The 10 most memorable web videos from the 2008 U.S. election (CBC)

Some of the key battlegrounds in the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign have been Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida … and YouTube. The video-sharing site has become so ubiquitous, it’s easy to forget that it wasn’t even around for the Kerry-Bush battle in 2004.

No matter what happens on election day, Democrat candidate Barack Obama seems to be the clear winner when it comes to the battle of viral videos. His supporters have been more creative and pro-active than Republican John McCain’s in getting the message out via cheaply produced web missives.

Here’s a survey of 10 made-for-the-web videos that generated buzz during this election season. (Although the Tina Fey-as-Palin skits on Saturday Night Live were viewed millions of times, the focus here is on material created specifically for the internet.)

Goodbye to cellphone system access fees? (CBC)

extinction with reports that Rogers Communications Inc. is relaunching its Fido discount brand without the hated charge.

The Toronto-based company will relaunch Fido on Tuesday, according to the National Post, with new plans and a new logo. Rogers will also scrap the $6.95 monthly system access fee on postpaid customers. Prepaid Rogers and Fido customers already do not pay the fee.

Liz Hamilton, a spokesperson for Rogers, declined to comment.

“We don’t predict future pricing either on specific plans or rate cards,” she said.

Industry observers said the company’s move is likely to spell the end of the system access fee, which is thoroughly hated by consumers.

“It’s the No. 1 complaint about cellphones,” said John Lawford, counsel for the Public Interest Advocacy Centre. “People are getting a little more traction with their pushback in a lot of telecom issues now.… We just might see the end of it. We’ll see them slowly disappear.”