{"id":15295,"date":"2021-07-19T06:05:15","date_gmt":"2021-07-19T10:05:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mhgoldberg.com\/blog\/?p=15295"},"modified":"2021-07-16T14:52:55","modified_gmt":"2021-07-16T18:52:55","slug":"value-affordability-and-investment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mhgoldberg.com\/blog\/?p=15295","title":{"rendered":"Value, affordability and investment"},"content":{"rendered":"

I have frequently written about the regulatory policy tension in balancing quality, coverage and price for telecommunications services. These were key attributes at the foundation of the Canadian government’s policy statements<\/a> over the past 5 or so years. <\/p>\n

There has been an explicit recognition in Canadian policy that the public interest is multi-dimensional, seeking lower prices, while continuing to provide incentives for investment in new technologies and expanded coverage. <\/p>\n

A recent blog post by CWTA uses a similar trilogy of terms: value; affordability; and, investment. “Canada\u2019s wireless industry delivering greater value, affordability and investment”<\/a> criticizes the level of attention “given to one-dimensional and misleading price comparison studies that paint an inaccurate picture of telecom prices and affordability in Canada” and concludes with:<\/p>\n

Canada\u2019s economic well-being, safety and quality of life depend on high-quality digital infrastructure. Making world-class telecommunications services available to all Canadians at affordable prices remains the focus of our industry.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

No one is saying that Canada has the lowest prices in the world, but contrary to what some would have us believe, Canadian telecom prices are not the most expensive in the world and Canada is not an outlier when it comes to prices. Comparing prices to other countries without factoring in differences in average income levels, quality of service, and cost structures produces misleading results. And as I have written recently, price and affordability are not the same<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As someone who pays bills each month, I too would like lower prices, just as I do for housing, gas, water, electricity, milk, chicken, eggs and everything else. But I also want fast mobile broadband when I am in the suburbs and rural parts of the country. That takes a balance of the various factors that make up the public interest, not just looking at price. <\/p>\n

In May, I wrote about<\/a> an Opensignal report indicating “that Canada\u2019s mobile customers put a value on quality, and will migrate between service providers based on their mobile network experience.”<\/p>\n

I had a multi-part Twitter thread on that theme:<\/p>\n

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Thread about the need to look at 'consumer interest' as more than just a matter of price<\/p>\n

We see evidence consumers value service quality, better coverage https:\/\/t.co\/vV9Af6BHv3<\/a><\/p>\n

Issues are more complex than a slogan or hashtag#CRTC<\/a> @ISED_CA<\/a> @FP_Champagne<\/a> #CDNtech<\/a> #CDNpoli<\/a>
1\/6<\/p>\n

— Mark Goldberg (@Mark_Goldberg) May 31, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n