This morning Rogers, TELUS and Bell launched ad campaigns in various newspapers and radio in their ongoing public relations blitz to drum up support for ‘fair’ wireless spectrum rules, in an attempt to protect themselves from having a foreign carrier like Verizon enter the market.
Yesterday, Rogers sent out a company-wide email to employees asking them to email Prime Minster Harper, Industry Minister James Moore and their local member of parliament (MP) to demand spectrum rules remain fair for all carriers and not benefit foreign companies.
Pre-written emails were ready for employees to send off once they picked their proper riding, which would then auto-populate the email address of the appropriate MP. The move to seek help from almost 27,000 employees is just yet another move our incumbents have made in attempts to coax Ottawa into delaying or modifying their upcoming 700MHz spectrum auction rules.
Despite the aggressive campaign–which includes public support from the Canadian Council of Chief Executives and the 110,000 strong Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) union–the Federal Government has stated the wireless auction will proceed as planned.
Yesterday, the Consumer Association of Canada and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre released a joint statement saying they support Ottawa’s wireless policies and accused Rogers, TELUS and Bell of “trying to scare Canadians with misinformation.”
Thanks Tipster!
