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<p>Hello advisors. I am forwarding the note sent to all NCF
(National Capital Freenet) members re: the new crtc rate decision.
This is really a terrible blow to small providers. I believe we
should stand firmly behind any protest activity that is organized
seeking a reconsideration of this decision. Please take the time
to read the NCF Press Release mentioned in this note.</p>
<p>Marita<br>
</p>
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<th valign="BASELINE" nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT">Subject:
</th>
<td>CRTC wholesale rate decision update</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="BASELINE" nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT">Date: </th>
<td>Tue, 01 Jun 2021 21:47:12 -0000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="BASELINE" nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT">From: </th>
<td>NCF Executive Director <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:execdir@ncf.ca"><execdir@ncf.ca></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="BASELINE" nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT">To: </th>
<td><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:aa319@ncf.ca">aa319@ncf.ca</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="BASELINE" nowrap="nowrap" align="RIGHT">CC: </th>
<td><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:mmoll@ca.inter.net">mmoll@ca.inter.net</a></td>
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<p>
La version <a href="#french"
moz-do-not-send="true">française</a> suit
l'anglais.
</p>
<p>
Hope this finds you all well.
</p>
<p>
I’m writing because last Thursday the CRTC
released the final wholesale internet access
rates, a major component of NCF's prices.
</p>
<p>
We’ve been waiting for and talking about
these new rates for years and so we wanted
to update you now that the decision has
finally been released. Unfortunately, it’s
not good news.
</p>
<p>
The CRTC first set the interim rates in
2016. Then, after three years of analysis by
their staff, they dropped them substantially
in 2019. We were thrilled.
</p>
<p>
Almost immediately, the big telecom
companies like Bell, Rogers and Telus
appealed these new lower rates to the
courts, cabinet, and the CRTC.
</p>
<p>
The Federal Court of Appeal dismissed the
appeal, upholding the lower rate decision.
Cabinet decided not to overturn the
decision, but urged the CRTC to balance
priorities between affordability and
investment. </p>
<p>
And now the CRTC has decided to reverse
their own 2019 rate drop, keeping prices at
the current high rates. They say that this
is to protect the investments of the big
telecom companies.
</p>
<p>
You can read the CRTC decision here: <a
href="https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2021/2021-181.htm"
moz-do-not-send="true">crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2021/2021-181.htm</a>
</p>
<p>
You can read more about the outcome of the
decision here: <a
href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/crtc-flip-flop-on-wholesale-internet-rates-could-mean-higher-prices-for-consumers-critics"
moz-do-not-send="true">nationalpost.com/news/politics/crtc-flip-flop-on-wholesale-internet-rates-could-mean-higher-prices-for-consumers-critics</a>
</p>
<p>
We believe this decision will keep internet
prices unaffordably high for many people,
while protecting the profits of big telecom
companies. </p>
<p>
You can read NCF’s press release about the
implications of this decision, especially
for those living on low incomes, here: <a
href="https://www.ncf.ca/en/blog/crtc-internet-rates-come-at-high-cost-for-those-on-low-incomes/"
moz-do-not-send="true">ncf.ca/en/blog/crtc-internet-rates-come-at-high-cost-for-those-on-low-incomes/</a>
</p>
<p>
The last year of COVID-19 lockdowns has only
underscored how indispensable the internet
is for work, school, maintaining social
connections and accessing government
services – and how not having affordable
access exacerbates existing social
inequities. Given this, the CRTC’s decision
was the exact opposite of what's needed.
We're shocked, honestly. </p>
<p>
But we also wanted you to know we're still
here, as always, pushing for internet
affordability and digital equity. </p>
<p>
This means:
</p>
<ul>
<li>we will continue working on rolling out
internet service over cable this summer,
in addition to our current DSL internet
service;</li>
<li>we will continue to keep our costs as
low as possible, while staying
sustainable;</li>
<li>we will continue to offer our Community
Access Fund plan to those living on low
incomes and work to expand its
eligibility;</li>
<li>we will continue working with our
partners the Social Planning Council of
Ottawa and Ottawa Community Housing on a
community mesh network feasibility study
as an affordable alternative to
traditional broadband;</li>
<li>we will continue to offer digital
literacy education, from our HelpPages to
workshops and information campaigns;</li>
<li>we will continue to grow our HelpDesk as
a trusted place for support; and</li>
<li>we will continue to advocate to all
levels of government and the CRTC to
ensure affordable internet.</li>
</ul>
<p>
Please stay tuned for the outcomes of this
work. We’re also going to be thinking about
what else we can do. Let us know if you have
any ideas!
</p>
<p>
Thanks for being NCF members, it makes a
difference.
</p>
<p>Take care, <br>
Shelley </p>
<p>Shelley Robinson<br>
Executive Director<br>
National Capital FreeNet<br>
206-1305 Richmond Rd.<br>
Ottawa, ON<br>
K2B 7Y4<br>
(613) 721-1773 ext. 1001</p>
<br>
<a name="french" moz-do-not-send="true"></a>
<hr>
<br>
<p>
J’espère que vous vous portez bien.
</p>
<p>
Jeudi dernier, le CRTC a rendu sa décision
au sujet des tarifs de gros pour les
services d’accès haute vitesse. Ces tarifs
représentent une partie importante du coût
des services du Libertel.
</p>
<p>
Nous étions en attente de cette décision
depuis plusieurs années. Le dossier a fait
couler beaucoup d’encre. Maintenant, la
décision a été rendue, et elle nous est
défavorable.
