CRTC dials up new “safeguards” for payphones

OTTAWA–GATINEAU – Canada’s public payphones perform an important public service, despite their dwindling use, the CRTC said Thursday as it unveiled two new “consumer safeguards”.As a follow up to its payphone report released in February, the Commission announced new measures to ensure Canadians are properly informed about the costs of making certain long-distance calls over a payphone.Specifically, the CRTC directed incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) to inform consumers of the costs of making long-distance calls using a credit card or other forms of non-cash payment in an effort to avoid bill shock. In addition, payphone providers must inform the CRTC within the...