High-Speed Internet Access Now Available to a Wider Market in Canada

It no longer matters who provides your local phone service you can keep your high-speed Internet access. On July 21, 2003, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ordered each Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC), including Bell Canada and Telus Communications Inc., to allow customers of competitors, such as Sprint, to subscribe to high-speed Internet access provided by the ILEC. The CRTCs decision arose out of a complaint filed by Call-Net Enterprises Inc. regarding the policy of ILECs of making high-speed Internet access only available to existing customers of local phone services. Under this policy, switching from an ILEC to a competitor, such as Sprint, would result in the customers subscription to high-speed Internet access being cancelled. In reviewing the complaint, the CRTC determined that the ILECs were unjustly discriminating against the competitors and giving themselves an undue preference.   Opening up the availability of high-speed Internet access would give customers more choice and enhance competition. For a copy of the decision, visit: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/NEWS/RELEASES/2003/r030721.htm. For more information about the CRTC, visit: http://www.crtc.gc.ca. Summary by:   Sue Diaz