The internet of Canada is to remain a fair and equal space for all thanks to this new ruling.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) strengthened its commitment to net neutrality yesterday by declaring that Internet service providers should treat data traffic equally to foster consumer choice, innovation and the free exchange of ideas. As such, the CRTC today is publishing a new framework regarding differential pricing practices.

This framework supports a fair marketplace for services, cultural expression and ideas in which Internet service providers compete on price, quality of service, speeds, data allowance and better service offerings, rather than by treating the data usage of certain content differently.

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The ruling comes as a direct stance against Videotron: a music streaming service that allows users to stream music from third party apps without using data. After assessing Videotron’s Unlimited Music Service under the new framework, the CRTC found that the company is giving an undue preference to certain consumers and music streaming services, while subjecting other consumers and content providers to an unreasonable disadvantage. The company has been given 90 days to comply with the new guidelines.

“A free and open Internet gives everyone a fair chance to innovate and for a vast array of content to be discovered by consumers,” says Jean-Pierre Blais, Chairman and CEO, CRTC. “A free and open Internet also allows citizens to be informed and engage on issues of public concern without undue or inappropriate interference by those who operate those networks. Rather than offering its subscribers selected content at different data usage prices, Internet service providers should be offering more data at lower prices. That way, subscribers can choose for themselves what content they want to consume.”

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