On the eve of a critical new wireless spectrum auction, we have reports that the Big Three cell phone giants (who already control almost 94 per cent of the market) are trying to trick the government into shutting independent competitors out of the market. They're trying to block competitors from being able to use essential wireless spectrum. These giant phone companies are going so far as to use high-priced lobbyists and one is even using a fake grassroots campaign.

If the Big Three succeed, they will:

-  Squeeze independent providers out of the cell phone market.

-  Squeeze Canadians into binding longer-term contracts with disrespectful customer service.

A soft spoken street vendor has become the face of a new promotional campaign by Megaphone, a magazine sold on the streets of Vancouver.

The campaign called "I Work Here" features three videos of vendors on the job. In the first video projected yesterday at the intersection of Robson and Howe Streets in Vancouver's downtown core, we meet Peter Thompson, a 53 year-old former carpenter, who began selling the paper six days a week in 2006, to help make ends meet.

Proposed "Lawful Access" bills would require telecom providers in Canada to hand over personal information to authorities without a warrant or judicial oversight, says OpenMedia.ca. The bills go beyond violating the civil liberties of Canadians, says OpenMedia.ca -- it will also hurt their pocketbooks. Canadians will literally pay a high price for Lawful Access, as ISPs are forced to upgrade their infrastructure to allow terabytes of data to be made accessible to a range of "authorities".