Poor internet for poor people?€¦ · CRTC found that “[i]ndicators of price levels, range of price/quality combinations, penetration rates of 1Bell (2018). Intervention to Telecom

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Poorinternetforpoorpeople?WhyCanadaneedsbetterandmoreaffordablemobileservicesforeveryone

Areportpreparedinconsiderationof:

TelecomNoticeofConsultationCRTC2018-98,“Callforcomments—Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”

by

BenjaminKlass,MA,BA&DwayneWinseck,PhD

For

TheConsumers’AssociationofCanada(ManitobaBranch)

June,2018

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Executivesummary

WehavebeenaskedbythePublicInterestLawCentre(PILC),onbehalfoftheManitobaBranchoftheConsumers’AssociationofCanada(CACManitoba)toprepareareportinresponsetoTelecomPublicNoticeCRTC2018-98,“Callforcomments—Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”.Specifically,PILCrequestedthatweassesstheCanadianRadio-televisionandTelecommunicationsCommission(CRTC)’scurrentinitiativeinthecontextofthebroadertrajectoryofmobilepolicydevelopment,withparticularregardtotheissueofaffordability.WenotethatouragreementwithPILCstipulatesthatour“dutyinprovidingassistanceandgivingevidenceistohelptheCRTC”andthat“[t]hisdutyoverridesanyobligationtothePublicInterestLawCentreanditsclient(s).”

Inthisreport,webeginbyprovidingabriefoverviewofCanadiancommunicationspolicydevelopment,focusinginparticularonissuesinthemobilesectorandtheirrelationtothepresentproceeding.Overthepastdecade,therehasbeenbroadandincreasingrecognitionthatmobilewirelesspricesinCanadaarehigh,andthatserviceremainsunaffordablefortoomanypeople.Significanteffortshavebeenundertakenbyvariouslevelsofgovernmenttoaddressthispersistentproblem,butprogresshasbeenunevenatbest.Inourview,itiscrucialforgovernmenttomaintainitsfocusonsolvingthismarketfailure,andnewandinnovativeapproacheswillberequirediflastingsolutionsaretobeachieved.

Wethenexamineissuesrelatedtoavailabilityofandaccesstomobileservicesalongsideconsiderationsofadoptionandaffordability.WhileCanadianwirelessnetworksperformaboveaveragewithrespecttocoverageandspeed,theirperformanceisnotremarkablybetterthanwhatcanbefoundincomparablecountries.Inotherwords,Canadianwirelessnetworksperformwell,butassertionsthattheyare“world-leading”arenotsupportedbythedata.1Wenotethattheavailabilityofqualitymobilenetworksisoflittlebenefittopeoplewhocannotaffordtousethem.

Thereportconductsanextended,finegrainedanalysisofmobileadoptionandservicepricing,whichincludesanexaminationofCanada’sperformanceininternationalcomparisonsandpresentationanddiscussionofstand-alonefiguresforCanadawhereappropriate.WefindthatadoptionofmobileservicesforsmartphonesandotherbroadbandapplicationsinCanadaiswellbelowtheaverageincomparabledevelopednations.LookingatadoptionlevelsbydemographicsandgeographywithinCanada,thedatashowthat,whilehigh-incomeearnersalmostuniversallyadoptmobileservices,lowerincomeusersaredramaticallylesslikelytosubscribetoamobileservice.Thisistruewhetherviewedatthenational-orprovinciallevel.

OursurveyofnumerousstudiescomparinginternationalmobileservicepricingshowsthatCanadianmobileservicepricesareuniformlyamongstthehighestindevelopednations,andsometimesremarkablyhigherthanthosefoundincomparablecountries.Indeed,forcertainserviceofferings,Canadianpricesarethehighestamongcomparablecountries.TotheextentthatmobilepricesareonthedeclineinCanadaandelsewhere,Canadianmobileservicepriceshavedeclinedbyamuchlowermarginthantheyhaveincomparablecountries.Theconnectionbetweenhighpricesandlowadoption—inotherwords,thathighpricesareabarriertoaffordability--isconfirmedbyscholarshiponmobileaffordability.Indeed,a2016reportontelecommunicationsaffordabilitycommissionedbytheCRTCfoundthat“[i]ndicatorsofpricelevels,rangeofprice/qualitycombinations,penetrationratesof

1Bell(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para23.

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advancedtechnologiesandotherhigh-levelmarketoutcomemeasurescanofferinformativesignalsaboutaffordabilityasaneconomicconstraintonaccess,use,andthedevelopmentofthebroaderICTsector.2Asourreportshows,thesignalsbeingsentbytheCanadianmobilemarketareclear:mobileservicesremainunaffordablefortoomanypeople.

WethencriticallyanalyseclaimsthatCanada’shighwirelesspricesarejustifiedonthebasisofqualityorthecostofprovidingservice.ContrarytotheassertionthathighpricesformobileservicesarejustifiedbyrelativelyhighCanadiannetworkinvestment,weprovideevidenceshowingthatthisisnotthecase.Ouranalysisshowsthatthepricescarriersareproposingtochargefor“lower-costdata-only”plansaredrasticallyhigherthantheirassociatedcostofdeliveringmobiledata—thecarriers’plansfeatureanastonishingmarkupofbetween255to350percent.

