Application Asks CRTC to Prohibit Paper Bill Fees and Seek Refunds for Regulated Phone Customers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OTTAWA – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and the Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC) filed an application today to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to request the elimination of all fees charged by telecommunications service providers for providing bills in paper format. PIAC and CAC are also seeking refunds for “paper bill fees” charged to Primary Exchange Service customers and landline customers in regulated areas. The groups’ application asks that the CRTC prohibit telecommunications companies from charging paper bill fees as these are penalizing customers simply to pay for the cost of billing those same customers.
PIAC and CAC also argue that paper bill fees are an unauthorized rate increase for regulated landline customers and unjustly discriminatory towards all telecommunications customers. The group filed with the application an August-September 2013 survey conducted by Environics Research Group which demonstrates that:
•83% of Canadians somewhat agreed or strongly agreed that people should have the right to get a paper bill in the mail without having to pay an extra fee, and that this was part of the company’s cost of doing business;
•33% of Canadians were “not very comfortable” or “not at all comfortable” with receiving bills or invoices online; and
•Where faced with a paper bill fee, 54% of Canadians have paid it to receive a paper statement.
“By charging a paper bill fee, telecommunications service providers assume that all Canadians are comfortable with, or have access to, electronic billing,” said John Lawford, Executive Director of PIAC and Counsel for PIAC and CAC. “The Environics Survey shows that this is not true. Many customers may only accept paper bill fees because they are not comfortable working on computers or because they can’t afford to buy a laptop or purchasing home internet access. We are concerned that customers who are ultimately charged with these fees are the ones who can least afford them.”
In the Speech from the Throne last week, the Canadian Government stated it intended to “end ‘pay to pay’ policies so customers won’t pay extra to receive paper bills.” By filing this application, PIAC and CAC are asking the CRTC to proceed immediately to eliminate the paper bill fees charged by telecommunications companies and to order refunds for fees that have been charged to some landline customers.
The groups’ full application can be found on the PIAC website:
Part 1 Application to prohibit pay to pay
Appendix A – Environics Omnibus Survey Results
Cover Letter to CRTC
For more information please contact:
John Lawford
Executive Director
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
ONE Nicholas Street, Suite 1204
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 7B7
(613) 562-4002×25
(613) 447-8125 (cell)
jlawford@piac.ca
or
Alysia Lau
Legal Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
ONE Nicholas Street, Suite 1204
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 7B7
(613) 562-4002×38
alau@piac.ca
Canadian Wireless Policy will Spur Investment, Lower Wireless Prices
OTTAWA –Canada’s present wireless policy will increase investment in wireless networks and lower consumer prices, today said the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and the Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC). Canada’s “big three” cellphone companies, Bell Mobility, TELUS Mobility and Rogers already control more than 90% of the retail cellphone market and 90% of Canada’s spectrum but are threatening to slow down investment if Verizon or another credible company enters Canada’s market. However, contrary to their claims, these three companies spend proportionately little on their networks and increased competition from a fourth national provider and will spur their investment rather than reduce it.
“It’s hard to see how the three wireless companies in Canada could possibly spend less on their networks,” said John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel for PIAC. “For example, Bell last quarter only reinvested 9.3% of its wireless revenues on capital expenditures for wireless services in the second quarter of 2013. That’s well below averages in every other major economy,” he added.
In addition, the groups noted that the companies’ wireless revenue from Canada’s cellphone users is the fourth highest of all 34 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
“Canadians are paying too much for cellphone service because their market is lacking real competition at the national level,” said Bruce Cran, President of the Consumers’ Association of Canada. “We support the Government of Canada’s spectrum policy because it is designed to help introduce this badly needed competition in the Canadian wireless market.”
PIAC has prepared a short backgrounder on wireless investment and pricing in Canada [pdf file: 0.29mb] which is attached.
