[Advisors] FW: [CommunityInformaticsCanada] CRTC opens Canada's North to local telephone competition

[michael gurstein]

This must be good news for the folks in the North.

M


-----Original Message-----
From: cracin-canada-owner@vancouvercommunity.net
[mailto:cracin-canada-owner@vancouvercommunity.net] On Behalf Of
media@web.net
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 8:41 AM
To: cracin discussion
Subject: [CommunityInformaticsCanada] CRTC opens Canada's North to local
telephone competition

----------------------------
Subject: CRTC opens Canada's North to
local telephone competition
From:    "CNW Portfolio System"
<portfolio@newswire.ca>
Date:    Wed, December 14, 2011 11:14
am
To:      "Portfolio E-Mail"
<portfolio@newswire.ca>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-

                  =20
 CNW Group Portfolio E-Mail
    	 	=09
=09
Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission
=09
Government of Canada
Transmitted by
CNW Group on : December 14, 2011 11:00=20
 CRTC opens Canada's North to
local telephone competition=20
 OTTAWA-GATINEAU, Dec. 14, 2011 /CNW/ -
Today, the Canadian  Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
(CRTC) announced  that it is opening Canada's North to local telephone
competition.

=A0Residents in many parts of the Yukon,
Northwest Territories and Nunavut  will have the option to choose from
competing telephone service  providers as of May 1, 2012. =20

"For the first time, many northern residents will be able to choose an
alternate local telephone service provider," said Leonard Katz, the  =
CRTC's
Vice-Chairman of Telecommunications. "Competition will be  introduced as
soon as possible to bring choice and innovative options  to Canada's =
North."

 In its ruling, the CRTC has also denied
Northwestel's request to raise  by $2 the rates for residential and =
business
local telephone service.  Such an increase is not justified at this time =
and
is inconsistent with  the current regulatory regime. Moreover, the CRTC
found that  Northwestel has insufficiently invested in its network =
despite
its  strong financial performance during the past few years, and is
concerned that the company's aging infrastructure is affecting the  =
quality
and reliability of its service. =20
 Northwestel
must provide, within the next six months, a plan detailing  how it will
modernize its network. This will form the basis of the  CRTC's =
comprehensive
review of Northwestel's infrastructure and  services over the next two
years. =20
 "We are disappointed that Northwestel,
which has until now been the sole  provider of local telephone service =
in
the North, has not made a  greater effort to improve its services," Mr. =
Katz
added. "Many  communities have been plagued by service outages and =
certain
features  are not widely available to customers. Northern residents =
deserve
to  have access to reliable and high-quality services comparable to =
those
offered in the rest of the country."=20

 During the next two years, the CRTC will closely monitor the situation  =
in
the North as local competition is implemented. =20

Today's decision follows a proceeding that included a public hearing  =
that
was held in Yellowknife, N.W.T., on October 4 and 5, 2011.  Telecom
Regulatory Policy CRTC 2011-771 =20
http://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2011/2011-771.htm
 The CRTC=20

The CRTC is an independent public authority that regulates and  =
supervises
broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada. =20
 Reference
document:
 Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2011-302  =20
 For
further information:=20
  =20
 Media Relations:

http://support.crtc.gc.ca/CRTCSubmissionMU/forms/Mediarelations.aspx?lang=
=3De
 Tel: 819-997-9403, Fax: 819-997-4245 =20
 General Inquiries:

Tel: 819-997-0313, TDD: 819-994-0423, Fax: 819-994-0218  Toll-free #
1-877-249-CRTC (2782) &#160;&#160;&#160;  TDD - Toll-free # =
1-877-909-CRTC
(2782)

http://crtc.gc.ca/RapidsCCM/Register.asp?lang=3DE =20
 These documents
are available in alternative format upon request.     =20
=20
=20
	Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission

=09
Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications
Commission - More on this organization

=09

News Releases
=09

	Government of Canada
Government of Canada -
More on this organization

						=09
News Releases
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