Bell draws broad telecom support in Broadband Fund collection request

By Ahmad Hathout OTTAWA – An application by Bell requesting the CRTC stop collecting money for the Broadband Fund until it delivers money already collected is drawing support from other providers. The Part 1 application, filed by the telco in December, requested that the CRTC refund existing amounts not distributed and pause its intended collection of $150 million from the internet service providers in 2023 until it conducts the preplanned policy review in year three of the $750-million fund this year. The fund, which is used to get high-speed internet to underserved areas, collects the money from the providers in...