CRTC Hearing Day 1 Summary

This morning the CRTC opened their long awaited hearing into Internet traffic management practices. It was a three party affair with two different sets of clientelle represented. Sandvine and Juniper Networks represented providers of enterprise level network equipment, and the Public Interest Advocacy Clinic which, according to one commissioner, represented the interests of all Canadian consumers.

Sandvine and Juniper both offered pretty well balanced submissions with some interesting ideas. Juniper suggested technology that would allow the consumer to determine which of their traffic was important and which was not. Sandvine also spoke of the need for some prioritization of time-sensitive applications, and the Commission seemed open to the idea that it would be their role to determine what is 'time-sensitive'.

PIAC opened their submissions by reminding the commission that this hearing is fundamentally about common carriage and not traffic management.  PIAC reminded the CRTC that the telecommunications Act demands that ISPs get approval from the Commission before interfering with the content of their consumers and prevents them from acting in an unjustly discriminatory manner and contrary to s.36. They also asked for full disclosure to consumers about the practices being employed by their ISPs. Essentially PIAC would like some regulatory guidance to ISPs on what is and is not acceptable under the Act.
  
It promises to be a very interesting week or so. Follow @cippic on twitter or listen to the live audio available from the hearing room at the crtc website.