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For more information:
John Lawford
Executive Director and General Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
ONE Nicholas Street, Suite 1204
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 7B7
(613) 562-4002×25
lawford@piac.ca
Bruce Cran
President
Consumers’ Association of Canada
(604) 418-8359
bcranbiz@telus.net
CRTC Decision Ensures Affordable Basic Television Services for Canadians
OTTAWA – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) today welcomed the decision of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to protect consumer interests in their review of mandatory distribution of programming for cable and satellite services. In announcing the renewal, and approval of new television programming broadcasters for mandatory distribution to Canadians through cable and satellite television services, the CRTC recognized the importance of consumer interests in making television services accessible and affordable for Canadians while encouraging competition and uniqueness of programming in the Canadian market.
“The CRTC’s decision today ensures that Canadians’ essential interests are well served by basic television services in Canada. The Commission has also heard the consumer interest in keeping rates low in approving these channels,” said John Lawford, Executive Director of PIAC.
PIAC supported a number of the approved applications by a number of the proposed cable service programmers at CRTC hearings including the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), Canal M, Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC), AMI-tv, AMI-audio, the Legislative Assemblies of Nunvut and the Northwest Territories, ARTV, and AMI-tv Français.
“We are happy that the CRTC set wholesale rates for basic broadcasting services that Canadians can afford,” added Lawford.
PIAC represented the Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC), Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of British Columbia (COSCO), and National Pensioners and Senior Citizens Federation (NPSCF) before the CRTC at the mandatory distribution hearings.
For more information:
John Lawford
Executive Director
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
ONE Nicholas Street, Suite 1204
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 7B7
(613) 562-4002×25
(613) 562-0007 (Fax)
jlawford@piac.ca
Big Three Wireless Companies Desperate to Avoid Competition
Ottawa – Reports of Rogers Communications Inc.’s recent efforts to help fund the purchase of Wind and Mobilicity through a a Toronto-based investment firm only to gain a network sharing agreement are a sign of desperation in the ranks of Canada’s big three wireless carriers today said the Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC) and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC).
“Bell, TELUS and now Rogers are trying anything to keep the new entrants from being bought by Verizon and facing effective wireless competition” said John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel of PIAC. He noted that the Canadian government has been clear that it wants more wireless competition but that the big three are filing lawsuits, running media blitzes on their own extensive broadcasters and questionable behind the scenes deals to derail the chance for consumers to have four real wireless carriers across the country.
PIAC has prepared a rebuttal backgrounder on the big three wireless carriers’ rhetoric about wireless competition in Canada which is attached to this release.
Bruce Cran, President of the Consumers’ Association of Canada added: “Canadian consumers don’t buy the industry spin – they want lower wireless prices and they know that means stopping the big three from shutting out competition,” he added.
PIAC Rebuttal Backgrounder on Spectrum and Wireless Competition in Canada
For more information please contact:
John Lawford
Executive Director and General Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
ONE Nicholas Street, Suite 1204
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 7B7
(613) 447-8125 (cellphone)
(613) 562-4002×25
(613) 562-0007 (Fax)
jlawford@piac.ca
Bruce Cran
President
Consumers’ Association of Canada
(604) 418-8139
bcranbiz@telus.net
Consumers Will Benefit from Competition Canada’s Spectrum Policy Creates
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ottawa – Consumers will benefit from increased competition in wireless thanks to the Canadian government’s commitment to its present spectrum policy, today stated two major consumer groups, the Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC) and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC).
John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel of PIAC noted that the Canadian government has been clear that it wants more wireless competition: “The spectrum auction rules are designed to produce a more competitive wireless market that will lower prices for consumers – that’s what the big three don’t want you to get.”
Bell, TELUS and Rogers have very publicly stated the government’s spectrum policy is unfairly favouring foreign interests and that the playing field is “not level”. The large Canadian wireless carriers have also said publicly that they won’t serve rural Canadians, will fire their own employees and will be wiped out by U.S. companies if Canada allows a serious fourth national competitor, such as Verizon, to get established in Canada.
“Bell, TELUS and Rogers are trying to scare Canadians with misinformation,” said Bruce Cran, President of the Consumers’ Association of Canada. “We are happy that new Industry Minister Moore is staying the course on spectrum,” he added.
