Telecoms allowed to change rates without CRTC’s approval

As competition heats up, the CRTC loosens up! Effective October 6, 2008, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has allowed the traditional telephone companies (Rogers, Bell, Telus) to change most of their telecommunications rates without the CRTC’s approval… and take effect the day they are filed. The only stipulation is that the telecoms must stay within the existing pricing rules.

Leonard Katz, the CRTC’s Vice-Chairman of Telecommunications said: “While the new procedure eases the regulatory burden for traditional telephone companies, it does not permit them to exceed the pricing limits previously imposed by the Commission for regulated services. This change enables the traditional telephone companies, as well as the CRTC, to streamline their operations without any impact on consumers.”