Canadian Internet Service Providers

Here are some tips on how to pick an Internet Service Provider.

Here is a list of questions to ask a prospective Internet provider. More advanced users might want to examine this longer list (collected using a "search engine" -- a skill every web user should learn!) as well.

(Ask a friend or business associate to print out this information for you so that you will know the right questions to ask before you sign anything. Shop around!)

Ask around -- choose a provider your friends are happy with.

CA Domains

It is expected that UBC will be transferring responsibility for the .ca Registry to the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) in the Fall  of 2000 (you may find the announcement at the CIRA website at www.cira.ca).

The company, in Aug. 2000 sent an email message "only intended as a test" to the Administrative Contact or Technical Contact personnel of all .CA domains to enable UBC and CIRA to determine whether the email addresses associated with .ca domain name registrations are up-to-date.

This, claims the organization, is necessary as it has come to UBC's attention that some of the domain names currently registered in the .ca Registry may have incorrect contact information.

CIRA says Administrative Contact or Technical Contact for .ca domains who receive a message need take no further action at this time. Says the message: "You will automatically receive further instructions relating to the transfer of the .ca Registry to CIRA at a later date." Updates to Canadian domain name registrations can be made by "a responsible person from the Organization" (Hmmm, sounds a little loose there) at http://www.cdnnet.ca/update.html.

Credits

Web page design and tips on how to pick an Internet Service Provider by Graeme Bennett.

Not responsible for errors or omissions. Caveat Lector.

For Further Reading

• www.domainnamebuyersguide.com
• http://thelist.internet.com/ - a list of Internet Service Providers in Canada and the U.S.
• July 8, 2000: Globe and Mail -- NetZero invades Canada with free Net access: U.S. firm's expansion could threaten smaller ISPs, drain ad revenue from large players
• Jan. 13, 2001: Choosing a Domain Name Registrar