CBC News: CRTC rules against big phone companies — There are various interpretations as to what this really means. SOme say it opens things up for VOIP, others say it ruins the chances for VOIP. Any Canadians reading? Opinion please!
OTTAWA – The CRTC ruled against the big telephone companies on Thursday, saying it will regulate internet-based phone service the same as any other local phone service.
In a decision issued on Thursday, Canada’s telecom regulator told dominant local phone service providers such as Bell and Telus that they cannot offer internet-based phone services below cost.
“This decision will further the goal of building sustainable competition in local telephone markets,” the regulator said in a prepared statement.
In matters like this, I like to listen to what Michael Geist has to say on the issues. His opinions seem to closely echo my own, and he can translate the legalese much better than I can. For his article abotu this, see http://www.michaelgeist.ca/
As a Canadian, I can honestly say that I don’t know. My gut feeling is that it’s a good thing.
The analysis part of coverage from the CBC [via NWI-TV] was that most consumer groups hoped for exactly this ruling. In the short-term, everyone was confident the Telcos would bottom the price for VOIP until they put the techies out of business — and in the long-term, they would raise prices back up after killing the competition and go back to screwing everyone as usual.
I think it is a good thing. The telcos and other utilities for that matter have always been the big dogs in the yard and will do whatever it takes to stay that way.
These guys are monopoly at it’s worst. Until recently those of us out west had one choice for telephone, power, natural gas etc. You used their service and paid what they charged as there was no other choice. They treat their customers like crap and think we should be happy about it. Do a search on the CRTC ruling against Telus.
If the CRTC didn’t step in with a big stick they would drive the start ups and innovators out of business with the war chest built up during the years they had no competition.
In the short term I think it will offer a measure of protection for small startups and regional internet providers. BUT. It should be viewed as a short term measure and the regulation should always apply to the traditional phone company side of the issue.
The traditional phone companies have always had the greatest advantage and VOIP is truly the great equalizer. No longer do Canadians have to pay those rediculous phone tariffs and ultimately I’d prefer a $1.50 month 911 red button to a standard local phone bill.
I mean I pay almost $50 a month and I really don’t know why it still costs that much? My service hasn’t improved since I forever… not like my internet service has. Line features are really just money grabs and are often to damn difficult to use.
I would love to be able to find a $50 or so wireless USB phone that I could hook up to one of my PCs to use as a central phone that I could route my standard phone calls to. Unfortunately all I have been able to find are USB phones tied to PCs or packages that are tied to services.
The future is in the pipe! VOIP, television, movies/video, music/radio… you name it! The pipe is only going to get better and bigger and then we should see a truly consumer powered revolution.
Looking for orgnizations that have mastered BPL platform in VoIP telephony.
Can u pls help?
So, in other words, the big phone companies will be “forced” to keep their huge profits under the guise that “they have no choice”. Thus preventing cut-throat pricing.
The CRTC has always been in Bell’s back pocket, and this just sounds like yet another scheme to allow Bell to keep its high profits.
This is not unlike the communist actions of the CRTC to prevent Canadians from receiving “too much” foreign content. The actual truth being, Canadian content brings Canadian advertising dollars to media giants such as Bell satellite. All under the guise of “not losing our heritage”.