On April 4, when Industry Minister Maxime Bernier discarded the prohibition on winback activities by the phone companies, it created an asymmetry in rules governing incumbent cable companies.
Rogers applied for the CRTC to review these restrictions on April 5 – one day after the Minister removed similar restrictions from the telcos). The CRTC says that Rogers expressed its firm belief that it is time for the regulatory framework to embrace competitive activity from cable distributors as something to be encouraged, not prohibited.
The major cable companies are currently subject to restrictions on their winback activities. In dealings with customers who live in multi-unit dwellings, for 90 days, the cablecos must refrain from:
- directly contacting customers who, through an agent, have notified their cable company of their intention to cancel basic cable service; and
- offering discounts or other inducements not generally offered to the public, in instances when customers personally initiate contact with the cable company for the purpose of cancelling basic cable service.
Today, the CRTC issued a public notice to call for comments on whether it is time to provide relief to the cable companies.
Views on this? Comments are due to the CRTC by June 6.