OTTAWA and GATINEAU – The CRTC has launched an online consultation to gather views on Internet traffic management practices.
Referencing the popularity of video streaming and peer-to-peer networking, the Commission’s press release said that some Internet service providers (ISPs) maintain that this growth in traffic can cause congestion, especially during peak times, which has led to some ISPs managing the flow of traffic on their networks or adopting "new business models".
The CRTC said that it will examine “the current practices of ISPs operating in Canada”, plus those that could be adopted in the future. The proceeding’s main objective is to determine whether and to what extent such practices are appropriate under the Telecommunications Act, the release continued.
The consultation, hosted by Nanos Research, is part of a proceeding launched last November. The public hearing is scheduled to begin on July 6, 2009, in Gatineau.
The online consultation will close at midnight ET on April 30, 2009, and can be found at http://isppractices.econsultation.ca.
