OTTAWA – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) said that it “deplored the lack of vision” after the CRTC declined to create a fund for rural broadband access in Tuesday’s obligation to serve decision.
"If there is no rural broadband now, there will not be any more thanks to this decision," said PIAC counsel John Lawford, noting that the organization argued for a contribution fund for rural broadband access at the CRTC hearing last November. "You’re on your own Canada – see you at the bottom of the OECD broadband lists."
PIAC also described the CRTC decision to allow incumbent telcos to raise rates to $30 a month in price regulated areas of the country as “a second blow to rural consumers”.
"If this is a roadmap to the future, the CRTC is holding it upside-down," Lawford added.
