The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has announced that it will not regulate new media services on the internet. After in-depth review, the CRTC has concluded that the new media on the internet are vibrant, highly competitive and successful without regulation. The commission says its concern is that any attempt to regulate Canadian new media might put the industry at a competitive disadvantage in the global marketplace. By not regulating, we hope to support the growth of new media services in Canada, says CRTC chair Francoise Bertrand. Our message is clear. We are not regulating any portion of the internet.
That position stands in stark contrast to that of Australia, which is now considering draconian censorship legislation. Surprisingly enough, however, it resembles a new bill before the US Congress. A Republican and a Democrat, Bob Goodlatte and Rick Boucher, have put together the Internet Freedom Act in a bid to prevent what they call burdensome government regulation and protect consumer-friendly open access to the internet.
[By] encouraging competition through increased high speed internet access to consumers, the Internet Freedom Act ensures that the internet will reach its economic and entertainment potential, said Goodlatte, Congress must act now to ensure that the qualities that made the internet a revolutionary tool for both businesses and families – openness, competition and easy consumer access – remain fundamental components of the internet for future generations.
