[ NNSquad ] Re: Canadian Telecom Regulator Denies Internet Traffic Shaping Complaint

[Brett Glass <nnsquad@brettglass.com>]

At 01:59 AM 11/21/2008, Lauren Weinstein wrote:


> Canadian Telecom Regulator Denies Internet Traffic Shaping Complaint
>
> http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081120.wcrtc1120/BNStory/Technology/home

Note that there are some interesting twists to this case which are 
quite significant. The biggest is that it concerns network 
management by a wholesaler which is wholesaling complete Internet 
service, including not only backbone bandwidth but the last mile, 
to "virtual ISPs."

If an independent ISP provides the last mile infrastructure, as do 
cable companies and wireless ISPs, it clearly ought to be able to 
buy pipes to the backbone that are saturable at a particular 
bandwidth, and determine for itself how to manage bandwidth in the 
last mile. Ditto if it rents the "raw" wires (unbundled network 
elements), which it should be allowed to do. But the situation is 
different if the retail ISP isn't infrastructure-based -- that is, 
if it is buying the whole kit and kaboodle, including the last 
mile, at wholesale and then reselling it. In this case, Bell Canada 
is responsible for managing everything and making sure that it 
works. And it should be able to do so as long as it is evenhanded 
and is not disadvantaging its wholesale customers.

--Brett Glass