Computers & Electronics

ken drydens official response to UBB

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Oct 15, 2005
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ken drydens official response to UBB

Dear Mr. infamouskid,



I am writing in response to your recent letter regarding the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) decision to allow usage-based billing by Canadian Internet service providers (ISPs). The Liberal Party opposes this decision on several grounds.



Our first concern is the issue of fairness for Canadian consumers and Internet users. The CRTC ruling will impose a 25-gigabyte download cap on users in Ontario. By comparison, a typical U.S. Internet user enjoys a cap of 250 gigabytes. In light of the relatively low costs of providing internet service, this decision is particularly unfair to consumers.



Another major area of concern is the effect this ruling will have on Canadian productivity, innovation, and education. In an increasingly digital economy, it would be short-sighted for Canada to discourage small businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations from maximizing the potential of the internet to their benefit. The same applies to our education and cultural institutions, which are constantly developing new ways of delivering information through internet media – many of which will be hindered by the CRTC’s decision.



Finally, this decision is at odds with the necessity to open up government to greater transparency and accountability. Recently, the Liberal Party announced a plan called the Open Government Initiative under which a Liberal government would make important public information available to Canadians through the Internet at no cost. Limiting Internet use restricts a government’s ability to connect with people through the internet.



The great promise of the Internet is that it can bring a world of knowledge, perspectives, and entertainment to Canadian homes. It is for this reason that my colleagues and I oppose the CRTC’s decision, and will overturn it as a Liberal government.



If you would like to join the Liberal Party’s opposition to the CRTC ruling, please visit http://lpc.ca/ubb.



Thank you for writing to me on this important matter.



Sincerely,





Ken Dryden




LOOKS LIKE WE ARE WINNING THIS FIGHT!
14 replies
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Feb 15, 2008
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Calgary
infamouskid wrote: LOOKS LIKE WE ARE WINNING THIS FIGHT!

Lol, because a member of the Opposition cockus wrote back to you?

Big deal. Wake me up when a Conservative MP writes such a letter back to you.
TodayHello wrote: ...The Banks are smarter than you - they have floors full of people whose job it is to read Mark77 posts...
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Jan 5, 2006
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Toronto
Mark77 wrote: Lol, because a member of the Opposition cockus wrote back to you?

Big deal. Wake me up when a Conservative MP writes such a letter back to you.

Conservatives are a minority government entering into a possible election with an issue (probably the only major one) that would draw people to vote Liberal over Conservative. The generation most impacted by this decision is Generation X who are usually educated, have recently (relative) entered the workforce, and have not voted in prior elections (or have any particular affiliation/loyalty to a political party as prior generations). If you understand politics, this is the only "group" of the voters that Conservatives will care about.

The Conservatives will be shooting themselves in the foot not to come to some concessions on the issue. However, I doubt anything meaningful will happen even if Conservatives reverse the CRTC decision. The cabinet will likely call on for Bell/Shaw/Rogers/Telus to stop UBB (or implemented at a cheaper, "fairer" rate), and then ISPs will just lobby in 6-7 months (after elections) and have it re initiated with slightly less definite terms that may cause less people to care and less risk to the Conservative government. Since voters are not special interest groups, and we are widely dispersed with low interest or attention span on the issue; it is likely that the ISPs will win on this issue whether we like it or not (this is their business afterall). It will not matter if Liberals get elected as they will just do the same thing as well.

It is sad, but unfortunately that is how things will likely occur when someone has a duopoly/monopoly on the market. If the CRTC would loosen up on foreign ownership regulations, we might have something actually worthy of talking about though.
Deal Expert
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May 22, 2005
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Gee wrote: Is this the same Ken Dryden from the Montreal Canadiens?

The lawyer?

When did he become a politician?

Was also the GM of the Leafs at one point IIRC :p
Deal Addict
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Dec 23, 2006
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Oshawa
Gee wrote: Is this the same Ken Dryden from the Montreal Canadiens?

The lawyer?

When did he become a politician?
As was mentioned, he was elected in the 2004 election.
Mark77 wrote: Lol, because a member of the Opposition cockus wrote back to you?

Big deal. Wake me up when a Conservative MP writes such a letter back to you.

It is 'caucus'. Your spelling just looks lewd.

And having a member of any federal political party is a great sign, regardless of whether they be Conservative or one of the Opposition.
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Dec 23, 2006
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coriolis wrote: Was also the GM of the Leafs at one point IIRC :p

He was the team's President, not GM.
Deal Guru
Aug 14, 2007
12807 posts
3837 upvotes
--
When will people realize that the government doesn't give a **** about us, they'll just gouge and gouge and gouge to get more money from taxes.

If they think 25GB/month is a good number for EVERYONE then their obviously lieing to themselves.
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Jan 14, 2004
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Markham
venividivici wrote: He was the team's President, not GM.

I believe, he was also the GM for a period of time too. So I guess he was both.

But regardless, it's nice to see we're winning this fight.
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Jun 12, 2007
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Mark77 wrote: Lol, because a member of the Opposition cockus wrote back to you?

Big deal. Wake me up when a Conservative MP writes such a letter back to you.
Speak for yourself. I don't want the Opposition to "cock us" :lol:
Deal Fanatic
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Jan 14, 2004
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Markham
Mark77 wrote: Lol, because a member of the Opposition cockus wrote back to you?

Big deal. Wake me up when a Conservative MP writes such a letter back to you.

I got a call back from my Conservative MP. Maybe they care?

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