PIAC is a non-profit organization that provides legal and research services on behalf of consumer interests, and, in particular, vulnerable consumer interests, concerning the provision of important public services. Please consider making a tax deductible donation.
Telephone Service
TELUS $2.95 Long Distance Access Charge Defeated
Thursday, Apr 17, 2008Media Release and Backgrounder [pdf file: 0.05mb] April 17, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TELUS $2.95 Long Distance Access Charge Defeated OTTAWA – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) today welcomed the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) decision to reverse a $2.95 a month “long distance access charge” imposed by TELUS Communications Company ...
Media Release: CRTC Abandons Canadian Telephone Customers to Phone Companies’ Price Hikes
Monday, Apr 30, 2007CRTC Abandons Canadian Telephone Customers to Phone Companies’ Price Hikes Ottawa – Monday, April 30, 2007 – Canadians will be paying more for their local phone service beginning June 1, 2007 after the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) took the lid off rates for local phone service in a decision today. Michael Janigan, Executive Director and ...
Declaration of telecommunications principles in the public interest of all Canadians
Tuesday, Nov 08, 2005A Background document is also available and information to sign on to this declation can be found at the end of the declaration. RECOGNIZING THAT: telecommunications performs an essential role in the maintenance of Canada's identity, sovereignty, social cohesion, and economic health, as well as in the well-being of individual Canadians; market forces are incapable, on their own, of ...
A Comparative Analysis of Residential Telephone Service: 1992-2002
Sunday, Dec 05, 2004The full report is available in PDF [pdf file: 0.44mb]
PIAC and Telephone Companies Work to Ensure Consumers are Aware of Toll Rates
Wednesday, Jun 30, 2004PIAC AND TELEPHONE COMPANIES WORK TO ENSURE CONSUMERS ARE AWARE OF BASIC TOLL RATES FOR LONG-DISTANCE Contact: John Lawford, PIAC (613) 562-4002×25 jlawford@piac.ca The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (“PIAC”) and Aliant Telecom Inc., Bell Canada, MTS Allstream Inc., Saskatchewan Telecommunications and TELUS Communications Inc. (the “phone companies”) have agreed ...
Telco “Discount” toll plans no discount for many consumers
Tuesday, Oct 22, 2002Telco “discount” toll plans no discount for many consumers Ottawa – Subscribers of Bell Canada's First Rate long distance plans are in for another surprise: the so-called monthly “Network Charge” that Bell began to charge last year will increase from $1.25 to $2.95 – a whopping 136% – on December 14th. “This is one more example of the ...
Why Phone Service is Deteriorating for Most Consumers
Tuesday, Oct 01, 2002For Whom Bell Tolls: Why Phone Service is Deteriorating Philippa Lawson Senior Counsel Public Interest Advocacy Centre Over the last few decades Canadians have enjoyed superior telephone service. We have become accustomed to phone service that is available almost everywhere we can travel in this great country, that is largely reliable and of high quality (with exceptions for some remote ...
Consumers cheer cap on local phone rates
Thursday, May 30, 2002Consumer groups across Canada cheered the CRTC's decision today to cap local phone service rates at current levels. Rates for basic residential service, before surcharges and taxes, currently range from $20 to $30 per month. The CRTC decision applies a complicated formula which will prevent further overall increases, assuming that inflation remains below 3.5%. “This was the right ...
Eliminating Phonelessness in Canada: Possible Approaches Second Edition
Tuesday, Mar 12, 2002Full report is available as a PDF [pdf file: 0.28mb] EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Phonelessness: The Problem Phonelessness is a social policy problem that needs to be addressed by the federal government. In particular, it has serious implications for employment, skills development, and the delivery of social services, all of which are central components of HRDC's mandate. While overall ...
Eliminating Phonelessness in Canada: Possible Approaches Second Edition
Tuesday, Mar 12, 2002By Philippa Lawson While Canada prides itself on a 98% household penetration rate of telephone service, closer examination reveals a persistent problem of phonelessness among lower income households. This problem needs to be addressed if Canada is to achieve its goal of universal service. Bill management tools and other market initiatives (such as prepaid local service) while helpful to some ...
Basic Telephone Service in the Information Age: A Consumer Perspective
Wednesday, May 12, 1993A Paper Prepared for Presentation to The Canadian Association of Members of Public Utility Tribunals (CAMPUT) by Philippa Lawson, Counsel Public Interest Advocacy Centre 1 Nicholas Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7B7 INTRODUCTION Increasingly, telecommunications is seen as a strategic investment. There is no doubt that widespread and innovative uses of advanced telecommunications technology by ...