As a conference organizer, I am used to seeing a bunch of competing corporate logos on the same sign or list of sponsors.
However, since the demise of the Stentor Alliance and the old Trans Canada Telecom System, it has been more unusual to see all of these rivalrous companies submitting joint comments. We are a little more used to collaboration on the wireless side and every so often we see a joint submission to appeal a decision. Last week’s cabinet appeal was noteworthy in that it was signed by the CEOs of TELUS, Sasktel, Bell and Aliant.
The level of cooperation reached a new post-Stentor high in the CRTC proceeding on the Do Not Call List. TELUS, Sasktel, MTS, Bell, Aliant, Norterntel, Northwestel and Telebec joined forces. Yes, even MTS was part of the club.
I understand that there are common issues and interests. But, the last time I looked, telemarketing was a sizable piece of business for these companies. Somehow, it just doesn’t look right for every single one of the carriers to be working together to jointly propose the best way to move forward on the operation of the DNCL, and the restraints to be imposed on their customers.
Similar forms of ‘rational competition’ strike me as limiting delivery of competitive benefits to consumers.
I know it saves costs if carriers combine their efforts. It would help profits if they agreed on prices as well.
In today’s post-Enron corporate governance and post-sponsorship government ethics, world of distrust of government, I think the public deserves the appearance of more independence between the competing factions.