Net Neutrality and the Public Interest: A Comparative Analysis of Canada, the UK, Australia and Japan

Abstract

<p>The shifting telecommunications landscape in Canada has left current policy and future investment at odds with the public interest. Recent steps taken by the government suggest a shift towards a deregulated telecommunications sector and a fragile future for the public interest. Canada is currently in the process of devising a national digital strategy, which provides a unique opportunity to consider larger, more fundamental issues related to the public interest – more specifically, what tangible actions can be taken to tackle the issue of net neutrality. This paper will look at the international contexts of the UK, Australia and Japan, specifically considering how they have addressed issues surrounding net neutrality, and how they may be applied to the Canadian setting. Subsequently, I argue that the net neutrality debate in Canada must be reframed in a way that incorporates the public interest as a key stakeholder. The first portion of this paper establishes a clear definition of net neutrality. The second part develops the theoretical framework of a public interest approach to telecommunications policy. The third section provides a brief historical overview of telecommunications policy in Canada, examining how telecommunications has been historically regulated to serve the public interest. The fourth section examines the international models, followed by a discussion of how they may be applied to Canada. It asks whether or not these models, or parts of these models, could be useful and beneficial for Canada. The paper concludes by offering suggestions for future telecommunications planning in Canada.</p>