Internet ads will soon need to disclose typical download speeds, not just their best
'There's no other industry in Canada that could sell a consumer a product like that,' said Conservative MP Dan Mazier, who introduced the bill in 2022
OTTAWA — A private member’s bill meant to bring more truth in advertising to internet plans has cleared both the House of Commons and the Senate and is on its way to becoming law.
Conservative MP Dan Mazier’s Bill C-288 would have the CRTC require internet companies to include in their advertising the average download and upload speeds of an internet plan, not just the maximum speeds, and also disclose the speeds during peak demand times.
The bill, first introduced in 2022, only needs royal assent, which is expected soon. After it becomes law, the CRTC would have to hold hearings with the public and industry on new advertising standards.
Mazier said the current system allows companies to sell consumers download and upload speeds that are advertised at their top end. Service can be described, for example, as offering downloads of up to 50 megabytes per second, but might only rarely deliver speeds that fast.
