The new look, open access September issue of  InterMedia is now available  – see here

NEWS

Canada Sets Up Accessibility Council; Lowers Wholesale Broadband Rates

16.09.2019
Share this

The organisations responsible for enforcing the Accessible Canada Act have announced the establishment of the Council of Federal Accessibility Agencies. The Accessible Canada Act, which became law in June 2019, requires member organisations of the council to work collaboratively to refer federal accessibility complaints to the right organisation and to foster complementary policies and practices. The council is made up of chairs of the Canadian Transportation Agency, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board, and the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Meanwhile the CRTC has set final wholesale rates that it says will facilitate greater competition and promote innovative broadband services and affordable prices for consumers. The wholesale rates are paid by competitors who access the existing high-speed access networks of the large cable and telephone companies. In 2016, the CRTC set revised interim wholesale rates as those proposed by the service providers were not just and reasonable. The final rates are lower than the interim rates and retroactive to the date they were set in 2016. The monthly capacity rates are 15% to 43% lower than the interim rates. As for the access rates, they are 3% to 77% lower than the interim rates.

Operator Shaw Communications said though that “there will be long-term negative consequences to Canadians from the CRTC’s decision to dramatically reduce federally regulated wholesale broadband prices charged to third party internet providers. While the CRTC appears to be trying to use the reseller market as a primary source of broadband competition, it is ignoring the fact that the resale model relies on the investments of facilities-based providers like Shaw to create robust, fast and reliable networks for the future,” CEO Brad Shaw said. “In light of the decision, we are reviewing our future plans for capital expenditure and network deployment.”

The CRTC has also published a code of conduct for internet service providers (ISPs). The internet code will come into effect on 31 January 2020 and will provide Canadians with additional safeguards against unexpectedly high bills and help them resolve disputes with their ISP. See https://bit.ly/2lIqlHC (council), https://bit.ly/2Z7nPbL (wholesale) and https://bit.ly/2k9l7Ej (code), and Shaw statement here.

The organisations responsible for enforcing the Accessible Canada Act have announced the establishment of the Council of Federal Accessibility Agencies.

Theme:
Competition Policy
Region:
Americas
Series:
Regulatory Watch
You may also like... News
Round-up of the latest industry news – July 2023 31.07.2023
News
march 2023 regulatory news round-up
Round-up of the latest industry news – March 2023 29.03.2023
News
IIC and COMTELCA sign Memorandum of Understanding 17.03.2023

Latest

Publication
Sydney Telecommunications and Media Forum 2023 Report 20.09.2023
Resource
IIC Consensus statement policy and purpose 18.09.2023
Resource
SNRF Consensus statement: Low Earth Orbit Satellite Services, SNRF online meeting August 2023 18.09.2023
Resource
IIC 2023 Annual General Meeting 18.09.2023
View All
Back to the top

The IIC is the world's only policy debating platform for the converged communications industry

We give innovators and regulators a forum in which to explore, debate and agree the best policies and regulatory frameworks for widest societal benefit.

Insight: Exchange: Influence

We give members a voice through conferences, symposiums and private meetings, as well as broad exposure of their differing viewpoints through articles, reports and interviews.

The new website will make it easier for you to gather fresh insights, exchange views with others and have a voice in the debate

Take a look Learn more about our updates
Please upgrade your browser

You are seeing this because you are using a browser that is not supported. The International Institute of Communications website is built using modern technology and standards. We recommend upgrading your browser with one of the following to properly view our website:

Windows Mac

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of browsers. We also do not intend to recommend a particular manufacturer's browser over another's; only to suggest upgrading to a browser version that is compliant with current standards to give you the best and most secure browsing experience.