News release

August 29, 2006

CRTC issues a statement of key consumer rights
with respect to local home phone service

OTTAWA-GATINEAU — The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) issued today a document which restates key consumer rights with respect to local home phone service, in a clear and comprehensible manner.

Traditional telephone companies are directed to include this statement of consumer rights on their website and with their residential telephone directories.

The CRTC has, in the past, expressed concerns that information provided by the traditional local telephone companies in their telephone directories, such as the terms of service, may be difficult for consumers to comprehend.

Consequently, the Commission has now established a clear statement to provide consumers with an accurate understanding of their rights with respect to local home phone service, purchased from the traditional local telephone companies.

This statement clarifies consumers’ key rights which include: the right to a local telephone service, the right to choose a phone company, the right to confidentiality, and the right to register a dispute or complaint.

"Ensuring that consumers understand their rights is important," said Charles Dalfen, Chairman of the CRTC. "In the future, when some local markets are not regulated, it will be important that consumers continue to understand their rights and we are hopeful the entire industry will work together to ensure those rights are understood and respected."

The CRTC

The CRTC is an independent public authority that regulates and supervises broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.

Reference documents: Telecom Decision CRTC 2006-52
                                  Telecom Public Notice CRTC 2003-6
                                  Telecom Decisions CRTC 2002-34 and 2002-43

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Media Relations:
   MediaRelations, Tel: (819) 997-9403, Fax: (819) 997-4245

General Inquiries:
   Tel: (819) 997-0313, TDD: (819) 994-0423, Fax: (819) 994-0218
   Toll-free # 1-877-249-2782
   TDD - Toll-free # 1-877-909-2782

Copies of today’s documents are available through our Internet site (http://www.crtc.gc.ca) or by contacting the documentation centre of any CRTC office. These documents are available in alternative format upon request.

Date Modified: 2006-08-29

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