TORONTO – Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX:RCI.B) is studying tests by the CRTC that indicate it has been slowing some Internet traffic in violation of rules governing the practice.
However, Rogers spokeswoman Patricia Trott said Wednesday the telecom company doesn’t believe it has broken any rules.
“Our network engineers are looking at the test results form the CRTC,” Trott said. “Our only goal in network management is to deliver a good experience for customers and we believe we are in compliance with CRTC regulations.”
The Canadian Gamers Organization had made the complaint to the CRTC.
“If it goes to a hearing, the CRTC could file an order with the courts to force Rogers to reimburse affected customers,” Jason Koblovsky said in a recent post on the Canadian Gamers Organization’s website.
“This is a big win for not just Canadian Internet users but also for game developers, who have also been extremely frustrated with the use of throttling,” said Koblovsky, the organization’s co-founder.
Trott said Rogers will respond to the allegation by a Feb. 3 deadline set by the federal regulator.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission recently sent a letter to Rogers saying that preliminary test results indicated the company was breaking rules governing how Internet service providers can control traffic on their networks.
“I look forward to you either presenting us with a rebuttal of our evidence or providing us with a plan to come into compliance with the (Telecommunications) Act,” Andrea Rosen, the CRTC’s chief compliance and enforcement officer, said in the letter.
“Failure to provide a meaningful rebuttal or an effective plan will result in my recommendation to commissioners to hold a show-cause hearing,” Rosen said.
