By Tyler Sutherland
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has launched an online consultation to gauge opinions of Canadians on basic telephone and Internet services.
The federal broadcast regulator launched the consultation Friday as part of an upcoming proceeding and public hearing scheduled for October 26 in Timmins, Ontario.
The CRTC outlined in 1999 basic services telecommunications companies should offer to Canadians. These services included now-outdated low-speed Internet at local rates, and an individual telephone line.
The rapid increase in competition and new technology has changed the way Canadians communicate and do business.
The CRTC is examining its current regulations in response to these technological and competitive changes in the telecommunications industry. More specifically, the CRTC is asking Canadians whether the obligation to provide certain services should be modified in light of the technologies available today.
The online consultation will close at midnight EST on August 20, 2010.
