Follow Us:
CRTC’s “hands-off approach to wireless may come under pressure”
With 23.1 million Canadians (70%) have a mobile device, reports show the numbers will grow to almost 30.7 million by 2014. So wireless is clearly not slowing down. Devices are becoming more important to our daily lives and a line in a report today by the CRTC has people talking.
The report titled “Navigating Convergence: Charting Canadian Communications Change and Regulatory Implications Convergence Policy” stated that their “hands-off approach to wireless may come under pressure as it becomes a more important platform tool to access all forms of communications and the distribution of Canadian content.”
There are some Canadians that actually would like to dissolve the CRTC, not give them more authority. What do you think about the CRTC having a more “hands-on” approach.
Discussion
12 comments for “CRTC’s “hands-off approach to wireless may come under pressure””
Post a comment
- CES 2012
- Mobile News
- Airtel Wireless
- Bell Mobility News
- Chatr
- Clearnet
- Eastlink
- Fido News
- Globalive News
- Koodo Mobile News
- Mobilicity
- MTS Allstream News
- NortherTel
- PC Mobile News
- Petro-Canada Mobility
- Primus Wireless News
- Public Mobile
- Rogers Wireless News
- SaskTel News
- Shaw
- Solo Mobile News
- Speak Out Wireless News
- TBayTel
- Telus Mobility News
- Vidéotron News
- Virgin Mobile News
- WIND Mobile
- Reviews – Carrier
- Reviews – Manufacturer
- Various News
They can start with banning wireless consumer contracts over 2yrs.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Pederson…lol..over the last few months I know 2 things about you.
1 you are not a fan of Rogers
2 you hate three yr contract.
Keep up with your rants I enjoy them
thanks
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I think the reason they want to disband the CRTC is because the CRTC has proven to be useless as a regulatory body because they never ruled in favor of consumers and free competition.
That said, a regulatory body is needed, one that will actually rule fairly with the power to do things, including, but not limited to consumer protection:
- better dealing with contracts (allowing termination under certain circumstances, including when the carrier is breaking it like in the case of Rogers 9-1-1/Android)
- requiring the unlocking of cell-phones after a few month or signing for contract
- requiring a fair rebate when the contract is signed and no handset is being subsidized (think rebates)
- requiring a real display of the prices in advertising. If a plan starts at $20, you should get service at $20 (+GST/PST), not $20 + extras (9-1-1, GRRF, etc)
- requiring a fair dealing when providing simcards for less than the lower price of phone (including all rebates)
When this will be part of the regulations (several European countries have them) then we will have gone forward.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@Pederson Amen to that.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Given that the CRTC has a long history of ruling against the interests of the Canadian people in favour of telecom executives, I’d say that it would be a very bad thing. Where’s my net neutrality?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I hope the CRTC takes an active role in wireless.
Look at FCC in US, they seem to be always bringing the wireless carriers “up on the carpet” for anti consumer behavior. Canadians deserve better from the our government….is this not why we pay taxes!!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
They can also ban:
- per-minute billing
- exclusivity deals with cell phone
manufacturers
- unadvertised special deals
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Silly me, I almost forgot –
Another thing that needs banning is locked phones.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I don’t know how carriers can get away with locked phones. I called bell about problems with my blackberry and since the device is relatively new and I spend about 150 bucks a month with them, I asked for a new device. They keep telling me that they have nothing to do with the device. How much do they they think they’re subsidizing on a phone. If I’m paying 150 a month for 3 years, then you’ve made the subsidy back plus profits like 100 times over. Also, they have nothing to do with the phone but when I turn it on, it says bell. I can’t use my phone with any other carrier. They swear up and down though that they have nothing to do with phone problems.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@Pederson
I people stopped signing 3 year contracts the carriers would stop offering them. However they remain, by far, the most popular option among consumers.
The carriers are only responding to our own behaviour and tendencies.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@ TNSF
Of course people keep signing them, they want to pay less for their phones.
The carriers are not giving Canadians another option if they want to pay a low price for a phone. If they focused more competing, let me rephrase that, if there was actually competition among the carriers and their customers were their prime concern Canadians would be more loyal to their providers.
Now back to the topic at hand. The CRTC has made decision in the recent past that have benefited only big business. This defeats the purpose of having them in the first place and so they should no longer be, unless….their is some serious restructuring of personnel.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The CRTC has indeed been nothing but the wireless industry’s laptop. However, perhaps rather than scrapping it, it can be reformed? Say by having its membership include a significant number of people from consumer advocacy groups rather than just industry stooges as seems to now be the case?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0