CRTC not hanging up on payphones just yet; denies rate increase, invites comments on usage

OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The cost of using a payphone (remember those?) will remain at 50 cents for now, as the CRTC denied requests for an increase in local payphone rates to $1 for cash calls and up to $2 for calls charged to a credit card or other forms of payment. In today’s decision, the Commission denied an application by Bell Canada, Bell Aliant Regional Communications and Télébec to raise payphone rates. The telcos argued that the increases were necessary to help recover the costs associated with upgrading their payphones to accept the new one dollar coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint in 2012. The Commission didn’t...