Wireless Code Review: Consumers need better information to be more empowered

By Perry Hoffman

GATINEAU – The CRTC heard on Wednesday that it could improve consumers’ wireless service buying experience and result in a more competitive environment if it adopted some minor changes to the Critical Information Summary (CIS).Tamara Shepherd, an assistant professor at the University of Calgary, and Catherine Middleton, professor and Canada Research Chair at Ryerson University, suggested that as a first step the CIS be standardized, simplified and provided to consumers much earlier in the contracting process.Specifically, Middleton pointed to the confusion around plans as they’re presented on the wireless carriers’ websites. She noted terms such as premium, light, heavy, flex,...