It is interesting to look at the latest internet speed rankings from Netflix, especially comparing month-to-month results.

There isn’t a huge difference between the speeds being observed by Netflix on most Canadian ISPs. Most are tightly clustered in the range of 3 Mbps, whether the measurements are looking at fibre, cable or DSL.

Between October and November, observed speeds increased, up to more than 100 Kbps – from 1% to 3% month over month – possibly due to consumers upgrading their internet access services.

It is too bad that quantitative data such as this was not part of the testimony during the wholesale wireline proceeding.

Perhaps we need to make a concerted effort to encourage the return of global new media companies to participate and share their perspectives in Canada’s major policy fora.

I have written too many times [such as here and here] that the 2006 Telecom Policy Review Panel called for a fresh review every five years, meaning that Canada is more than 3 years overdue for such a study.

As Michael Geist writes this week:

There is a growing sense that the twin governing statutes – the Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act – should be reformed into a single Communications Act that better reflects today’s Internet environment.

The post speaks of the challenge faced by regulations and legislation that still treats telecom and broadcast as independent silos. The challenge of dealing with integrated business plans emerged during the CRTC’s recent set of 3 major policy hearings: Talk TV; wireless wholesale; and, wireline wholesale. At least one intervenor, VMedia, found itself caught with issues that bridged two proceedings, as we heard in this interaction:

6434   COMMISSIONER PENTEFOUNTAS: At the end of the day, I want you to perhaps expand — this is not a BDU hearing. You would agree with me?

6435   MR. BURGER: Absolutely.

6436   COMMISSIONER PENTEFOUNTAS: I understand your frustration, you came to Let’s Talk and you got sort of bumped.

6437   So it’s not a BDU hearing?

6438   MR. BURGER: This is not, no.

6439   COMMISSIONER PENTEFOUNTAS: Okay. And your white label or unbundled IPTV, wouldn’t that be, clearly, sort of a broadcasting issue and not within the confines of this hearing?

Canada sorely needs a comprehensive communications policy review. Maybe we can add it to our holiday wish lists?

While travelling overseas, I have been trying to follow the CRTC’s wireline wholesale hearing taking place in the National Capital. The hearing moves into its reply phase today and CPAC is streaming the action from gavel to gavel.

On Monday afternoon, I was listening to Open Media’s testimony when I heard a reference to nationalizing internet and tweeted a question:

A colleague replied “I do believe that is what I heard – but I am remote so perhaps it was lost in the medium.”

Rather than clarify, Open Media’s executive director responded with a personal attack:

Looking beyond the personal swipes, I took this to mean that Open Media chose to distance its own views from those of its member who was quoted in their opening statement [transcript line 8346]:

In fact some, as David B. of Rockaway, New Brunswick go as far to suggest: “The Internet is rapidly becoming an essential public service. It should be nationalized or rather internationalized as a non-profit service.”

Open Media claims to “work toward informed and participatory digital policy”.

Why is its executive director unwilling to engage in civil discourse to clarify its position – informing us about a key point of digital policy?

On Monday, I caught an interesting comment from CRTC chair JP Blais in his exchange with the witnesses from the Competition Bureau appearing at the Commission’s wholesale wireline oral proceeding.

The Chair had just paraphrased the witnesses’ perspective as “I was struck by your presentation this morning to say, well, wait until we have the evidence” when he continued [at line 105 of the transcript], saying:

I have always thought that the role of the Commission is more to be a doctor that analyzes an issue and prescribes a course of conduct if there is an illness rather than a coroner when it’s too late.

Is there sufficient evidence that there is an illness that warrants a prescription?

Planning is now well underway for The 2015 Canadian Telecom Summit. The event will take place June 1-3 in Toronto and we have already confirmed a number of sponsors and speakers.

The Canadian Telecom Summit is Canada’s leading information and communications industry event; this will be our 14^th annual gathering of the leading stakeholders.

For three full days, The Canadian Telecom Summit delivers thought provoking presentations from the prime movers of the industry. The Canadian Telecom Summit gives you the chance to hear from and talk with them in both a structured atmosphere of frank discussion and high octane idea exchange and schmooze in a more relaxed social setting of genial conversation.

This year’s event will explore Hyper Connectivity: Shaping Personal & Business Digital Relationships. In-depth panels will examine

• Cyber Security: Perils, protection and the role of ICT
• Big Data & Analytics: Managing and exploiting a treasure trove of information
• Competition in Telecom
• The Regulatory Blockbuster
• Customer Experience Management
• Mobile Commerce: The future of banking and shopping in Canada’s digital economy
• The Internet of Things: Hyper connectivity
• Turbo-charging network performance: Achieving quantum improvements in service

We look forward to hearing from you with other suggestions for the program.

The registration system is open and available. To help manage your 2014 budget – or if you are looking for a year-end motivator for your top employees – you can pay on-line and receive a receipt right away.

Be sure to mark the dates on your calendar: June 1-3, 2015.

Register now and save.