Telecom - Staff Letter addressed to Howard Slawner (Rogers Communications Canada Inc.)
Gatineau, 23 June 2026
Reference: 1011-NOC2016-0293
BY EMAIL
Howard Slawner
Vice President – Telecom
Rogers Communications Canada Inc.
regulatory@rci.rogers.com
Subject: Wireless Code Compliance – Rogers’ new Wireless Plan Rate Adjustment
Dear Howard Slawner,
I have been informed today that Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Rogers) informed its mobile wireless customers through a note on their billing statement that it intends to add a $5 monthly charge to their mobile wireless customers’ bills as of 15 July 2026, calling it a Wireless Plan Rate Adjustment.
As you are aware, the Wireless Code, last reviewed in Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2017-200, sets out consumer protections for mobile wireless customers.
Further, the Commission is currently seeking comments on how to make these consumer protections clearer and more consistent in Harmonizing the consumer protection codes, Broadcasting and Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2026-134.
One of these existing protections relates to the minimum monthly charge for services included in the contract. It is defined in the Wireless Code as:
“The minimum amount that customers will have to pay for wireless services each month if they do not use optional services or incur any additional fees or overage charges. This charge may be subject to taxes, as set out in the contract.”
The minimum monthly charge is a key contract term that cannot be changed by a service provider during the commitment period without the account holder’s or authorized user’s informed and express consent (Section D.1. of the Wireless Code).
To better understand the situation, staff asks that Rogers answers the following questions by no later than 3 July 2026:
- Is Rogers imposing this new monthly charge during a customer’s ongoing commitment period? Answer for customers who are subscribed to a longer-term contract and those on a month-to-month contract, describing when the fee would first be imposed.
- In either case, please explain how this mandatory monthly charge is presented in your contracts and whether it is done so as part of the minimum monthly charge key contract term.
Sincerely,
Original signed by
Scott Hutton
Vice-President, Consumer, Analytics and Strategy
c.c.:
Nanao Kachi, Director, Social and Consumer Policy, CRTC, nanao.kachi@crtc.gc.ca
Guillaume Leclerc, Manager, Social and Consumer Policy, CRTC, Guillaume.leclerc@crtc.gc.ca
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