[corporatejay]

So we know where the conservatives stand on this issue. I for welcome our new Verizon overlords.

Myths vs. Facts

Myth: Canadians already have some of the lowest cell phone bills in the world.
Fact: Canada is ranked among the ten most expensive countries for wireless services in virtually every category. (Source: OECD Communications Outlook, 2013)
Myth: Canada’s roaming rates are competitive with other countries.
Fact: Canada has among the highest roaming rates in the world. (Source: OECD Report on Mobile Data Roaming, 2011)
Myth: Introducing competition will take away Canadian jobs.
Fact: Since our Government began introducing policies to increase competition in 2008, jobs in the wireless sector have increased by almost 25%. (Source: Statistics Canada, 2012, CANSIM Table: 281-0024, NACIS: 5172)
Myth: New foreign wireless companies will come into Canada through a “loophole” which will squeeze out Canadian owned companies.
Fact: There is no loophole. Our government is supporting increased competition in our wireless sector, which is intended to produce more choice and lower prices. Canada’s wireless industry is currently dominated by Canadian companies. The Canadian incumbents already hold 90% of the telecommunications market and own 85% of the wireless spectrum in Canada.


Backgrounder

Since 2008, our Government has introduced new policies to increase competition in our wireless industry including:

• Lifting the foreign investment restrictions on companies with less than 10% of the telecommunications market;
• Setting aside wireless spectrum for new wireless companies in the 2008 Advanced Wireless Spectrum auction;
• Instituting caps in the upcoming 700MHz spectrum auction to ensure new wireless entrants and regional providers have access to prime spectrum.
• Setting conditions so that wireless services are delivered to rural Canadians in a timely manner; and
• Establishing, improving and extending tower sharing and roaming policies.

Foreign entrants cannot enter into Canada and “take over” the Canadian telecom market. Foreign entrants are allowed to invest in companies that hold less than 10% of the Canadian market. A foreign entrant cannot simply “buy up” other Canadian wireless companies to grow beyond the 10% limit; they must grow their company by competing and adding to their subscribers.
Since our Government began introducing policies to increase competition in 2008, jobs in the wireless sector have increased by almost 25%. (Source: Statistics Canada, 2012, CANSIM Table: 281-0024, NACIS: 5172)
Our actions have seen clear results including greater choice and lower prices for Canadians consumers. The average cost of wireless services for Canadians has decreased by nearly 20% since 2008.
All Canadians will benefit from competitive wireless services – whether they live in rural or urban areas. For the first time ever, our Government has put measures in place to ensure rural Canadians will have access to the most advanced services in a timely way.
Canadian wireless sector investment has increased 40% since 2008 and new entrants have invested billions in the Canadian economy.
The Big Three incumbents, Rogers, Telus and Bell, own 85% of the spectrum available in Canada and hold 90% of the market share.
In the 1980’s and 90’s many of the incumbents received substantial start-up advantages including the granting of spectrum through a non-competitive process.

http://www.consumersfirst.ca/