Finally,weproviderecommendationsabouthowbesttoproceedtoaddressCanada’sproblemwithlowmobileadoptionandunaffordableservices.WerecommendthattheCRTCrejectthecarriers’initialproposals,andinsteadadoptaflexible,affordable,andsustainablemodelthatwecallthe“CRTCFlexplan.”

2Rajabiun,R.,Ellis,D.,&Middleton,C.(2016).“Literaturereview:AffordabilityofCommunicationsservices”,ReportcommissionedbytheCanadianRadio-televisionandTelecommunicationsCommission,p.2,emphasisadded.Availableat:https://www.ryerson.ca/~cmiddlet/ourresearch/lit-review-for-crtc-2016-affordability-rajabiun-ellis-middleton.pdf

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TheCRTCflexplanthatweareproposingisanelegantsolutiontotheproblemthattheCommissionisseekingtoaddressinthisproceeding,namelythatpeoplewhoneedtoaccesssmalleramountsofmobiledatacannotaffordtodosoatcurrentmarketrates.Theplanprovidesasmallamountofdataatanaffordableentrylevelpriceof$5—thesamepriceatwhichnationalcarriershaveofferedsimilarplansinthepast.Muchlikeexisting“flexplans”offeredbythenationalcarriers,theCRTCflexplan’spricingscaleswithincreasingnetworkuse,convergingwithmarketpricesforsubscriberswhousethenetworkatlevelsgreaterthantheCanadianaverage.

Theadvantageofthisplanisthatitprovidessmalleramountsofmobiledataataffordablerates,whileatthesametimeensuringthatpeoplewhorequirelargeramountsofdatapayexistingmarketrates.Evenatthelowercombinationsofpriceandusage,thisplanisdesignedtoprovideareturntocarriersthatismorethanremunerativewithrespecttothecostofbuildingandmaintainingtheirrespectivemobilecommunicationnetworks.

Ourreportconcludesbyprovidingadditionalspecificrecommendationsregardingthetermsandconditionsuponwhich“lower-costdata-only”plansshouldbeoffered,andbyhighlightingtheneedforcontinuedeffortstoensurethatlastingsolutionstoCanada’sproblemsinthemobilewirelessmarketwillbeachieved.

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TableofContents

Introduction...........................................................................................................................7

PolicyBackground..................................................................................................................9

Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobileservices.....................................................................11Figure1:Carrierproposalsfor“lower-costdata-only”mobilewirelessplans...................................12

Availabilityisnotthesameasaffordability...........................................................................14

Speedandcoverage..............................................................................................................14Figure2:4G/LTEAvailabilityComparison(December2017)............................................................15Figure3:4GLTESpeedsforOECDandEUCountries,Dec.2017.......................................................17

Adoptionandaffordability....................................................................................................18Figure4:OverallMobileWirelessBroadbandPenetration(subscriptions/100people)(June2017)20Figure5:StandardMobileBroadbandPenetration(subscriptions/100people)(June2017)............21Figure6:DedicatedMobileBroadbandPenetration(subscriptions/100people)(June2017)..........22

Adoptionamonglower-incomehouseholdsislow.................................................................23Figure7:HouseholdAccesstoMobilePhoneServicebyIncomeQuintile,Canada,2012-2016.......23Figure8:HouseholdAccesstoMobilePhoneServicebyIncomeQuintileandbyProvince,2016....24

Mobilepricing,indecline?.....................................................................................................26Figure9:InternationalComparison...................................................................................................27MobileTelephonyPriceDeclines,CAGR2008-2017..........................................................................27ServiceLevel3(1200minutes,300SMS,&1GBdata).......................................................................27Figure10:InternationalComparison.................................................................................................27MobileTelephonyPriceDeclines,CAGR2014-2017..........................................................................27ServiceLevel4(Unlimitedminutes,SMS,&2GBdata)......................................................................27Figure11:InternationalComparison.................................................................................................28MobileTelephonyPriceDeclines,CAGR2015-2017..........................................................................28ServiceLevel5(Unlimitedminutes,SMS,&5GBdata)......................................................................28Figure12:InternationalComparison.................................................................................................29MobileBroadbandPriceDeclines,CAGR2010-2017.........................................................................29ServiceLevel1(2GBtolessthan5GB)...............................................................................................29Figure13:InternationalComparison.................................................................................................29MobileBroadbandPriceDeclines,CAGR2012-2017.........................................................................29ServiceLevel2(5GBtolessthan10GB).............................................................................................29Figure14:InternationalComparison.................................................................................................30MobileBroadbandPriceDeclines,CAGR2016-2017.........................................................................30ServiceLevel3(10GBandmore)........................................................................................................30

