Four Phases of Internet Policy Development: Risks to the Public Interest

Abstract

This article investigates what risks to the public interest may arise in Internet policy development facilitated by Canada's communications regulator, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). It finds that different risks exist in four distinct phases of CRTC policy formation. Although these threats are wide-ranging, they often relate to the strategic behaviors of well-resourced groups that advocate for policy positions that are adjacent or contrary to the public interest, a regulatory process in some ways unsuited for robust civil society participation, and the resource constraints of public interest groups that regularly participate in this process.

The Territorial and Socio-Economic Characteristics of the Digital Divide in Canada

“…Furthermore, Shepherd et al (2014: 7) identified a difference between those who are engaged or consulted as "major corporate players were supported by phalanxes of lawyers, while public advocates often spoke individually". The inequality between participants was also noted by Wilkinson (2020) who states that industry participants, and notably the incumbents (Bell, Telus, and Rogers) have greater capacity to gather, analyse and prepare extensive market reports and other types of quantitative data analysis. Thus, Wilkinson (2020: 197) considers the incumbents to be in a privileged position throughout CRTC engagement and consultation processes.…”

“…However, scholars have found significant shortcomings in the democratic participation processes initiated by CRTC (Shepherd et al 2014;Wilkinson 2020). Ozanne et al (2009: 36) argue that "production of knowledge through discussion is never neutral, and the relationships of power may distort communication in any public sphere".…”