Government Refers CRTC Decision on Telecom Services Back for Review

The Canadian government has referred Telecom Decision CRTC 2023-358 back to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for reconsideration. This decision, made by the Governor in Council, follows concerns about competition in the retail Internet services market, particularly regarding access to fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) services in Ontario and Quebec.

The CRTC had previously directed large telecommunications carriers to provide temporary access to FTTP facilities over aggregated wholesale high-speed access services. This was intended to enhance competition and consumer choice. However, Bell Canada petitioned the government, requesting a review of this decision.

The Governor in Council has asked the CRTC to reconsider whether Bell Canada, Rogers Communications Canada Inc., and TELUS Communications Inc. should be prohibited from using aggregated FTTP services under approved tariffs. The CRTC is expected to complete this reconsideration within 90 days of the order.

The government has highlighted the importance of FTTP technology in the Internet services market and expressed concerns about the impact of limited access on competition and consumer choice. The review aims to address these issues and ensure a competitive market environment.