LONGUEUIL, Que. —Third party internet access provider EBOX (we told you last year about its expansion into northwestern Quebec using Cablevision’s infrastructure) today announced it has launched a petition aimed at federal members of parliament, asking them to support the implementation of the CRTC’s August 2019 ruling on the final rates for wholesale high-speed access services.
“EBOX wishes to start the year with the resolution to put an end to the regulatory holiday of major providers in the telecommunications industry. We advocate for fair and reasonable telecommunications prices and wish to ask Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, the new minister of the industry, to support the 2019-288 order from the CRTC. This order provides for an update of rates of paramount importance, allowing independent players to compete while allowing the industry to make a reasonable profit,” reads EBOX’s press release.
EBOX says the threats made by Canada’s major providers to stop investing in regional networks if the CRTC’s order is enforced are “irresponsible and outrageous”.
“Building the network in underserved areas should not be used as a subterfuge to charge exaggerated prices to citizens who wish to be connected to a high-speed network. Besides, the government has recently set up a fund of nearly $2 billion for the construction of broadband networks in rural areas. Therefore, it is unacceptable that the major service providers use the development of the rural areas to block the CRTC’s order,” continues the press release.
On its petition, EBOX says it is launching a public relations campaign to ensure Minister Champagne “is well informed on the issue”.
“Will he support the CRTC decision by putting an end to the lack of regulations, or will he give in to the arguments of the industry giants, causing an inevitable rise in market prices? As for the Supreme Court, we hope that they will follow the example set by the Court of Appeals judges, who unanimously rejected the major providers’ demands, deeming them to be ‘of dubious merit’,” reads the petition.
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