Rebate $310.8 million, Bell, et al, ordered

[DaBees-Knees]

http://www.p2pnet.net/story/43416

“Large” telephone companies have been ordered to rebate $310.8 million to urban home telephone customers, says the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

“Our decision to rebate consumers was contested all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada”, says CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein.

The CRTC also approved a plan for “the deployment of broadband Internet service to 287 rural and remote communities”, it says.

Over the next four years, “broadband Internet service will be rolled out to communities where it is currently not available”, says the CRTC, continuing >>>

This service will be comparable to urban areas and fast enough to link residents to telehealth services and bring about business and educational opportunities. The large telephone companies will use funds that have accumulated in their deferral accounts to pay for these initiatives.

The companies will make investments totalling $421.9 million to expand their networks: Bell Canada and Bell Aliant Regional Communications will connect 112 communities in Ontario and Quebec; Telus Communications Company will connect 159 communities in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec; and MTS Allstream Inc. will connect 16 communities in Manitoba.

The CRTC has ordered the companies to rebate the remaining funds to their existing customers in urban areas.

“The rebate must be credited within the next six months and will range from approximately $25 to $90 per subscriber”, it says.

A nice surprise for some.