Charlie Angus Introduces Net Neutrality Bill

After developing his private member's net neutrality bill NDP MP Charlie Angus forwarded to the House of Commons yesterday afternoon. The major points this bill is intended to touch are transparency policy, net neutrality preservation, and open devices to the Canadian telecom law framework:

Network operators shall not engage in network management practices that favour, degrade or prioritize any content, application or service transmitted over a broadband network based on their source, ownership or destination.

However, there are a few important exceptions to this general rule specified in the bill, among which – action to ensure computer protection, allow priority to emergency communications, present differentiated pricing or bit caps, anti-spam filters, manage breaches in relation to the service, and to enforce the law.

A major aim of the bill is open devices and a larger level of transparency. It further stipulates that "network operators shall not prevent or obstruct a user from attaching any device to their network, provided the device does not physically damage the network or unreasonably degrade the use of the network by other subscribers." Additionally, it requires that "network operators shall provide and make available to each user information about the user’s access to the Internet, including the speed, nature, and limitations of the user's broadband service at any given time." Though the bill may not be exactly on the liking of anti-net neutrality promoters it is a well-balanced solution worthy of consideration and backup.