by Myron Love
WINNIPEG – Having secured the approval of the CRTC, MTS Allstream has begun the process of doubling its pay phone rate from 25 cents to 50 cents a call – despite complaints from advocates of the poor who argue that the increase should have phased in over a period of time.
"We haven’t increased our rates since 1983," says MTS spokesman Michael Bouliane. "Ontario and Quebec already charge 50 cents to use pay phones, Saskatchewan is awaiting CRTC approval and Telus has charged pay phone users 35 cents a call for some time now."
Bouliane reports that MTS has already equipped 75% of its phones to accept the higher payment. The remaining phones are older models that will take more time to be adapted or replaced. Bouliane estimates that it will be four to six weeks before all pay phones in the province can accept the 50 cent charge.
"The extra income will help us pay to replace outdated equipment," Bouliane says.
Myron Love is a freelance journalist based in Winnipeg.
