Stop The Cap: Bell holds rural Canada for ransom

As if the threats of warrantless online spying and overly restrictive copyright rules weren't enough, Canada is also lagging when it comes to the cost to communicate: cell phone prices here are among the highest in the industrialized world. However, the government is set to make a decision regarding competition, which has the potential to either force us to fall further behind or allow us to begin emerging as a leader... Article by Phillip Dampier for Stop The Cap Bell this week brought out its saber collection for a little rattling in Ottawa over the Canadian government’s consideration of a plan to set aside certain mobile spectrum for new competitors. A mobile spectrum auction, expected later this year, will increase the number of 700Mhz frequencies available for wireless communications.

Some of Canada’s largest cell phone companies are well-positioned to outbid the competition, but not if Industry Canada decides it needs to set aside some of the frequencies for an auction among smaller competitors.

BCE, Inc., the parent company of Bell, has little regard for that plan and has now joined Rogers in a lobbying effort for an “open and transparent” sale, which effectively means the highest bidder takes all.

If Canada doesn’t follow Bell’s advice, the company is threatening to withhold advanced mobile Internet services in Canada’s lesser-populated regions. Read more »

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