Montreal – December 8, 2005 –On the heels of their November 23, 2005 complaint with the CRTC to end the “unfair conduct of Bell Canada with regards to the provision of High Speed Internet Services,” the Quebec Coalition of Internet Service Providers today formally filed their support in favour of another company’s complaint, this time lodged against cable companies Shaw, Rogers and Videotron.

The Coalition initially intended to settle its complaint with the CRTC against Bell Canada before taking on another struggle, but the new complaint has sparked a debate which will have major effects on the Internet and emerging technologies market in the immediate future.

“We could either speak out while discussions are taking place among the various telecommunications players at the CRTC, or sit and watch while the perfect storm brews in the Internet market,” explained Sophie Léger, spokesperson for the Coalition and President of Inter.net Canada. “The Coalition’s goal is to take part in this debate now so when the time comes and we have the capabilities to offer these services to consumers, fair and reasonable rules are in place to ensure we may do so.”

The complaint filed by Cybersurf Corp. against Cablecos denounces the cable incumbents’ unfair practices towards their cable wholesalers, especially regarding refusal to provide Quality of Service Enhancement Service (QoS), an essential product for the introduction of emerging technologies such as Voice over Internet Protocol.

In addition to showing full support for the present complaint, the Coalition broadens the scope of the Cybersurf application by asking the CRTC to extend it to Cogeco and allow the Coalition to fully participate at all stages of this proceeding.

Once the CRTC settles the conflict between the Coalition and Bell Canada, the Coalition intends to follow with its own application to correct the current margin squeeze and lack of input equivalence (the balance between retail and wholesale service offering) which prevents fair and effective competition with the dominant Cablecos.

“Our global strategy is to ensure smaller ISPs have the tools to respond to consumer demand for a viable alternative to the telecommunications and cable companies, now and in the future,” said Léger.

About the Quebec Coalition of Internet Service Providers

The Quebec Coalition of Internet Service Providers, a group formed of 15 Quebec ISPs, has come together to defend the best interests of consumers and smaller Internet service providers.

The Coalition believes consumers are better served in a market promoting fair competition. The Coalition’s mandate, therefore, is to advocate for CRTC regulations to end the problems encountered by unsustainable competition in the Internet and telecommunications market today, as well as to raise public awareness on issues ultimately affecting us all.

For more information about the Coalition of Quebec Internet Service Providers, please visit www.quebecispcoalition.ca.

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For more information or to coordinate an interview with the Coalition representative, please contact:

Communications MECA
David Levy
(514) 288-8500 x228
dlevy@meca.ca

OR

Julie Lepsetz
(514) 288-8500 x233
jlepsetz@meca.ca