CRTC looks at improving telecom services in Far North

The CRTC announced it was initiating a proceeding to improve telecommunications services in Canada’s north. The area covered includes the three territories, northern British Columbia and northern Alberta, it announced in a Wednesday press release. The commission estimates about 132,800 residents in 96 communities are affected. Some areas are only accessible by airplane. “We need to collaborate with people living and working in the far north to ensure they have a similar level of service as the south,” chair Ian Scott stated in the release. “We want to hear from all Canadians, and especially from Indigenous peoples in the far north. This is your chance to tell us about the particular needs for broadband internet and telephone services in your community.” Scott will not be chair when the proceeding begins. His term expires in September. This is the second phase of consultations. During the first round beginning in November 2020, residents told the commission they wanted greater diversity in service options.Those living in the north also complained about poor internet service. A total of 255 interventions were heard during the first round of consultations. Twenty-eight organizations were made parties to the first proceeding. Those submissions will be considered part of the record for phase two. Most wireline telecom and internet service in the region is provided by BCE Inc.’s Northwestel. Another BCE subsidiary, Bell Mobility, provides wireless telephony. These consultations are to determine what actions the regulator should take to make service in the north more affordable, more reliable, more competitive and better supporting of Indigenous people. To fulfill that last point, a summary of information is available in both official languages as well as Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, Cree and Chipewyan. Only those four topics are under consideration. Other issues like 911 service and forbearance for Northwestel are considered beyond the scope of the hearings. Comments may be submitted by Oct. 6 with in-person hearings scheduled for Whitehorse next April. Parties have the option of participating remotely if they do not wish to travel to the Yukon for the proceeding. The commission may make changes to the National Contribution Fund as a result of the proceedings. As a result, all contributors to the fund have been made parties to the proceeding. Participants have been presented with a list of 39 questions regarding service to the north. Intervenors are not required to answer each question. The queries revolve around such topics as reconciliation with Indigenous people, low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, and subsidies of internet and home phone service, –Reporting by Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca and editing by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca.

CRTC looks at improving telecom services in Far North

Brief | June 8, 2022

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CRTC looks at improving telecom services in Far North

Brief | June 8, 2022

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