Bell subsidiary Northwestel urges support for Bell/Astral benefits package

WHITEHORSE – Northwestel is encouraging governments, businesses and residents in Canada’s north to express their support for Bell’s public benefits package associated with its intended takeover of Astral Media. That benefits package, made public by the CRTC on Tuesday, includes $40 million earmarked for Northwestel’s recently proposed ‘modernization plan’ in which it pledged to invest $273 million over five years to upgrade its 96 communities in northern Canada with high-speed Internet and next-generation wireless. “We strongly believe northerners want advanced Internet and wireless services, but we need CRTC approval of the Astral component for our Modernization Plan to move forward,” said...