeting

Posted on Friday, February 25, 2011 - 22:18

The CRTC is seeking input on regulating digital services at a time when companies like Netflix are blurring the line between telecommunications and broadcasting.

The CRTC confirmed to CBC's Spark Thursday that it is holding a round table forum with "key representatives of industry, academia and government," including senior officials from international regulators, on March 23 and 24 in Ottawa. Spokesman Denis Carmel said the CRTC aims to understand the "changing landscape of the communications industry" and would evaluate approaches to regulation in a digital economy where telecommunications and broadcasting are converging into a single world of communication.

The outcome of the meeting may be included in the CRTC’s second "Navigating Convergence" report, which will be published in the spring, Carmel added.

Rogers has confirmed it is participating, Telus said it was not, and Bell declined to comment.

The Vancouver-based group OpenMedia.ca, which has been lobbying against usage-based internet billing, is concerned that the meeting is by invitation only. "Without the watchful eye of the public, these meetings could become yet another big telecom lobbying bonanza," it said in an email sent to its supporters and to media outlets Wednesday. The group was not invited to take part. Read more »

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Read more at cbc.ca