A spokesperson for consumer groups has hailed today’s CRTC decision, refusing to hand B.C. Tel the right to introduce “pay-per-call” local telephone service. However, Jim Quail, a lawyer with the B.C. Public Interest Advocacy Centre, said that the CRTC’s failure to order price-breaks for seniors and other low-income groups is a threat to universal access to Canadian telephone services.
“The telephone companies want out of flat-rate local telephone service,” said Quail, “but the CRTC refused to let them get their foot into that door, at least for now. But by the same token, the CRTC has given next to nothing to low-income customers, who can’t afford rising phone rates.”
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