Telus and Interbaun.com have blocked access to the website
voices-for-change.com Voices for Change is a site for members of the
Telecommunications Workers Union and is being blocked as part of a
labour dispute.

The government has chosen to let private,self-regulated industry provide
the internet infrastructure. This incident shows the problem that
decision poses of freedom of speech and commerce. It's as if roadways
were privately owned and an owner refused access to competitors'
vehicles. Or more appropriately, an owner blocked the access to a
competing roadway.

Allowing ISPs to remove or restrict content on their own is convenient
for controlling hate and porn; however, Telus' actions make it clear
that regulations are needed to guide this process.

The internet discussion that brought this to my attention, "Since when
does TELUS decide what and where we go on the Internet" can be found at
http://groups.google.ca/group/edm.forsale/browse_frm/thread/f1f1ecc76984b9a?q=telus&hl=en&

As with most groups not all posters practice good netiquette.

The message I sent to CATA,CRTC, and CAIP follows:

"Telus and Interbaun.com have blocked access to the website
voices-for-change.com Voices for Change is a site for members of the
Telecommunications Workers Union and is being blocked as part of a
labour dispute. Telus claims that pictures of scabs were posted on the
site and they are blocking it to ensure the safety of their employees.
However, no pictures of scabs are on the public portion of the site.
This action shows the need for some guidelines for ISPs to follow when
blocking sites. Whim and politics shouldn't be the deciding factors

Is the industry going to do this or do we need to fight for government
regulation?"

- posted by Larry @ 1:45 p.m.