SaskTel to offer Apple TV credit for visually impaired customers

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. (SaskTel) says it will offer a $200 credit for blind or partially sighted customers to purchase Apple TV equipment to access its screen-reading technology. In a March 13 letter addressed to the company, the CRTC highlighted a complaint filed by a blind SaskTel customer. The complaint claimed that the set-top boxes provided to SaskTel’s maxTV customers are not compatible with screen-reading technology. A screen reader is an assistive technology for blind or partially sighted individuals that reads the text on a TV or computer screen out loud. In the letter, the CRTC asked SaskTel what it planned to do to solve the problem and said it appeared “SaskTel has no plans to provide a set-top box that is accessible to those customers and that SaskTel does not offer them an interim solution or other accommodation.” SaskTel has two main TV services: maxTV, a traditional television service, and maxTV Stream, which combines traditional television services with streaming options. Customers who wish to upgrade to maxTV Stream have to purchase their set-top box at an additional cost. In 2023, SaskTel made maxTV Stream compatible with Apple TV devices, which have built-in screen-reading capabilities. The recent letter also raised concerns that blind and partially sighted SaskTel customers have to pay for the Apple TV devices themselves if they wish to access its screen-reading technology. In its response to the CRTC letter dated April 2, SaskTel said it will begin offering a $200 credit for those customers to purchase an Apple TV device. According to SaskTel, the credit covers the retail cost of the device, including taxes. It also noted it will review the credit annually to “consider technological advancements with future compatible set-top boxes that incorporate screen reading capability and their related pricing.” In an email statement to The Wire Report, when asked how the company will address the original complaint of screen-reading technology being unavailable to maxTV customers, SaskTel said there are “limitations to the types of upgrades we’re able to make to maxTV.” It noted that maxTV Stream is available in more communities and is “a more adaptable television product” for those living with a visual impairment. SaskTel also stated that between the two types of packages, the most notable cost difference is that maxTV Stream customers are required to purchase their set-top box themselves. The statement also said that when comparing the basic packages for both services, maxTV Stream is $10/month less than maxTV. With the credit, customers can buy an Apple TV instead of the SaskTel branded media boxes, which the company said would eliminate the cost difference between the two services for visually impaired individuals. The CRTC noted that “at least one other distributor” responded to similar accessibility complaints by providing Apple TV devices free of charge to its customers requiring screen readers. In March 2024, disability advocate and retired lawyer David Lepofsky accused BCE Inc. of not providing adequate accommodations for its television services. In the Part 1 application, Lepofsky said he could not use most features on his set-top box because the company does not provide screen-reading technology. Bell’s response to Lepofsky’s complaint said customers registered with its accessibility services centre who have TV and internet and require a screen reader “are eligible to receive an Apple TV at no additional cost.” The Part 1 application regarding Lepofsky’s case has been closed, and in an email statement to The Wire Report, the CRTC said it “is still considering the public record and a decision is expected in the coming months.” mcollins@thewirereport.ca

SaskTel to offer Apple TV credit for visually impaired customers

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By Maria Collins
| April 11, 2025

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SaskTel to offer Apple TV credit for visually impaired customers

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