PIAC
Consumer Advocacy Groups Petition Ottawa to Overrule CRTC Approval of Rogers-Shaw
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and the National Pensioners Federation (NPF) on Wednesday filed a petition for the federal Cabinet to reverse the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)'s approval of Rogers Communications Inc.'s proposed $26 billion acquisition of Shaw Communications Inc., Canada's fourth-largest telecom operator. The CRTC was responsible for reviewing the broadcasting...
Canadia Consumer Advocacy Organization Attributes Financial Troubles to CRTC
One of the most influential consumer advocacy organizations in the country — the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) — is on the verge of shutting its doors. So says a new report from CBC, explaining that the organization, which has operated for the past 42 years, will soon run out of funding because the Canadian Radio-television and...
Consumer Advocacy Group Calls CRTC to Investigate Increasing Telecom Complaints
The Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS) released their mid-year report for 2017-18 yesterday, which saw a 73% increase in complaints compared to the year ago period. According to consumer advocacy group, Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), based out of Ottawa, the huge surge in complaints should be investigated by the CRTC and fixed. “Canadian...
Consumer Advocacy Group PIAC May Shut Down Due to Cash Crisis
In an email sent out last week, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) said that they will have to shut down if they don't raise enough funds before the end of the year. PIAC has advocated for Canadian consumers, most notably battling cable and wireless carriers over their absurd rates and business practices. The group...
Consumer Groups Outline Changes Wanted to CRTC Wireless Code
As the telecom regulator kicks off the public hearing on the Wireless Code review, PIAC, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, a non-profit organization protecting consumer right is urging the CRTC to include measures that protect wireless subscribers from data bill shock. PIAC Canada expressed its position on the matter on Twitter in a series of...
CRTC Closes Consumer Group Complaint vs Rogers’ Shomi
The CRTC has closed the Public Interest Advocacy Centre's (PIAC) complaint over the fairness of the Shomi online video streaming service having found that the issue raised "is now moot." Geoff White, PIAC's lawyer, is disappointed by the regulator's decision, claiming that the "Commission avoided deciding in this issue." (via the Globe and Mail) After...
CRTC Dismisses Consumer Complaint vs Bell’s Targeted Ad Program
In a ruling issued today, the CRTC dismissed a consumer interest group complaint (PIAC and CAC) about Bell Mobility, Solo Mobile, and Virgin Mobile’s collection and use of customer information for the Relevant Advertising Program (RAP). The reason: the RAP has been withdrawn; hence, the issues raised by the consumer group were moot (via the...
Cellphone Users Now Have Power to Get Rogers, TELUS and Bell to Compete: PIAC
Thanks to the CRTC Wireless Code, anyone with an existing three year contract can walk away once their two year anniversary hits and not pay a cent as of June 3, 2015. Throw in expiring two year contracts, and the wireless industry is preparing for the ‘double cohort’ of wireless users, free agents that will...
Consumer Group Refiles Complaint Against Rogers and Shaw’s Shomi Service
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) has refiled a complaint to the CRTC against Rogers and Shaw’s shomi streaming service. In a filing made yesterday, one area of concern the consumer group alleges is both companies: …are conferring an undue preference on their affiliated internet service, and unjustly discriminating against independents internet service providers and their subscribers,...
Canada Eliminates Telecom Paper Billing Fees, Consumer Groups Applaud Move
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) today has applauded the Federal Government’s move to eliminate paper billing fees for telecommunications and broadcasting services consumers, once provisions come into force after the passing of Bill C-43, the Budget Implementation Act. The PIAC previously estimated Canadians had been paying between $495 to $734 million annually in paper...
Consumer Groups: Paper Billing Needs to Be “Fixed Now”, Canadians “Cannot Afford to Wait”
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and the Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC) issued a response today to the recent decision by the Federal government to introduce legislation to stop telecoms from charging for paper billing. The PIAC and CAC said the agreement the CRTC reached with telecoms to make some exceptions for paper billing...
WIND Mobile, Consumer Groups Applaud New AWS-3 Wireless Spectrum Auction
Earlier this morning Industry Minister James Moore announced the Federal Government has plans to launch the AWS-3 spectrum auction, capable of deploying LTE, while reserving a 30MHz block for wireless startups. WIND Mobile CEO Anthony Lacavera has issued a statement on today’s announcements, applauding Ottawa’s move, saying it will increase competition: "Today's announcement is proof...