WHITEHORSE – As part of its COVID-19 response, Northwestel said Monday it submitted an urgent application to the CRTC for temporary relief on residential Internet usage to facilitate increased telework in the north.
Northwestel has proposed waiving any overage charges for customers exceeding their Internet usage caps during March and April in terrestrially-served communities (most communities in Yukon, NWT, northern Alberta and northern B.C.). The company has already begun augmenting capacity to accommodate the expected increase in usage on its terrestrial network, says its press release.
All Northwestel’s terrestrial Internet packages and rates are regulated, and the proposed changes can only take effect with CRTC approval.
In the remaining satellite-served communities, the company explained in its release that it’s not technologically possible to quickly increase capacity, but it has proposed to temporarily double internet usage caps. These communities include Old Crow YT, Fort Ware B.C., Colville Lake NWT, Gameti NWT, Lutselk’e NWT, Paulatuk NWT, Sachs Harbour NWT, Sambaa K’e NWT, Ulukhaktok NWT, Wekweeti NWT, Iqaluit NU, Arviat NU, Cambridge Bay NU, and Rankin Inlet, NU.
“The company has also proposed to create a new unlimited option in cable communities to come into effect in May once the waiver of Internet usage overage fees expires,” reads the release.
The CRTC has previously acknowledged that Northwestel’s residential DSL Internet rates are significantly below its costs, adds the release. “Its proposal therefore includes the CRTC freezing the subsidy for telecommunications in northern high-cost serving areas at 2019 levels to ensure adequate funding for northern telecommunications in this critical period.”
