Vicky Eatrides, the newly appointed Chairperson and CEO of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), shared her vision for the future of Canadian telecommunications in a speech on Monday. The focus of her address was on ensuring affordable and accessible Internet and cellphone services for all Canadians.
Addressing a crowd in Ottawa, Eatrides acknowledged the pressing need for better telecommunications services in Canada’s remote and Indigenous communities. Drawing from a recent public hearing held in the Yukon, she underscored the urgency of the situation by recounting the struggles of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation, whose community lacks high-speed Internet, cellular service, and even reliable 9-1-1 emergency services.
The CRTC should really look into SpaceX’s Starlink internet for remote locations, instead of constructing fibre the old-fashioned way.
According to Eatrides, the CRTC is committed to adapting to the digital evolution and ensuring that all Canadians can reap the benefits of the digital age. This goal, she highlighted, will be achieved by striking a balance between lowering prices and maintaining incentives for companies to invest in high-quality networks.
Eatrides admitted that compared to other countries like the United States, Australia, and parts of Europe, Canadians pay higher prices for their Internet and cellphone services. However, she stressed that the CRTC’s mandate is to regulate in the public interest, taking into account a variety of interests while making its decisions.
“If you stop someone on the street today and ask them about the price they pay for their Internet or cellphone services, they’ll probably say “too much.” Some might even go a step further and say that we pay some of the highest rates in the world,” said Eatrides.
“And they wouldn’t be wrong. Compared with other countries – the United States, Australia and parts of Europe, for example – the prices we pay are higher,” continued the CRTC Chair.
The CRTC has already set wheels in motion to bring about change, claims the new head of the Commission. Last week, it finalized terms for regional competitors to gain access to large wireless companies’ networks, aiming to serve Canadians in areas where the regional competitors have not yet built their networks. The commission is monitoring negotiations and is prepared to ensure agreements are reached within 90 days.
Eatrides also announced that the CRTC is working on improving Internet services. In February, it made a decision on access to poles to facilitate the deployment of high-speed Internet networks. In March, it initiated a process to enhance Internet competition in Canada, especially enabling smaller competitors to sell Internet services over large companies’ fibre-to-the-home networks.
In addition to the focus on telecommunications, Eatrides also pointed out the CRTC’s role in shaping the future of broadcasting following the passing of the Online Streaming Act, or Bill C-11. The Act requires all players, including online streaming services, to contribute to the achievement of cultural and policy objectives.
But a recent document published by the CRTC drew ire from critics saying it was not impartial but rather echoed what the federal government wants Canadians to believe regarding Bill C-11.
“Let’s start creating the future today. Together. Right now,” Eatrides urged in her closing remarks, emphasizing the urgency to improve Canada’s telecommunications landscape.
How much faith do you have in the CRTC in supporting the interests of Canadians?
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CRTC – “Hey we are finally recognizing that there is a problem with the pricing of Canadian cell phone and internet rates”
Canadians – “Well what are you going to do about it?”
CRTC – “…….”
She’s hoping that the statement will buy CRTC some time before they do… nothing.
On the heals of the largest Telecom merger in Canadian history, that was well documented as likely to not improve this situation in the long term..
I noticed the commentary that was slipped in that said the CRTC should rely on StarLink services. I really disagree with that suggestion. Sure work with them but I am actually glad the government is working on getting fibre out to remote communities. I certainly don’t want us relying exclusively on any company run by Elon Musk to provide something so critical as our Internet access. He absolutely did great things with Tesla, no doubt about it. But his recent behaviour and his increasing predilection towards troll behaviour does not engender confidence in his consistency or sanity. If we put all of our eggs in that basket, who’s to say he wouldn’t just decide one day to cut us off or raise the price 100x. We need diversified access to the Internet.
Even if Musk wasn’t a risk factor, smart thing to do is to build your own infrastructure and not rely on any foreign entity; especially with strategic resources. And Internet access is clearly becoming one. Outsiders can contribute or play a partial role if and when it serves your needs but never entirely rely on them.
This.
Businesses are bigger than one person. He will die. The business will not.
Are you crazy? Canada’s Bill C11 amounts to contact censorship. On the other hand, the Starlink signal does touch down in Canada and so can be kept out of the government’s grubby hands. Elon has said that he won’t censor the content. Besides, there are other competitiors coming into the game. The China balloon fiasco just demonstrated how vulnerable our terrestrial communications structure is to an EMP. Then there was the national failure of Roger’s network last summer, and the other Telcos are just as vulnerable. Russia is a classic of government censorship, and Trudeau has already demonstrated that he’s a tinpot dictator, he’ll bent on controlling Canadians’ thoughts.
you must be unfamiliar wil the musk way, where he say he is for free speech but will censor anyone who speak against him. he even censored twitter in turkey at the behest of dictator erdogan.
