News Release
September 13, 2001
CRTC CLEARS THE WAY FOR LONG-DISTANCE TELEPHONE
COMPETITION IN NORTHEASTERN ONTARIO
OTTAWA-HULL — New rules to take effect on January 1, 2002 will bring
long-distance telephone competition to consumers in the O.N. Telcom area
of northeastern Ontario. This region, which ranges from Temagami in the
south to Attawapiskat in the north, and from the Quebec border in the east
to Calstock in the west, includes 43 communities and roughly 80,000 phone
users.
With this decision, the Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has achieved its goal of putting the
conditions in place to bring the advantages of long-distance telephone
competition to all regions of Canada. Because of its unique situation,
this northeastern Ontario district was the last in Canada to move to
long-distance telephone competition.
"We are very happy to report that these rules will help to create
an environment that will allow phone users in northeastern Ontario enjoy
lower long-distance phone rates, more interesting service options, and
better access to technological advances," says David Colville,
Chairman, CRTC.
With a reduced subsidy from long-distance revenues towards the cost of
local service, minor rate increases for local telephone service in this
area will be required effective January 1, 2002. The increases will bring
local residential and business rates in line with rates paid for those
services in other regions of Canada.
Reference Document: Decision CRTC 2001-583
- 30 -
General Inquiries:
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2
Tel: (819) 997-0313, TDD: (819) 994-0423, Fax: (819) 994-0218
Toll-free # 1-877-249-CRTC (2782), eMail: info@crtc.gc.ca
TDD - Toll-free # 1-877-909-2782
Media Relations:
Denis Carmel, Tel: (819) 997-9403, eMail: denis.carmel@crtc.gc.ca
Copies of today’s documents are available through our Internet site
(http://www.crtc.gc.ca) or by contacting the public examination room of
any CRTC office. These documents are available in alternative format
upon request.
|
City |
Telephone |
TDD |
Fax |
|
Edmonton
Halifax
Montreal
Ottawa-Hull
Regina
Toronto
Vancouver
Winnipeg |
(780) 495-3224
(902) 426-7997
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(819) 997-2429
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(819) 994-0423
(902) 426-6997
(514) 283-8316
(819) 994-0423
(819) 994-0423
(819) 994-0423
(604) 666-0778
(204) 983-8274 |
(819) 994-0218
(902) 426-2721
(514) 283-3689
(819) 994-0218
(819) 994-0218
(819) 994-0218
(604) 666-8322
(204) 983-6317 |
Date Modified: 2001-09-13
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