CRTC finalizes 2019 subsidy payments for ILECs, estimates interim subsidies for 2020

OTTAWA — The CRTC announced Wednesday the total amount of subsidy to be paid to incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) from the National Contribution Fund will total $60.7 million in 2019. The Commission also said it estimates the total interim subsidy payments to ILECs will be approximately $38.7 million in 2020.Last year, in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2018-213, the CRTC announced it would phase out the local telephone service subsidy over a three-year transition period from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021, through semi-annual reductions.Each year, the CRTC finalizes the subsidy payments for ILECs providing residential local telephone service in...