OTTAWA – The Liberal party is calling on the federal government to help increase cell phone and Internet competition in Canada.
“We have a real competition problem in this country that is reflected in the high prices Canadian consumers pay for service,” said Liberal consumer affairs critic Dan McTeague, in a statement. “We need some real action with concrete proposals to lower prices and improve cell phone and Internet service for urban and rural Canadians.”
Specially, the Liberals say a “true digital strategy” will allow for better service and more investment in cell and Internet infrastructure. On cell phones, the MPs have proposed “clear guidelines and timely processes” to facilitate cell tower-sharing and roaming agreements between new entrants and incumbents, and have also asked for the public cell phone calculator be reinstated to provide Canadians with greater transparency in cell phone plans.
The government should also “set clear principles and regulations” with regards to net neutrality consistent with what is being proposed in the U.S., and facilitate a wholesale Internet service provision to allow for more competition into the system, the party continued.
