Digital policies might have strongly been felt in the ongoing election campaign though they have not been ignored either. Weekly technology updates have noted beyond reasonable doubt the major political parties are increasingly devoting their different platforms to air and tackle digital issues, where both the New Democrats and Liberals had events looking into the crucial topic on digital policy. The result is that a general agreement on major issues is the result, on very significant ones such as telecom competition, pricing, internet access, balance of privacy-security and copyright, but surprisingly, each of the parties is offering a packed surprise giving clear insights on priorities concerning the digital policy.
Conservative Stand
Probably due to the record of accomplishments in the last five years, the digital policy realm of the Conservatives is not the most detailed and furnished compared to the other three parties. A great deal of its stand seems to affirm some sort of commitment towards maintaining a certain course, consistently aiming to fund projects that seek to offer broadband to the rural areas, copyright reform through Bill C-32 re-introduction and clear opposition to iPod tax implementation.
A clear surprise from the Tory’s way of emphasizing on raising the rate of economical growth is the clear shift from the issues of digital economy to the concerns of digital security. A good pointer to this fact is that Conservatives in their stride seems to have less to talk about concerning any prospect of having the removal of barriers of foreign ownership carried out for all telecommunication companies, as well as their intention to use the proceeds got from the spectrum auction just around the corner.
Rather, they seem to be committed towards setting aside a spectrum aimed at first responders, such as emergency units and the police. A spectrum of this nature is thought to be worth a one too many hundreds of millions of dollars and to make sure it is used by those agencies more hundreds of millions have to be sought.
In addition, the Conservatives have showed a renewal of their commitment towards granting an extension of police power within the digital realm. One thing clear is the lack of specific reference to the aspect of new power on the digital realm for the police. But this is clearly depicted by the promise to have about a dozen bills of criminal justice passed within 100 days after parliament begins it’s sitting, or about two of these bills to facilitate the police access the huge digital information.
Liberals Stand
The Liberal stand has come up with a surprise package clearly depicted by their willingness to go for very detailed positions on digital policy after lying in uncertainty for a couple of years. There seems to be a commitment by the Liberals to have the proceeds from the expected spectrum auction used for the sake of digital policies, with cultural funding and the crucial rural broadband funding inclusive. However, they are very unique in one aspect as they seem to be the only party that has come up with very clear and obvious targets in the facets of broadband connectivity. Liberals seems to have their goals modestly inclined, clear in the universal connectivity goal where the speeds will be 1.5 Mbps in the first three years, more ambitious speeds set to take effect by the year 2020.
In addition, the Liberals seem to offer quite a detailed prescription on the issue of copyright reform, clearly signaling there could be a change in the C-32 Bill. Such changes include an expansion on the provision of fair dealing to have education inclusive, but upon meeting such conditions as a clear definition of ‘education’ and ‘fairness’. Another condition is call for change on the provisions of digital lock towards circumvention of digital lock allowed for purposes not infringing in any way.
New Democrats Stand
The New Democrats (NDP) have startling aspects as pertains to their position, in that it aims to commit itself towards undoing policies on Canadian Internet and new media of more than a decade. To say the least, the New Democrats seem to be vastly aggressive among the three major parties on the intricate issue on the pricing of the internet, committing itself to have a ban on the billing practices based on use at the retail and wholesale levels. This is combined with a promise to have the CRTC directive of 2006 out of the way for market forces to be the determining factor, a move seen as one that would squarely have longstanding approaches reversed on the regulation of the Internet and Telecom.
There is also a focus on the NDP platform to have regulations increased on online video and Internet provider services. Differing from the other three front-runners, The New Democratic Party has stated its consideration on the need to have video providers and ISPs, Netflix for instance, contributing funds to have Canadian content created. The policies by the NDP would obviously call for Broadcasting Act reform, forcing the CRTC to have its decision on new media reopened, towards an approach on Internet regulation that is clearly hands-off.