VANCOUVER – The new wireless companies in Canada appear to have an ally in OpenMedia.ca after the consumer group kicked off a new campaign Wednesday dubbed 'Stop the Cell Phone Squeeze'.
The campaign includes an on-line petition that encourages Canadians to ask Industry Minister Christian Paradis and Prime Minister Harper to set aside wireless spectrum for “independent competitors” in the upcoming 700 MHz auction.
OpenMedia.ca says that its efforts were spurred in part by Rogers’ LTE marketing campaign which the group claims mimics its grassroots campaign tactics to convince the government that “Big Telecom” should be able to control as much wireless spectrum as it wants. It also cites “reports” of lobbyists representing incumbents Bell, Rogers and Telus “working overtime to manipulate the government” on this issue.
“This would kill the few independent mobile options we have”, said executive director Steve Anderson, in a statement. “That means increased prices and even worse customer service. This is all part of a multi-faceted campaign for a command-and-control Internet and communications system. Canadians need to come together to stand against this.”
Rogers, of course, has another viewpoint. "This auction is all about the consumer and giving them access to the best, most advanced networks in the world," the company said in a statement to Cartt.ca in response to OpenMedia. "A fair and open auction will mean Canadians, both in urban and rural communities, will have access to the benefits of LTE. Let's be realistic – the government should recognize who is actually going to the use 700 spectrum to deliver this technology to Canadians."
