(Bloomberg) — Justin Trudeau’s government has issued a new policy that tries to make internet access less expensive in Canada by changing the rules for companies that own large communications networks.
The government has asked the country’s telecommunications regulator to craft new regulations that would force major providers such as BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. to sell access to their wireline networks at regulated rates that will lead to “better prices and more choices” for consumers.
Under the new directive, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission will also have to “ensure that wholesale internet access is available evenly across the market” and at speeds that consumers want.
The proposal may help smaller companies that currently lease network capacity from Canada’s big telecommunications companies and resell internet services to consumers.
The government aims to finalize the policy direction by this fall. It didn’t elaborate on specific details of the plan, meaning it will be difficult to determine financial implications for telecommunications companies.
(Updates with additional context)
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