Elon is not stable. Free speech he talks about is BS. Recall he is very upset that some kid is tracking his personal jet. Why does he want to censor that.
Does Canada have underserved markets? YES
The CRTC mandated all Canadians have the right to have 50m down-speeds. Will this be enough to satisfy requirements. No.
Fibre is the only answer not satellite. Fibre builds are expensive and take time. We need to build infrastructure that is future proof.
Perhaps a good first step is the the government return the billions of dollars the quietly collected from the current carriers for access to spectrum. These funds can be redirected to building out underserved markets.
The other question is who should build it and operate the service. Telus, Bell, Rogers, Sasktel have very smart people in their respective organizations. Telecom is a complex business but it always seems to get trivialized. Our government could undertake an initial to build a public network but when they realize the costs, the complexity, the innovation investments required DO NOT come back to Canadians for more funding (ie: raising taxes)
Let the experts do what they do and return the spectrum monies collected to fund them
Spoken like a conservative: naive about business
Nonsense, 50 mbps is more than sufficient and Fibre makes no sense in rural Canada. Elon Musk’s system is the answer as its available virtually anywhere in Canada. Whereas a residential Package offers up to 100mbps and unlimited data, for $140/mo. that can be shared by typically 5 households via wifi, for an average cost of just $28/mo. at 10 mbps. That speed is sufficient for the most demanding apps; like, HD movies.
Might be enough for now but let’s see what the future holds re :capacity. BTW does northern Canada want to rely on a crazy person for critical infrastucture
You are right, they should not rely on Trudeau.
Return the spectrum fees??? What makes you think if that lunacy would be implemented that the cartel will immediately invest in fiber infrastructure especially in underserved areas?
Also…. first licenses were given away for free, so I suggest we actually go after the Big There to call them out on the lie that they will build “adequate coverage” as the condition stipulates.
On spectrum you are correct. In the late 90’s there was no spectrum auction. Those days are gone. Will retuning the funds to the telcos to build out fibre, not a fast as we would want. First you need to design the build ( if this isn’t done already it should have been). Then you need to buy hardware and fibre. Corning current lead time is 52 weeks. Infrastructure hardware is not much better. If you simply want to give Canadians a break in pricing the government could easily return the spectrum money and mandate that it gets returned to the consumer. Let also recognize Canada is ranked at or near the top globally in terms of quality of wireless networks. You kinda get what you pay for. Finally before we attack the telcos take a look at your mutual funds and do the math. They pay impressive dividends This fact should not be lost in the hate telcos and banks for matter sentiment
The CRTC already “helped” Canadians with their cellphone costs about a decade ago. The most expensive plans did come down a tiny bit while the less expensive plans went-up in price.
And don’t forget when the CRTC helped us with our cable fees. The cable providers created cheap but crappy packages that nobody wanted and all other cable went-up in price.
If the CRTC gets involved Canadians pay more. Just wait an see what happens to our internet costs.
The CRTC would help all Canadians by opening the skies to competition. That is the only way consumers will get better service a lower prices. As long as the oligopolies are protected we will continue to get hosed.
Our local Yellowhead county recently received a federal grant for $4.5 million to subsidize the provision of internet. Rather than going to public tender to solicit competitive bids they used the entire sum to run in a Fibre optic cable for just 400 of the 2000 residences in the county, or $11250/residence. Plus these people will still have to pay the $100+ per month! In contrast, our radio club supplied free internet service for 50 people displaced due to a wild fire, and when we asked the county for a subsidy they outright refused us.
Even though there is an indigenous community within the county’s boundaries, the county denied them of any funds! Whereas the county is in Alberta, the prime contracts were awarded to companies from Halifax and Ottawa having no previous business dealings in Alberta. Local companies were even prevented from bidding.
When our non profit radio club dared to question the county’s business practices, they threatened to sue us for defamation. Even though we complained to the provin e we were told that the county is autonomous to do what they like with their funds.
CRTC Chair Admits Canadians Pay Higher Cellphone, Internet Prices vs. World
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This headline hit me like a freight train. What a stunning revelation, absolutely stunning and I can see why this person was chosen to lead the CRTC…
SM(expletive)H.
Will we ever recover from shock…
Also, spending billions on fiber projects instead of offering incentives to install Starlink (BTW, what happened with THE BILLION sunk into Telesat???) will benefit the cartel and not the remote communities.
reoccurring news for the past 10 years. lets go! make it 20! for what we pay them there should be no outage areas, comeon!