Telecommunications Service in Canada: An Industry Overview

Supreme Court confirms federal jurisdiction over "Stentor" telephone companies.

Radiocommunication Act updated.

Canada - U.S Free Trade Agreement: provided for Canada-U.S. competition in the the provision of enhanced telecommunication services (1 January 1989).

Telecom Decision CRTC 92-12 - Competition in the Provision of Public Long Distance Voice Telephone Services and Related Resale and Sharing Issues (12 June 1992).

Privatization of Telesat Canada.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): provided for North American-wide competition in the provision of enhanced telecommunication services (1 January 1994).

Supreme Court confirms federal jurisdiction over "independent" telephone companies.

Federal government commitment to Canadian Information Highway Strategy. Information Highway

Advisory Council (IHAC) established.

Global and regional mobile satellite policy announced.

Telecom Decision CRTC 94-19 - Review of Regulatory Framework (16 September 1994).

Licensing of competitive wireless Personal Communications Services (PCS).

Licensing of Local Multipoint Communications Systems (LMCS).

Government's Convergence Policy (August 1996).

Federal government releases, Building the Information Society: Moving Canada into the 21^st Century
- Provides an information highway plan of action.

Mobile satellite launch (MSAT).

Telecom Decision CRTC 97-8 - Local Competition (1 May 1997).

Telecom Decision CRTC 97-9 - Price Cap Regulation and Related Issues (1 May 1997).

Telecom Decision CRTC 97-15 - Co-location (16 June 1997).

Telecom Decision CRTC 97-18 - Implementation of Price Cap Regulation - Decision Regarding Interim Local Rate Increases and Other Matters (18 December 1997).

69 countries reach agreement on basic telecommunications under the WTO (15 February 1997).

Telecom Decision CRTC 98-2 - Implementation of Price Cap Regulation and Related Issues (5 March 1998).

Telecom Decision CRTC 98-8 - Local Pay Telephone Competition (30 June 1998).

Telecom Decision CRTC 98-17 - Regulatory Regime for the Provision of International Telecommunications Service (1 October 1998).

Telecom Decision CRTC 98-22 - Final Rates for Unbundled Local Network Components (30 November 1998).

End of Teleglobe monopoly (1 October 1998).

End of Telesat's monopoly (1 March 2000).

Order in Council P.C. 2000-1053 - Requires the CRTC to submit a report to the Governor in Council annually, for the next five years, on the status of competition in the Canadian telecommunications market and on the availability of advanced telecommunication services in all regions (26 June 2000).

Decision CRTC 2000-745 - Changes to the Contribution Regime (30 November 2000).

Decision CRTC 2000-746 - Long-Distance Competition and Improved Service for Northwestel

Customers (30 November 2000).

Decision CRTC 2001-238 - Restructured Rate Bands, Revised Loop Rates and Related Issues (27 April 2001).

CRTC releases its inaugural report on the status of competition in the Canadian telecommunications industry (28 September 2001).

Decision CRTC 2001-756 - Regulatory Framework for the Small Incumbent Telephone Companies (14 December 2001).

Telecom Decision CRTC 2002-34 - Regulatory Framework for the Second Price Cap Period (30 May 2002).

Telecom Decision CRTC 2002-43 - Implementation of Price Regulation for Télébec and TELUS Québec (31 July 2002).

Industry Minister Allan Rock asks the Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology to undertake a review on the foreign investment restrictions in the telecommunications industry (19 November 2002).

CRTC releases its second annual report on the status of competition in the Canadian telecommunications industry (20 December 2002).