John Lawford
Executive Director and General Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
ONE Nicholas Street, Suite 1204
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 7B7
(613) 447-8125 (cellphone)
(613) 562-4002×25
(613) 562-0007 (Fax)
jlawford@piac.ca
Bruce Cran
President
Consumers’ Association of Canada
(604) 418-8139
bcranbiz@telus.net
Apology for Inappropriate Spectrum Remarks
PIAC wishes to apologize unconditionally for remarks made by John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel of PIAC to the Wire Report in a story on spectrum policy today that were not appropriate. PIAC does not endorse or in any way approve the manner or substance of the comments attributed to Mr. Lawford and sincerely apologizes to Minister James Moore, his staff, Canada’s major wireless carriers and anyone who was offended by the remarks. PIAC is committed to serious and substantive representation of consumer interests in telecommunications and regrets the comments and any effect that they may have had on PIAC’s ability to represent the public interest.
Media Release, Consumers Disappointed with CRTC Approval of BCE Acquisition of Astral
OTTAWA – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) today expressed deep concern with the decision by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to approve subject to conditions the acquisition of Astral Media inc. by Bell Canada Enterprises.
PIAC, who acted as counsel for the Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC), the Council of Senior Citizens’ Organization of British Columbia (COSCO), the National Pensioners and Senior Citizens Federation (NPSCF), and Option consommateurs appeared before the Commission in May opposing Bell’s second application to take over Astral Media. PIAC argued that the transaction would create an unprecedented level of media concentration and vertical integration in Canada and weaken competition in broadcasting services, resulting in increased costs for television programming to consumers. At the hearing, PIAC argued that Canadian consumers are frustrated with the lack of choice and flexibility and continued price increases for television services and asked the Commission to deny the application.
The Commission in its decision acknowledged that the transaction would lead to significant concentration in the Canadian broadcasting system.
“Canada will now have an unprecedented level of media concentration and vertical integration and a weaker diversity of voices with the loss of Astral, a strong independent broadcaster,” said Janet Lo, Legal Counsel for PIAC. “Consumers should brace themselves for less competition for television services – and consumers will not only pay the price but they will face less choice and flexibility in the market.”
PIAC expressed reservations about the effectiveness of safeguards imposed on transaction, such as embedding portions of the Vertical Integration Code of Conduct as Conditions of Licence and requiring dispute resolution if affiliation agreements are not reached before the expiry of an existing agreement. PIAC, however, was somewhat encouraged by the requirement on BCE to file all affiliation agreements with the Commission.
“These mechanisms are less than ideal safeguards to protect Canadian broadcasting consumers and consumers are left to trust the Commission to closely monitor BCE to flag and penalize anti-competitive behaviour,” said Lo. “The best protection for consumers is vigorous competition in an unconcentrated market by many competitors, including strong independent players, who can deliver the innovation in pricing and packaging that consumers expect.”
PIAC is a member of the Stop the Takeover Coalition, a broad-based coalition of public interest groups opposing the transaction.
Link to PIAC/CAC/COSCO/NPSCF/OC May 7 Oral Presentation to the CRTC:
Download File: oralpresentationbellastral2.pdf [size: 0.09 mb]
Link to PIAC/CAC/COSCO/NPSCF/OC comments filed with CRTC on April 5
Full Comments of PIAC/CAC/COSCO/NPSCF/OC [pdf file: 0.52mb]
Appendix 1 – Evidence of Dr. Dwayne Winseck [pdf file: 2.83mb]
Appendix 2 – Evidence of Dr. Dwayne Winseck – Data Tables and Figures Source Notes [pdf file: 4.3mb]
Appendix 3 – Historical Overview of Bell’s Retail Television Service Pricing and Packages [pdf file: 0.15mb]
Appendix 4 – Selected Metropolitan Market Comparison of Basic Television Service Monthly Rates, 2013 [pdf file: 0.09mb]
Appendix 5 – PIAC 2012 Telephone Survey About Consumer Choice in TV Service [pdf file: 0.12mb]
Appendix 6 – Selected Questions and Answers from CanadiansDeserveMore.ca [pdf file: 0.11mb]
For more information:
Janet Lo
Legal Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
ONE Nicholas Street, Suite 1204
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 7B7
mobile: (613) 816-5688
office: (613) 562-4002×24
John Lawford
Executive Director and General Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
ONE Nicholas Street, Suite 1204
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 7B7
(613) 562-4002×25
(613) 447-8125 (cell)
jlawford@piac.ca
Media Advisory, PIAC will be available to comment on tomorrow’s CRTC Bell-Astral decision
(OTTAWA) At 4:00 PM EST June 27 the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) will release its decision on Bell Canada’s proposed $3.4 billion takeover of Astral Media. Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) counsel Janet Lo will be at the lockup analyzing the decision and available for comment on-site at 4:00 PM.