</p>
<p>
En 2016, le CRTC avait fixé des tarifs
provisoires. Son personnel a ensuite analysé
le dossier pendant trois ans. En 2019, le
CRTC a décrété une diminution importante des
tarifs. Nous étions ravis.
</p>
<p>
Les grandes entreprises de
télécommunications comme Bell, Rogers et
Telus ont porté cette décision en appel
sur-le-champ devant les tribunaux, au
Cabinet et directement au CRTC.
</p>
<p>
La Cour d’appel fédérale a rejeté l’appel,
ce qui a eu pour effet de maintenir la
décision au sujet des tarifs réduits. De son
côté, le Cabinet fédéral n’a pas infirmé la
décision. Il a plutôt demandé au CRTC de
trouver un juste équilibre entre l’offre de
services abordables et la nécessité
d’investir dans les réseaux. </p>
<p>
Dans sa décision de la semaine dernière, le
CRTC a annulé sa propre décision de 2019 sur
la diminution des tarifs. Les tarifs de gros
ont donc été maintenus à leur niveau actuel,
qui est élevé. Le CRTC a indiqué que cela
protégerait les investissements des grandes
entreprises de télécommunications. </p>
<p>
La décision du CRTC se trouve ici : <a
href="https://crtc.gc.ca/fra/archive/2021/2021-181.htm"
moz-do-not-send="true">crtc.gc.ca/fra/archive/2021/2021-181.htm</a>
</p>
<p>
Consultez cet article du National Post (en
anglais) pour plus de détails sur les
conséquences de cette décision : <a
href="https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/crtc-flip-flop-on-wholesale-internet-rates-could-mean-higher-prices-for-consumers-critics"
moz-do-not-send="true">nationalpost.com/news/politics/crtc-flip-flop-on-wholesale-internet-rates-could-mean-higher-prices-for-consumers-critics</a>
</p>
<p>
Nous sommes convaincus que cette décision
aura pour effet de maintenir les prix trop
élevés pour de nombreux consommateurs et de
consolider les profits des grands
fournisseurs. </p>
<p>
Vous pouvez lire le communiqué de presse de
NCF sur les conséquences de cette décision,
en particulier pour les personnes à faible
revenu, ici (en anglais): <a
href="https://www.ncf.ca/en/blog/crtc-internet-rates-come-at-high-cost-for-those-on-low-incomes/"
moz-do-not-send="true">ncf.ca/en/blog/crtc-internet-rates-come-at-high-cost-for-those-on-low-incomes/</a>
</p>
<p>
Les périodes de confinement à cause de la
pandémie de COVID-19 ont mis en évidence à
quel point Internet est indispensable pour
le travail, les études, les interactions
sociales et l’accès aux services
gouvernementaux. Quand les services
deviennent inabordables, les iniquités
sociales ne font que se creuser davantage.
La décision du CRTC était le contraire de ce
qu’elle aurait dû être. Nous sommes restés
sans mots. </p>
<p>
Nous poursuivrons le combat, comme toujours,
pour assurer l’offre de services Internet
abordables et pour défendre l’équité
numérique. </p>
<p>
Concrètement, nous : </p>
<ul>
<li>poursuivrons le déploiement du service
Internet par câble cet été, tout en
continuant de fournir notre service DSL; </li>
<li>maintiendrons les tarifs les plus bas
possible, tout en assurant la pérennité de
notre organisme;</li>
<li>continuerons à offrir le forfait du
Fonds d’accès communautaire aux personnes
à faible revenu, et élargirons les
critères d’admissibilité;</li>
<li>travaillerons avec nos partenaires comme
le Conseil de planification sociale
d’Ottawa et Logement communautaire
d’Ottawa pour réaliser une étude de
faisabilité au sujet d’un réseau
communautaire maillé, qui offrirait une
solution de rechange abordable aux
services traditionnels;</li>
<li>offrirons nos programmes de
sensibilisation au numérique, sous la
forme de publications sur notre Pages
d’Aide, d’ateliers et de campagnes
d’information; </li>
<li>ajouterons des ressources à notre
service technique, qui offre un soutien
fiable et digne de confiance;</li>
<li>ferons d’autres revendications auprès de
tous les échelons gouvernementaux et du
CRTC dans le domaine des services Internet
abordables.</li>
</ul>
<p>
Nous vous tiendrons au courant de nos
progrès et explorerons d’autres avenues.
N’hésitez pas à partager vos suggestions!
</p>
<p>
Merci d’être membre du Libertel. Votre appui
est précieux. </p>
<p>À bientôt!<br>
Shelley</p>
<p>Shelley Robinson<br>
Directrice générale<br>
Libertel de la capitale nationale<br>
206-1305, chemin Richmond Rd.<br>
Ottawa, ON<br>
K2B 7Y4<br>
(613) 721-1773 ext./poste 1001</p>
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<td style="padding: 20px; font-family: sans-serif;
font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align:
center; color: #888888;"> National Capital FreeNet<br>
206-1305 Richmond Road, Ottawa, ON, K2B 7Y4<br>
<a style="color: #888888; text-decoration: underline;"
href="tel:+16137211773" moz-do-not-send="true">(613)
721-1773</a> <a style="color: #888888;
text-decoration: underline;"
href="mailto:support@ncf.ca" moz-do-not-send="true">support@ncf.ca</a>
<a style="color: #888888; text-decoration:
underline;" href="https://www.ncf.ca/"
moz-do-not-send="true">www.ncf.ca</a> <br>
<br>
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<p style="margin: 0;">National Capital FreeNet
is a local, not-for-profit alternative to
commercial internet service providers. Since
1992 we have served more than 100,000
members.</p>
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