SaskTel says CRTC's basic service decision may boost residential rates, lower investment

REGINA – After taking over a month to digest and study the decision, SaskTel today expressed concerns that the CRTC’s recent policy announcement regarding basic telecommunications services plans will cause it to raise its rates.The Commission’s decision to phase out the $100 million local service subsidy for rural areas in Canada (to be replaced with other broadband-focused funding formulae) includes the loss of a $16 million subsidy in 2016/17 for rural telephone subscribers in Saskatchewan, said the company in a press release Monday.The reduction in subsidy could potentially result in rate increases for SaskTel’s rural telephone customers, less investment by...