GATINEAU — The CRTC today launched a proceeding to review certain elements of its regulatory framework for Bell subsidiary Northwestel, and is asking for Canadians living in the North to provide feedback on telecom services in the region.
“The CRTC is seeking to better understand the state of telephone, wireless and Internet services in the areas served by Northwestel. This will help determine whether more needs to be done to ensure Canadians living there have access to high-quality services at reasonable rates,” reads the Commission’s press release.
Broadband services, or their limitations, are a constant topic of conversation in the far north, as Cartt.ca reported last week.
Among other things, the Commission is seeking comments from Canadians on the following:
- the affordability of telecom services for residents and businesses in the North;
- the quality of telecom services, including Internet speeds, mobile coverage and service reliability; and
- how the CRTC may foster competition in the North.
“Now more than ever, telecommunications services have become indispensable for Canadians no matter where they live. The Covid-19 pandemic has further highlighted the digital divide between Canada’s North and South. We would like to hear from northern Canadians about their experiences related to telecommunications services so we can help bridge the divide and ensure that they have high-quality services at affordable prices,” said Ian Scott, CRTC chair and CEO, in the release.
The CRTC is asking Canadians to share their views by January 20, 2021. All submitted comments will form part of the public record and inform the CRTC’s decision, says the press release.
In its notice of consultation, the Commission says its review of its regulatory framework for Northwestel will be done in two phases. Following its review of submissions in the first phase, which includes the public consultation, the Commission will identify a more targeted scope of issues to be considered in the second phase of the proceeding, which is expected to include a public hearing.
The deadline for Northwestel and other interested parties to file their interventions is also January 20, 2021. Replies will be due by March 24, 2021.
Northwestel serves approximately 125,000 residents in the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, northern British Columbia and Fort Fitzgerald, Alberta.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Commission has approved several applications submitted by Northwestel to temporarily waive data overage fees for some of its services and increase usage caps across a range of broadband Internet packages. The CRTC is currently considering Northwestel’s application to offer unlimited data on certain residential and business plans.
