Bell Canada has been given permission to continue slowing down traffic from independent Internet service providers on its network until the telecommunications regulator renders a verdict.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission ruled yesterday that the Internet providers had not proved they would suffer irreparable harm if they were not granted interim relief from the Bell practice.
The interim ruling was hard to understand in light of the “public outcry” provoked by Bell’s actions, said Tom Copeland, chair of the Internet providers association. He noted more than 1,100 individuals filed comments with the CRTC on this issue.
“We have lost our status as one of the world’s most connected nations, and it is decisions like this that should cause Canadians and the government serious concerns,” he said.
The Canadian Association of Internet Providers had complained Bell’s “throttling practices will make it difficult or impossible for members to properly manage the services they provide.”
