Gov’t cites NAFTA over U.S. net neutrality rollback concerns

The federal government is affirming its commitment to enforcing the principles of net neutrality not only inside the country but abroad, as it has vowed to “address” situations in which Canadian companies are affected by the traffic management practices of United States internet service providers (ISPs). The stand was part of the government’s response letter, signed by Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains and presented Wednesday, to a study by the House of Commons ethics committee on net neutrality. In the report, the committee expressed concern about the overturning of net neutrality rules by U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and asked that Canadian traffic not be undermined by U.S. ISPs. “In the event that US ISPs engage in traffic management practices that harm Canadian interests, the Government of Canada will proactively seek to address these concerns to ensure that the US is meeting its commitments under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA),” which is currently undergoing a renegotiation that has led to some tense moments between the two countries over tariffs. The government said it will engage with international trade partners to promote an open internet and will seek outcomes in new NAFTA talks that will “continue to provide for reasonable and non-discriminatory access for Canadian businesses to US telecommunications networks and services, including those of an ISP, and recognize the importance for consumers being able to access and use services and applications of their choice on the Internet.” The U.S. government had previously asked for better access to the Canadian telecom market in a new NAFTA, including “reasonable network access for telecommunications suppliers.” Meanwhile, advocates have raised privacy concerns related to Canadian traffic that passes through the U.S. before being repatriated, known as “boomerang routing,” which escalated with the election of president Donald Trump. The government’s hard stance comes as a flare up in trade tensions has resulted in heated exchanges between the two countries. As part of its recommendations, the ethics committee also suggested that the government overturn any attempt by the CRTC to adopt a proposal to create a website-blocking regime to combat piracy, if it decides to go that route. The committee’s reasoning is that it would be run counter to net neutrality. The CRTC has yet to rule on that proposal. The government’s response letter noted that it could intervene if a decision by the CRTC warrants it, but said it would be “inappropriate” for the government to “comment substantively on or otherwise intervene in open matters before the CRTC,” for fear of getting in the way of the CRTC’s independence. The government has previously asked the CRTC to relook at competition in the mobile market. Bains also recently ordered the CRTC to look into alleged aggressive sales practices of the telecoms. The government’s strong stance on net neutrality is not new, and it follows bipartisan commitment from Parliament. The House of Commons recently adopted a motion asking the government to have net neutrality be the guiding principle of the upcoming Telecommunications Act and Broadcasting Act, which the government agreed to. The NDP also targeted net neutrality in a sweeping motion that was tabled in the House earlier this year. Despite this, telecom executives recently expressed their confusion over the need to have the principle enshrined in the law — which the motion asks the government to consider — because the Telecommunications Act already has a strong framework for net neutrality. — With reporting by Ahmad Hathout at ahathout@thewirereport.ca and editing by Anja Karadeglija at akarad@thewirereport.ca

Gov’t cites NAFTA over U.S. net neutrality rollback concerns

Broadcast | June 22, 2018

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Gov’t cites NAFTA over U.S. net neutrality rollback concerns

Broadcast | June 22, 2018

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