PIAC acted as counsel for the Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC), Council for Senior Citizens’ Organizations of British Columbia (COSCO), National Pensioners and Senior Citizens Federation (NPSCF) and Option consommateurs arguing that the transaction would not benefit Canadian consumers. The consumer groups’ May 7, 2013 oral presentation and comments to the CRTC are here
PIAC is also a member of the Stop the Takeover Coalition, a broad-based group of public interest organizations opposing the transaction.
For more information:
Janet Lo
Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
(613) 562-4002 ×24
Mobile (613) 816-5688
jlo@piac.ca
John Lawford
Executive Director and General Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre(613) 562-4002 ×25
Mobile (613) 447-8125
jlawford@piac.ca
Government Stands Up for Wireless Consumers by Blocking TELUS-Mobilicity Deal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Toronto – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) today welcomed the Minister of Industry’s announcement that the government will block TELUS Communications proposed acquisition of licensed spectrum owned by Mobilicity, a “new entrant” wireless carrier.
“The Minister called the industry’s bluff,” said John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel of PIAC. “This government stood up for wireless consumers today by telling the incumbent carriers that it wants consumers to be able to choose from four or more wireless carriers.”
PIAC and the Consumers’ Association of Canada had previously called on the Minister to block the TELUS-Mobilicity deal as well as a similar proposed spectrum transfer from Shaw Communications (a new entrant) to Rogers Communications, another incumbent. PIAC and CAC, along with other consumer groups, had said that such transfers violated the letter and spirit of the government’s spectrum rules and policy, which had been clearly laid out in the 2009 AWS spectrum auction. The policy was meant to increase competition and lower wireless prices for consumers by carving out a new space for competitors to the established players, TELUS, Rogers and Bell Canada.
“Today’s announcement places consumers back at the centre of Canadian spectrum policy,” stated Lawford, “right where they should be.”
John Lawford
Executive Director and General Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
ONE Nicholas Street, Suite 1204
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 7B7
(613) 447-8125 (cellphone)
(613) 562-4002×25
(613) 562-0007 (Fax)
jlawford@piac.ca
Wireless Code Gives Consumers Control
OTTAWA – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) today welcomed the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) new “Wireless Code of Conduct”, saying the rules would benefit all wireless consumers coast to coast.
“The Wireless Code has rules to help wireless customers where it counts – the bottom line,” said John Lawford, Executive Director and General Counsel at PIAC. “It also makes it easier to switch companies because those costs are limited and are clear,” he added.
PIAC appeared before the CRTC, in association with the Consumers’ Association of Canada (CAC) and the Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of British Columbia (COSCO) to argue that Canada’s wireless industry needed basic consumer protection rules. The Wireless Code of Conduct will allow consumers to assert their rights with their wireless carrier and will be enforced by the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) a free service founded to resolve consumer complaints with Canadian wireless companies.
Mr. Lawford noted that the Wireless Code provides more control for consumers over the data charges on their wireless bills, since the Code caps data overage fees at $50 a month and international data roaming fees at $100 a month, unless the consumer explicitly wishes to use more. “Canadians may finally now be freed of the worst of cellphone bill shock,” noted Lawford, “We hope that consumers will now be able to enjoy their wireless service fully and without fear.”
Link to the CRTC’s Wireless Code of Conduct:
Wireless Code of Conduct
– 30 –
For more information:
John Lawford
Executive Director and General Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
ONE Nicholas Street, Suite 1204
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 7B7
(613) 447-8125 (cellphone)
(613) 562-4002×25
(613) 562-0007 (Fax)
jlawford@piac.ca
Jonathan Bishop
Research and Parliamentary Analyst
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
ONE Nicholas Street, Suite 1204
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 7B7
(613) 562-4002×23
(613) 562-0007 (Fax)
jlawford@piac.ca
