The battle between the big three wireless companies and the Canadian Government took another turn with the news that domestic roaming rates, as in the rates that that Wind Mobile, Public Mobile, and Mobilicity have to pay the big three to use their networks are about to get regulated:
In the coming weeks, the Government will introduce an amendment to the Telecommunications Act that will put a cap on domestic wireless roaming rates, preventing wireless providers from charging other companies more than they charge their own customers for mobile voice, data and text services. Currently, high domestic roaming rates hold back many providers, especially new entrants, from offering more choice, lower prices and better service to Canadians. This measure will be in place until such time as the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), which is now investigating the issue, makes a decision on roaming rates.
In addition, Minister [JAMES] Moore also announced new enforcement measures that will increase consumer protection in the telecommunications sector. These new measures will provide Canada’s regulatory bodies with the tools needed to ensure that companies comply with the rules. The Government will amend both the Telecommunications Act and the Radiocommunication Act to give the CRTC and Industry Canada the option to impose monetary penalties on companies that violate established rules such as the Wireless Code and those related to the deployment of spectrum, services to rural areas and tower sharing. The penalties will encourage compliance and allow for more effective remedies should violations occur. The Telecommunications Act will also be amended to enhance information sharing between the CRTC and the Competition Bureau so that consumers benefit from greater cooperation.
The argument that the Canadian makes is that customers of the smaller carriers pay 10 times what they charge their own customers and that has to stop. But it should also be noted that this will only be in place until the CRTC decides what to do about roaming. But it sends the message that the Canadian Government wants lower telecommunications prices sooner rather than later.
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This entry was posted on December 18, 2013 at 10:23 am and is filed under Commentary with tags Canada, wireless. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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Domestic Roaming Rates To Be Regulated
The battle between the big three wireless companies and the Canadian Government took another turn with the news that domestic roaming rates, as in the rates that that Wind Mobile, Public Mobile, and Mobilicity have to pay the big three to use their networks are about to get regulated:
In the coming weeks, the Government will introduce an amendment to the Telecommunications Act that will put a cap on domestic wireless roaming rates, preventing wireless providers from charging other companies more than they charge their own customers for mobile voice, data and text services. Currently, high domestic roaming rates hold back many providers, especially new entrants, from offering more choice, lower prices and better service to Canadians. This measure will be in place until such time as the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), which is now investigating the issue, makes a decision on roaming rates.
In addition, Minister [JAMES] Moore also announced new enforcement measures that will increase consumer protection in the telecommunications sector. These new measures will provide Canada’s regulatory bodies with the tools needed to ensure that companies comply with the rules. The Government will amend both the Telecommunications Act and the Radiocommunication Act to give the CRTC and Industry Canada the option to impose monetary penalties on companies that violate established rules such as the Wireless Code and those related to the deployment of spectrum, services to rural areas and tower sharing. The penalties will encourage compliance and allow for more effective remedies should violations occur. The Telecommunications Act will also be amended to enhance information sharing between the CRTC and the Competition Bureau so that consumers benefit from greater cooperation.
The argument that the Canadian makes is that customers of the smaller carriers pay 10 times what they charge their own customers and that has to stop. But it should also be noted that this will only be in place until the CRTC decides what to do about roaming. But it sends the message that the Canadian Government wants lower telecommunications prices sooner rather than later.
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This entry was posted on December 18, 2013 at 10:23 am and is filed under Commentary with tags Canada, wireless. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.