said by Martian3 :

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Mr. Devolin,

I recently received a mail piece from your office. This item stated that "...high-speed, high-capacity Internet service is one of the most important tools available to unlock the potential of our people and businesses."

Allow me to say before going any further that I couldn't agree more with your assessment. With that in mind, I would like to bring to your attention a most pressing and urgent matter involving the free availability of high speed Internet access in the Kawartha Lakes, Ontario and the rest of Canada.

As I'm sure you're aware, several years ago the CRTC ordered Bell Canada to submit tariffed wholesale rates for their Internet services. The intent of this instruction was to promote competition within the Broadband Internet market, and it has been largely successful. A wealth of independently owned and operated wholesale DSL providers have since begun offering service across the province and the rest of the country. This includes companies such as Teksavvy Incorporated, recently ranked one of Canada's 100 fastest growing business by Business Canada, among many others.

However, recent decisions made by the CRTC threaten to destroy this innovative and highly competitive market, restoring Bell's monopoly status by making it impossible for independent providers to remain competitive. The most urgent of these was a recent decision to grant interim approval on Usage-Based Billing tariffs submitted by Bell Canada. These tariffs will apply additional fees to wholesale customers who exceed 60 gigabytes per month of usage. Bell's tariffs offer no respite for any wholesale customers who might exceed that level of usage, and price wholesale service out of reach of many consumers. This effectively destroys the ability of wholesalers to compete with the incumbents, restoring the duopoly that existed prior to the wholesale tariffs being implemented.

As you correctly noted, affordable high speed internet access is key to Canada's economic future. Canada's position in the global broadband market is fast slipping, and we are now outranked by nearly every developed nation across the globe. Urgent action is needed to restore Canada's position as a leader in broadband services, and I beseech you and your peers within the House of Commons to ensure that such action is taken.

Sincerely,
*name and address omitted*

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said by Barry Devolin, MP, Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock :

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To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this letter regarding a concerned constituent in my riding, Mr. *Name Omitted* of Lindsay, Ontario.

Please find attached the letter of concern. I trust your department will respond directly to the constituent at the address below.

Thank you for your attention in this matter,

Sincerely,
Barry Devolin

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