VOIP is voice, says Commission, but cable must make sure nets are open, too

OTTAWA – “Why did we find that VOIP is a telephone service? Because Canadians use it as a telephone service,” CRTC chairman Charles Dalfen said today at the Commission’s headquarters upon the release of its voice over Internet decision. The decision confirmed what the Commission had said previously: that it would continue to regulate VOIP when it is provided and used as a local telephone service. That means incumbents like Bell and Telus will continue to have to file rate tariffs with the Commission for approval – to make sure predatory pricing below cost doesn’t happen – while the newcomers,...