Thread by @ltribe

🚨STOP SCROLLING AND READ THIS 🚨 (A thread)

Big Telecom just asked @JustinTrudeau's cabinet to overturn a #CRTC decision that is *actually lowering Internet costs.*

Tell the government to stand up to Big Telecom's bullying & #StopTheInternetPriceHike

om4.me/Zgt

Some background:

In August, the #CRTC lowered the rates that smaller providers pay to sell internet service to customers. Big Telecom was caught overcharging these guys by so much they now have to reimburse them by hundreds of millions of $$$.

💰 Big ISPs like Bell and Rogers have been gouging smaller providers for years, and finally got called out on it by the #CRTC.

After the ruling, smaller providers like @TekSavvyBuzz, @startca, @Distributel & Oricom immediately passed their savings directly on to customers with lower rates, increased speeds & announcements to further invest in underserved areas. 💸
(Hey, look at that - the system works!)

But, as we know, Big Telecom will not go down without a fight. And they've been throwing a massive temper tantrum ever since they lost. They're used to getting their way, and won't give up until they've exhausted every last option available.

Some examples:

- Bell announced it would withhold connectivity to 200,000 rural residents as punishment.

- Big Telecom appealed the decision to federal court.

- They've appealed the decision at the CRTC.

AND, they've now asked the government to step in and overturn the Commission's decision.

Right now we need to focus on the cabinet appeal.

This is a rarely used procedural trick, but they've tried it before. Immediately following the 2015 election, they asked the government to overturn the CRTC's decision to open up fibre access for small providers.

And they LOST.

Which means, we can beat them at this again.

Last time, almost 80,000 people in the @OpenMediaOrg community spoke out. It sparked an #InternetEmergency.

AND WE WON. 🎉

We can do it again, but it'll take everything we've got to beat Big Telecom's extensive resources.

Here's the truth: this is nothing but a bullying tactic.

Big Telecom is putting profits first, and trampling on those we need affordable internet the most.

Rural communities are being left behind. Families are being forced to choose between meals and Internet.

But there is a silver lining here: Big Telecom is only freaking out because they are LOSING.

They're losing hold of the market. They're seeing competition increase, and rates come down. And they're seeing the writing on the wall -- their oligopoly days are numbered.

There are two more CRTC decisions on the horizon that could hurt them even more:

- The fate of wholesale fibre to the premises (FTTP), determining when & how we will get access to fibre connections via smaller providers
- The future of mobile, including the introduction of MVNOs

These are huge issues, which will impact every aspect of our Internet -- infrastructure, quality, cost & competition.

Get this: in their own court filings, Bell said they will have to *lower their own rates if this much competition continues.*😱

That's the whole point!!!

We have them on the ropes and WE 👏 CAN 👏 WIN 👏 THIS! 👏

Tell the government to hold their ground. Tell them to stand up to Big Telecom's bullying. And to keep their election promises, and stand up for affordable Internet.

act.openmedia.org/PriceHikes

#StopTheInternetPriceHike

My quote on the issue & more background here:
openmedia.org/en/press/big-t…