As I mentioned earlier this week, responses to the March 11 Cabinet appeals were submitted on Monday. A few parties cobbled together rushed submissions and at least one group asked for an extension – it is almost as though some groups were reminded of the deadline by this blog!
TELUS summarizes its reply comments with a call for policies that encourage and not discourage investment and innovation.
You cannot expect carriers to make risky investments if they are forced to share new infrastructure at artificially low rates in order to benefit competitors that won’t invest.
CAIP has filed responses that support the MTS Allstream application and call for the Bell and TELUS applications to be denied. In its press release, CAIP said:
Canada is no longer a broadband leader and Canadians are paying higher prices for an inferior product than customers in other OECD countries. If Bell and TELUS prevail, the situation for Canadian customers and businesses will only get worse.
Of course, absent investment in their own infrastructure, it is unclear how ISPs that resell telco DSL access services are driving increased speeds for Canadian consumers. The ILEC argument is that it is precisely the requirement to share their infrastructure that stifles their appetite for risky investment.
The outcome of the cabinet appeals will impact incentives for investment and innovation. What policy will guide carriers building and delivering broadband services to businesses and consumers. How will Canadian broadband networks evolve?
We’re exploring that theme at The 2009 Canadian Telecom Summit on Monday June 15, with a panel of leaders with different approaches in rural and urban settings. What are the roles for fibre, wireless and satellite technologies?
On Tuesday June 16, the Regulatory Blockbuster and the panel on Network Neutrality will look at key issues from a policy perspective. And don’t forget the address by MTS Allstream CEO Pierre Blouin who can be expected to lay out his views on the case before cabinet. The conference opens on June 15 with an address by Rogers’ CEO Nadir Mohamed.
Have you registered yet?