Bell, Rogers, and Telus are freaking out

Details: Published on Friday, 15 March 2019 12:46; Written by editor

OpenMedia r1

Paov,

BREAKING: The Canadian government just... signaled a huge shift in telecommunications policy to finally lower our sky high cell phone bills.

Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains just directed the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the telecom industry’s top regulator, to prioritize lowering prices and increasing competition in all of its decisions – an order that could have sweeping ramifications for Canadian consumers.1

But this order now faces a 30-day public consultation, and we know that Rogers, Bell and Telus lobbyists are fighting back tooth and nail to water down the order. We’ve got to counter the Big Three with all we’ve got.

We’re standing up to Big Telecom to support the new proposed order to put telco customers first once and for all. Will you chip in?

Canadians pay some of the highest cell phone and Internet bills in the world for some of the worst service.2,3. That’s because the market is controlled by a few big telcos who’re more than happy to pad their pockets as Canadians must rely on them more and more to access the Internet for their work, school, and staying connected with friends and family.

The solution is simple: more competition. New services like mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) can inject some much-needed choice into the mobile market. The government’s own analysis shows that regions with more competition have prices 32 percent lower than the national average.4

For the past two years, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has rejected proposals to inject more competition, saying a previous directive required it to allow market forces to prevail.5

That’s why we’ve been pressuring Minister Bains to step in for months – and this new announcement shows our email and ad campaigns are working.

But we’re not done yet. We have to ensure this new order OVERRIDES the old priorities CRTC has been relying on that have put us so far behind. And we have to make sure it stands up to the relentless attacks the Big Three and their politician cronies will throw at it.

We’re on the cusp of a huge win for Canadian consumers. But we have to keep the pressure up on Minister Bains to make sure his proposed order becomes reality. Will you chip in?

Thank you for everything you do,

Marie with OpenMedia

Footnotes
[1] CRTC must prioritize affordability in regulatory decisions: telecom minister: Vancouver Courier
[2] Bell, Virgin Mobile increasing price of $60/10GB plans by $5 in March: Mobile Syrup
[3] Big telcos hike internet prices amid soaring demand, revenues: CBC
[4] Government of Canada proposes new CRTC direction to put Canadians at the forefront of future decisions: Newswire
[5] CRTC closes door on Wi-Fi-first MVNOs, launches new low-cost data-only plans consultation: Mobile Syrup

We work to safeguard the possibilities of the open Internet, and toward informed and participatory digital policy.
This work depends on the support of people like you. Donate.
You can follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook.

You have received this message because you have previously taken action with OpenMedia, and subscribed to updates with the email address s6.
If you no longer wish to receive updates from OpenMedia, you can unsubscribe here.

OpenMedia OpenMedia