Mazier’s telecom bill passes unanimously through the House of Commons

Conservative MP Dan Mazier’s private member’s bill that requires telecom carriers to provide accurate service quality metrics passed third reading in the House of Commons Wednesday unanimously. “It’s a pretty good achievement,” the MP for Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa told the Wire Report. “Especially since I’m a relatively new MP, since 2019.” The legislation had unanimous consent on second reading in November and when it was ushered out of committee. Mazier considers his bill a small step in giving consumers more information about the speeds internet service providers are truly delivering to their customers. Currently people pay for speeds “up to” certain levels which may not be available. The Tory politician compares it to paying up to $50 for gas but only getting $10 worth. “Transparency and accuracy of information are important to allow Canadians to make informed decisions when choosing a Canadian carrier for fixed broadband services and to increase competition within the telecommunications industry,” the preamble of the bill, which was introduced last June, reads. The bill would make several amendments to the Telecommunications Act that would force carriers to “make easily available” certain information in respect of the fixed broadband services that they offer and it would require the CRTC to hold public hearings on how carriers are to meet these obligations. The bill defines fixed broadband service as “any high-speed data transmission service provided to a fixed location using cable, fibre optics, wireless access, satellite or any similar transmission system.” The CRTC will be tasked with holding hearings on: how the service quality metrics that are to be measured and the methodology that is to be used to ensure that those metrics are representative of the different fixed broadband services packages offered in different regions; what constitutes typical download and upload speeds for different services; what is considered peak periods; if any carriers should be excluded; and the manner in which the information is to be provided to the public. The ISPs are wary of change but Mazier says the commission will be able to bring them and their users together to hash out a reasonable regime. He believes it will ultimately lead to more competition and lower prices. The bill has now gone through first reading in the Senate, where it was introduced on Wednesday following the Commons vote. The MP says he has heard positive things from the Red Chamber. The fight now is to make sure the legislation becomes a priority for the Senators to pass. –Reporting by Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca and editing by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca

Mazier’s telecom bill passes unanimously through the House of Commons

News | April 27, 2023

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Mazier’s telecom bill passes unanimously through the House of Commons

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