BCE.ca - Regulatory

Bell disappointed with CRTC decision denying rural and remote communities the latest
wireless broadband network technology

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) yesterday issued a very disappointing decision as to how funds accumulated in telecom company "deferral accounts" must be used to expand broadband service to rural and remote Canadian communities. "Bell had hoped to bring the same world-leading wireless HSPA+ technology to small unserved communities in Ontario and Qu�bec that we've rolled out to 93% of the Canadian population already. More than 100 such locations - communities like La Patrie, Cloud Bay, Denbigh, Morson, Stratton, Wawa - would have had access to the fastest mobile Internet access speeds and the latest voice and data products and services available. In fact, a significant number of these communities wrote letters of support for our HSPA+ proposal directly to the CRTC. Instead, the CRTC insists we roll out less-advanced DSL technology." said George Cope, President and CEO of Bell and BCE Inc. "Considering the federal government's commitment to ensuring Canada's leadership in the digital economy and its strong support for intensified investment in the latest broadband technologies, this is quite frankly a shocking decision by the CRTC. It's a clear opportunity missed, and it perpetuates the digital divide between rural and urban Canada," said Mr. Cope. It is worth noting the dissenting opinion of the CRTC's vice chair of telecom, Len Katz, who wrote that the CRTC does need to embrace the latest broadband technology available: "By limiting the rollout of broadband services to DSL technology, the commission has taken a static view of technology and failed to recognize the dynamic changes taking place in functionality and cost from newer technologies," Mr. Katz wrote. The CRTC also increased Bell's $488-million deferral account balance to $583 million with interest charges of close to $95 million - despite Bell having little control over many of the delays in the decision - and limited the amount Bell could spend on rolling out rural broadband to $306 million. The CRTC also requires Bell to return approximately $250 million, including interest, of deferral account funds to Bell residential home phone customers in urban areas of Ontario and Qu�bec in the form of credits, rebates or promotional offers. Bell will announce plans to do so in coming days. In 2002, the CRTC required established telcos, including Bell, MTS and TELUS, to create deferral accounts that would hold surplus funds collected from urban home phone customers for an unspecified later purpose. The CRTC believed that new competition in telecom would be hampered if the telcos simply reduced prices for urban customers instead of building up a deferral account. In 2008, the CRTC agreed that Bell could use its deferral account funds to build broadband out to 112 underserved communities in Ontario and Qu�bec. In 2009, Bell applied to the CRTC for permission to deploy the latest HSPA+ broadband technology, which Bell was already planning to roll out to 93% of the Canadian population by the end of the year. Yesterday, the CRTC decided Bell should instead bring less-advanced DSL (digital subscriber line) technology to these communities. Financial guidance for 2010 Based on yesterday's CRTC decision, there is no change to BCE Inc.'s guidance for 2010 for revenues, EBITDA, capital intensity and Adjusted EPS. However, the Company no longer expects 2010 free cash flow at the high end of the guidance range. BCE's original guidance for 2010 issued on February 4, 2010, its increased guidance issued on August 5, 2010, and its current expectation are as follows:

Bell asks the CRTC to implement "regulatory symmetry" by applying the same rules
to cable and telecom companies when they sign up new customers

Thu, 27 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Bell today asked the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to change rules that have long favoured cable companies over telecommunications companies when it comes to signing up new subscribers. Bell's application to the CRTC comes as the company prepares to introduce competitive new IPTV (internet protocol TV) services this year in Toronto and Montr�al, television markets that are still dominated by traditional cable TV companies. "Decade-old rules that have ensured a competitive advantage for cable companies need to change, never more so than now as Bell prepares to enhance competition and consumer choice in television in Canada's largest urban markets," said George Cope, President and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE. "We expect the CRTC to apply regulatory symmetry to cable and telecom companies, either by removing advantages for cablecos in phone services or by applying similar rules to telecom companies offering competitive TV services." Bell has asked the CRTC to ensure the regulatory environment is symmetrical by:

Bell welcomes government direction to CRTC on fee-for-carriage

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bell today welcomed the federal government's direction to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunication Commission (CRTC) to consider the views of the general public on fee-for-carriage of local TV signals and issue a report on its findings to the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

Bell disappointed with CRTC decision to impose new taxes on television service providers and their customers

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bell is extremely disappointed with today's announcement of two new television subsidies by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) that will see millions of dollars flow from consumers to broadcasting corporations.

Bell welcomes Heritage Committee rejection of Fee-for-carriage

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bell today welcomed the decision by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage not to recommend the imposition of fee-for-carriage on satellite and cable services, and their customers.

Bell proposes new "freesat" service as part of innovative public policy solutions to benefit Canadian consumers and broadcasting industry

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bell today proposed a series of innovative public policy and regulatory recommendations designed to address financial challenges facing the broadcasting industry, including a proposal to provide Canadians who currently rely on analog over-the-air television with a package of local and regionally relevant over-the-air television channels free of charge as part of the transition to digital broadcasting.