CRTC Revises Basic Telephone Service Requirements and Establishes Minimum Broadband Speed Target

As part of a comprehensive and detailed decision released May 4, 2011 (Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2011-291 – “Obligation to serve and basic service objective”), the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has set a target of providing all Canadians with broadband Internet service access by the end of 2015 with minimum speeds of at least 5Mbps download and 1Mbps upload. The target can be met, says the CRTC, through market forces and targeted government funding. Starting from this premise, the CRTC opted against direct regulatory intervention in the form of an industry-funded subsidy mechanism. Subsidy was one option considered in order to provide better access to rural and remote areas. The CRTC has also decided that over a three-year period subsidies for telecom carriers in rural and remote regions will be phased out. In addition, the CRTC decided to retain the obligation on incumbent telephone companies to provide residential local service within their operating territories and to continue to be required to meet the basic service objective in regulated exchanges. The basic service objective sets out minimum standards of telephone service, which include a list of familiar services such as: individual line local Touch-Tone service; access to low-speed Internet at local rates; access to the long distance network and to operator/directory assistance services; enhanced calling features, including access to emergency services; and a copy of the current local telephone directory. For the full, 42-page CRTC decision, follow this link: http://tinyurl.com/3ew8vvf Summary by: Adam Lis