Vertical Integration Meets Net Neutrality

Just fourteen days ago, on October 22nd, the CRTC issued a review of the regulatory framework relating to vertical integration. That same day, the CRTC approved the Shaw-CanWest agreement. This agreement states that Shaw Communications Inc. (Shaw) is granted authority to take effective control of Canwest Global’s licensed broadcasting subsidiaries.

The link between these two documents are no coincidence. The CRTC issued the review to assess the effectiveness of the closed dialogue that has been presented within Canadian media. Owning content as well as the route through which that content is disseminated could prove disastrous for the free and open media relations that we as Canadians strive for.

Tim Wu, a Columbia Law School Professor and open Internet activist, forwarded the same argument in 2002 when he coined the term ‘net neutrality’. According to Forbes columnist Susan Adams, net neutrality is the proposition that networks should aspire to treat all content, sites and platforms equally.

The essence of this proposition can be stripped and implemented into the philosophy of open televisual networks. Television, as a means of mass communication dispersal, ought to have the duty of providing varying and relatively balanced information and entertainment to the nation. The aim of every democratic nation’s media regulator should be to keep all platforms accessible, in order to empower its citizens in allowing their voices to be heard.

It is great to see the CRTC using its power to conduct this review. Though we hope we are in good hands, however, this is the time to be vocal about the values we ascribe to Canadian media