Phone & Cable Companies Strike Back
by Open Media
Dear
friends, Phone and cable companies have unleashed a deep-pocketed
public relations campaign designed to confuse the public about new Internet
usage fees. Case in point: on Friday, Macleans Magazine
published an
editorial that read like a Rogers
talking-points primer (Rogers
owns Macleans).
Globe And Mail
ad paid for by donations
Big Telecom foot soldiers have been in
the media saying that YOU are just being emotional, and that you don't understand
what you signed when you signed the Stop The meter petition. This is
elitist, condescending, and outright insulting.
At the same time broadcasters and cable companies are
meeting in Ottawa
to hash out a plan to deal with online services that are "competing
for customers".
We can't let them turn back the clock. We need a well-coordinated response to prevent
these corporations from interfering in the upcoming CRTC hearing, which
is critical for the elimination of the new Internet fees.
1. Unleash the creativity and ingenuity of Canadians.
People from all walks of life -- innovators, educators, students,
entrepreneurs, and everything in between -- are getting together on
February 26th for a Day
Of Action to educate our fellow Canadians about Internet metering.
2. Put together a united front of public interest
groups, creators, indie ISPs, online service providers and half a million
Canadians to put forth a well-researched, evidence-based submission to the
CRTC. We've done this before and
won.
We're confident this 1-2 punch can work, but it does
require resources.
Please
invest the Stop The Meter campaign while we have this special matching funds
offer.
The pro-Internet community has seen a lot of success
over the past month, and it's all thanks to your participation. You've
engaged friends and family online, and helped to make the call for a more
affordable Internet into a national movement.
This is about the future of communications, our economy,
innovation, democratic participation, and our society writ large.
The OpenMedia.ca Team -- Steve, Lindsey, Reilly, Shea,
and all of our volunteers
PS. There are hundreds of thousands of us - if everyone
gave $5, less than the cost of lunch, we'd easily reach our target. The phone and cable companies
are gouging, we're just asking.
*OpenMedia.ca is a registered non-profit
organization that relies on donations to operate.
