CRTC launches national consultation on telecommunications

Does it take you a long time to even load a search engine like Google, seen here in this screen grab? The CRTC wants to hear from you about the quality of your internet service.

How do you feel about your internet service? If you live in Nunavut, you may have some complaints.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission now wants to hear from you about the quality of the telecommunications services you receive.

The CRTC launched a Canada-wide consultation April 9 to see if all Canadians feel they have access to “world-class telecommunications services that enable them to participate actively in the digital economy. ”

All Canadians can participate in all stages of the consultation, including the public hearing, the CRTC said in an April 9 news release.

The first phase of the consultation consists of collecting information “to better understand the telecommunications services provided to Canadians and determine the areas in Canada that are not being adequately served.”

The CRTC wants to hear about:

• services that should be identified as necessary for Canadians to participate in the digital economy;

• upload and download speeds “necessary in this digital age;”

• the possible need for funding mechanisms “to support the provision of modern telecommunications services;” and,

• the roles of the economic and regulatory players in telecommunications services, such as the private sector, governments and the CRTC.

Comments on these must be sent to the CRTC by June 30 in one of the following ways, by:

• filling out the online form;

• writing to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0N2; or

• sending a fax to 819-994-0218.

The CRTC will hold a public consultation to collect comments from Canadians.

The details of this consultation will be announced at a later date.

The CRTC also plans to hold a public hearing, which will begin on April 11, 2016, in Gatineau, Que..