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Role of the CRTC in Internet Pricing?

1997

Scene One: An image of a person in a house. There are eight telephone wires radiating on angles from the house.

Competition in dial-up Internet results in no regulation for consumer prices.

 

Late 1990s

Scene Two: In the centre of the scene is a house with a computer inside it. On one side of the house is a business building with a tv inside it (cable company) and on the other is a business building with a telephone inside it (telephone company). There are cables running from each building to the house.

Two main sources for broadband Internet - cable and telephone. The CRTC does not regulate consumer prices.

 

1997-2000

Scene Three: In the centre of the scene is a house with a computer inside it. On one side of the house is a business building with a tv inside it (cable company) and on the other is a business building with a telephone inside it (telephone company). There are cables running from each building to the house. Below are four buildings (independent Internet service providers) with wires running to the telephone and cable company.

CRTC requires telephone and cable companies to sell access to their networks to independent Internet service providers (ISPs) at regulated wholesale prices - no regulation of consumer prices.

 

Today

Scene Four: An image of a person in a house. There are lines on the right connecting the house to a business building with a tv inside it (cable company), a building (independent Internet service provider) and a business building with a telephone inside it (telephone company). To the left of the house, is a image of a satellite and an image of a wireless tower each have signal radiating towards the house.

Multiple choices for Internet services, therefore the CRTC does not regulate consumer prices.

 

Today

Scene Five: There are two buildings, one with a tv inside it (cable company) and the other with a telephone inside it (phone company). There are lines running from these two buildings to another building (independent Internet service provider). Above each of these two lines is a CRTC logo. There are also lines running from the business building with a tv inside it (cable company), the building (independent Internet service provider) and the business building with a telephone inside it (telephone company) to a house.

The CRTC regulates rates, terms and conditions between the telephone/cable companies and the independent ISPs.

Two approved Wholesale Billing Models

Scene Six: Two approved Wholesale Billing Models. Wholesale flat rate model. Wholesale capacity-based model. Both models include a monthly access rate per retail customer. There is a building with a telephone and a television inside (telephone or cable company). From the building runs a line to another building (independent ISP). Above that line are the words “wholesale flat rate model.” There are also two pipes running from the telephone or cable company to two other buildings (independent ISPs). One pipe is larger than the other and has a large dollar sign inside it. The other pipe is smaller and has a smaller dollar sign inside it. Between these two pipes are the words “wholesale capacity-based model

Both models include a monthly access rate per retail customer.

 

Date Modified: 2011-11-15

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