OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Canadian ISPs will have to do better at telling their customers what their network management practices are, the CRTC said this morning.
The Commission introduced a new framework (as Cartt.ca told you yesterday was coming, complete with hearing background) to guide Internet service providers in their use of Internet traffic management practices which will, among other things, require ISPs to inform consumers of their practices.
“Canada is the first country to develop and implement a comprehensive approach to Internet traffic management practices,” said Konrad von Finckenstein, chairman of the CRTC, in the press release. “The centrepiece of our approach is a framework of analysis that will be employed to determine whether economic and technical practices are acceptable.”
“More and more, the Internet is serving as the backbone for communication, commerce, governance, health, education and entertainment. Our framework will foster an environment where ISPs, application providers and users have the utmost freedom to innovate,” he added.
ISPs will be required to inform retail customers at least 30 days, and wholesale customers at least 60 days, before an ITM practice takes effect. At that time, ISPs will need to describe how the practice will affect their customers’ service.
To meet the changing needs of Internet users, the Commission encourages ISPs to make investments to increase network capacity as much as possible, says the release. However, the Commission realizes that ISPs may need other measures to manage the traffic on their networks at certain times.
“Whenever possible, ISPs should give preference to Internet traffic management practices based on economic measures. These practices are the most transparent as they are clearly identified on monthly bills. With this information, consumers can compare between different Internet services and match their bandwidth needs with the amount they are willing to pay. Technical means to manage traffic, such as traffic shaping, should only be employed as a last resort,” says the release.
The Commission has also adopted special rules for ISPs that provide services on a wholesale basis to their competitors. These are necessary to ensure that ISPs do not use Internet traffic management practices to cause competitive harm to their wholesale customers.
For both the retail and wholesale markets, the Commission will use its new framework to review practices that raise concerns or generate complaints.
