CRTC Ruling and Bell Canada

Thank you to Candidate Jim Roberts for reminding me of this recent CRTC ruling.  Jim Roberts also sent me the Bell Canada press release decrying the ruling. 

From the CRTC:

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today directed the large telephone companies to rebate $310.8 million to their urban home telephone customers. At the same time, the CRTC has approved a plan for the deployment of broadband Internet service to 287 rural and remote communities.

Over the next four years, broadband Internet service will be rolled out to communities where it is currently not available. This service will be comparable to urban areas and fast enough to link residents to telehealth services and bring about business and educational opportunities. The large telephone companies will use funds that have accumulated in their deferral accounts to pay for these initiatives.

Bell Canada's response:

"Bell had hoped to bring the same world-leading wireless HSPA+ technology to small unserved communities in Ontario and Québec that we've rolled out to 93% of the Canadian population already. More than 100 such locations - communities like La Patrie, Cloud Bay, Denbigh, Morson, Stratton, Wawa - would have had access to the fastest mobile Internet access speeds and the latest voice and data products and services available. In fact, a significant number of these communities wrote letters of support for our HSPA+ proposal directly to the CRTC. Instead, the CRTC insists we roll out less-advanced DSL technology." said George Cope, President and CEO of Bell and BCE Inc.

I am not an expert but I'm not a newbie either.  I absolutely recognize the importance of investing in technology, especially the internet which connects us all.  However, my experience with wireless internet (HSPA and HSPA+) has been quite fickle at best.

Wireless internet access is impacted by so many factors: weather (rain, snow, wind), clouds, trees, static from hydro lines, metal roofs, building construction, etc.  HSPA and HSPA+ may or may not be the wireless technology of the future, but it is not a consistent, reliable connection like a hardwired DSL, T1, or cable connection.

So why is Bell so upset that they have to install an "inferior" DSL service for rural communities?  Cost.  It is much, much cheaper to install a cell phone tower or to piggyback off another provider's tower rather than dig trenches and lay wire.  Especially in rural areas where the residential densities do not support a financially feasible system.  DSL in rural areas is a money loser for Bell and that's why they are upset with the CRTC ruling.  

The CRTC has made the ruling.  Now, it is time for Bell to deal with it and move on.  We're waiting.