CRTC, consumer advocates to keep eye on new cable rules taking effect Thursday
TORONTO — The CRTC and consumer advocates say they’re keeping a close eye on the country’s TV providers as the final phase of new basic cable packages rules are implemented on Thursday.
After a first set of regulations were introduced earlier this year, some of Canada’s largest cable companies faced accusations of finding loopholes to ensure customers either remained on more expensive TV packages or paid more for starter cable services through added fees or eliminated discounts.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and OpenMedia say they want to see the rules, meant to give viewers more choice and affordable options, embraced instead.
“The big concern is … that the telcos are going to attempt to skirt the spirit of the law and price Canadians out of these channels in another attempt to keep them trapped in expensive bundles,” said OpenMedia spokeswoman Meghan Sali.