CRTC continuing efforts to improve telecommunications services for all Canadians

CRTC continuing efforts to improve telecommunications services for all Canadians


OTTAWA-GATINEAU, Feb. 6, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today announced the launch of an
inquiry regarding satellite services used to provide telecommunications
services to northern and remote communities in Canada. This inquiry
will be led by CRTC Commissioner Candice Molnar and will focus on
communities that depend on such technology.



In a decision released last December concerning telecommunications services in
certain areas of northern Canada, the CRTC identified a digital divide
between communities that receive these services over terrestrial
facilities and those that are served solely by satellite. It was also
noted that there are other communities in Canada that receive their
telecommunications services over satellite facilities.



The CRTC believes that modern telecommunications services are essential
tools that Canadians in the North and remote areas need for economic
development and to meet the growing demand for digital services such as
health care, education and government services.



More information on satellite services used to provide
telecommunications services to northern and remote communities in
Canada is necessary in order for the CRTC to make informed decisions on
the matter. This inquiry will examine the impact they have on the
quality of the services and on the costs to service providers to offer
telecommunications services to these communities.



Commissioner Molnar is expected to complete her review and report her
findings to the Commission by October 2014.


Quick Facts


-- Satellite services are used by telecommunication service
providers to offer telecommunications services (such as voice
and Internet) in rural and remote communities that are located
beyond the reach of existing terrestrial (fibre cables and
microwave links) transport networks.
-- Some of the issues that will be considered in this inquiry
include: the current and future availability of satellite
capacity needed for transport services, pricing of satellite
services, and the competitive options available to
telecommunications service providers that rely on such
technologies to provide telecommunications services to
Canadians.
-- The inquiry will also consider aspects of the costs, including
ancillary equipment such as ground stations, associated with
the use of satellite transport services that are available to
telecommunications service providers in the North and other
remote communities.
-- Candice Molnar is the CRTC Regional Commissioner for
Saskatchewan and Manitoba and served on the CRTC panel for both
the 2011 and 2013 Northwestel proceedings. She was initially
appointed to the Commission on January 7, 2008 and reappointed
for a 5-year term on December 1, 2011. She has more than 25
years of experience in telecommunications operations and
regulatory affairs."

Quote

"This inquiry will help us better understand the state of satellite
services used to provide telecommunications services to certain
communities and further help achieve an important goal: provide
Canadians in remote regions with access to telecommunications services
that are comparable to those available in the rest of the country."

- CRTC Chairman Jean-Pierre Blais


Related Products
Notice of consultation CRTC 2014-42

Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2013-711

SOURCE Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

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