CRTC lowered wholesale access rates decision for internet on hold

You might have noticed that we have lowered the prices of our internet plans even before the CRTC made the final decision to lower the wholesale internet rates in, August 2019. 

Here is a quote from one of Teksavvy's press releases at the time of the decision: "The CRTC determined that Canada's biggest telecom companies had grossly overstated their costs in providing smaller competitors with wholesale access to their networks. The CRTC identified numerous brazen deficiencies in the big telcos' evidence, found that the existing wholesale rates were in fact severely inflated, and corrected the final rates down to more reasonable levels. "

Based on that decision we were cheering that it was a huge step in the right direction for consumers and their options for affordable high-speed internet plans in Canada.

But then the news struck that the Federal Court of Appeal has issued a temporary stay of a CRTC decision that seeks to force Canada's biggest internet service providers to provide smaller rivals with access to their networks at new, lower wholesale rates. Six of Canada's largest internet service providers asked the court on Sept. 13, 2019, to overrule an August decision by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

The phone and cable companies argue that the CRTC exceeded its powers and made errors when it decided it had overcharged Canada's small- to mid-sized internet service providers under interim wholesale rates set in 2016.

We did expect the big telecom companies to put up a fight or at least appeal the decision. Even though they might have won the first battle, we will ensure to continue this fight for all the right reasons. We like other third-party ISPs are always advocating and are hopeful that the lowered wholesale rates will be realized.

Even if the new decision rates get appealed in the end we will keep fighting for affordable high-speed internet for people living in Canada. It is absurd to pay the rates the big telcos are asking for an average internet plan. Since our inception in 2009 we have been providing consumers with fair prices and we continue to do so no matter what.

We will keep you updated on any further developments.

Sincerely,

CanNet Telecom Inc. Team