And another letter...

Ms. Wiersma:

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I recognize that Cogeco is a private enterprise, and I have certainly made my concerns known to them. However, I would point out that many private enterprises are subject to regulation, and it is my contention that Cogeco deserves the same treatment. They enjoy an effective monopoly (the competitors you mention do not provide comparable Internet service in my area, and the same is true in many areas throughout Canada) and the service they provide -- broadband Internet access -- is increasingly critical to our economy.

As an information technology professional who has owned a small business in Hamilton for almost twenty years, I can assure you that billing policies such as Cogeco's are detrimental to innovation. I cannot hope to attract the interest of investors in a product that requires its potential consumers to use up a portion of their limited pool of Internet traffic. It would be analagous to trying to sell central air conditioners to people who only get a very limited amount of electricity each month, after which they pay a huge amount per kilowatt hour for a bit more electricity, after which their electricity gets cut off for the rest of the month (and who, for the most part, don't really understand how much electricity their appliances use in the first place!).

Ms. Wiersma, please understand that I am not writing as a disgruntled customer looking for my MP to intervene and save me a few dollars. Rather, I am a concerned professional and businessman who firmly believes that what Cogeco is doing is hurting Canada's economy. I urge Mr. Sweet to consider this matter carefully.

Thank you again for your time and attention.

Regards,

Keith Mann