Canadadoesnotfarewellintermsofoverallpricelevels......................................................31Figure15:InternationalComparison.................................................................................................32PricesforNon-SharedMobileWirelessTelephonyServiceBasketsthatincludedata,Levels3-5....322017,PPP-AdjustedCA$.....................................................................................................................32Figure16:InternationalComparison.................................................................................................33

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PricesforMobileWirelessInternetServiceBaskets,Levels1-3........................................................332017,PPP-AdjustedCA$.....................................................................................................................33Figure17:OECDMobilebroadbandbasket,......................................................................................34Lowuser,including100calls+500MB,May2017,VATincluded,USD$PPP...................................34Figure18:Mobile-broadband,...........................................................................................................35prepaidhandset-based(500MB),2016,As%ofGNIpercapita.......................................................35Figure19:Mobile-broadband,...........................................................................................................36prepaidhandset-based(500MB),2016,PPP,USD$..........................................................................36Figure20:Mobile-broadband,...........................................................................................................37postpaidcomputer-based(1GB),2016,asa%ofGNIpercapita.....................................................37Figure21:Mobile-broadband,...........................................................................................................38postpaidcomputer-based(1GB),2016,PPP,USD$...........................................................................38Figure22:Meanmonthlyplanchargeforsmartphonedataplanswith≥2to<5GBUsageLimit.....392017(PPP$)........................................................................................................................................39Figure23:MobileBroadbandPriceIndices:.......................................................................................40Price/GBofMobileData(July-August,2017)(PPP)...........................................................................40Figure24:FullyAllocatedGigabytePrice...........................................................................................41(4Gsmartphoneplanswithatleast1,000minutes&3Mbit/sforHDvideo)....................................41€,April2018,Countrymedian...........................................................................................................41Figure25:FullyAllocatedGigabytePrice...........................................................................................42(4GLTEmobilebroadbandplanswithatleast3Mbit/sforHDvideo)...............................................42€,April2018,Countrymedian...........................................................................................................42Figure26:MobileDataUsagePerMobileBroadbandSubscription,2016........................................43

Highpricescauseaffordabilityproblems...............................................................................43

DoesthecostofprovidingservicemakeCanada’shighrates“justandreasonable?”............45

Assessmentofcarriers’proposed“lower-costdata-only”plans.............................................48Figure27:Proposed“lower-costdata-only”plans,incl.deliverycost&markup..............................50Figure28:“Lower-costdata-only”plansbasedon2013averageperMBretailrevenue..................51Figure29:Rogers’iPadflexrateplan,2013.......................................................................................52Figure30:BellTabletFlexPlan...........................................................................................................53

Recommendations—priceanddatavolume..........................................................................55Figure31:“CRTCflexplan”................................................................................................................55

Recommendations--termsofserviceandotherconsiderations..............................................58

Conclusion.............................................................................................................................63

GlossaryofKeyTermsandAcronyms....................................................................................64

CurriculumVitae...................................................................................................................67BenjaminKlass....................................................................................................................................67DwayneRoyWinseck.........................................................................................................................72

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Introduction

WehavebeenaskedtoprepareareportbythePublicInterestLawCentre(PILC)inresponsetoTelecomPublicNoticeCRTC2018-98,“Callforcomments—Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”.Specifically,PILCrequestedthatweassesstheCRTC’scurrentinitiativeinthecontextofthebroadertrajectoryofmobilepolicydevelopment,withparticularregardtotheissueofaffordability.WenotethatouragreementwithPILCstipulatesthatour“dutyinprovidingassistanceandgivingevidenceistohelptheCRTC”andthat“[t]hisdutyoverridesanyobligationtothePublicInterestLawCentreanditsclient(s).”

ThisreporthasbeenpreparedbyBenjaminKlassandDr.DwayneWinseck.

Mr.KlassisaPhDstudentatCarletonUniversity’sSchoolofJournalismandCommunication.DuringhistimeasaPhDstudent,Mr.Klasshasbeeninvitedtodeliverlecturesonthetopicoftelecommunicationseconomics,policy,regulation,andlawatuniversitiesacrossCanada,includingCarletonUniversity,theUniversityofManitoba,UniversityofWinnipeg,YorkUniversity,theUniversityofOttawa,andtheUniversityofAlberta.

In2012,Mr.KlassbeganworkwiththeCanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject(CMCRP),whichisdirectedbyDr.DwayneWinseck.3Asaresearchassistant,Mr.Klasswasresponsibleforcollecting,organizing,andanalysinginformationonCanadiantelecommunicationsmarkets.Atpresent,Mr.KlasscontinueshisworkfortheCMCRPasseniorresearchassociate,underthedirectionofDr.Winseck.In2015,Mr.KlasscompletedaMasterofArtsdegreeattheUniversityofManitoba,forwhichheproducedathesispaperentitled“MobileWirelessinCanada:Policy,Problems,andProgress”,whichpresentedanhistoricalandcontemporaryanalysisofthepoliticaleconomyofmobilecommunicationsinCanada.

Buildingonhisongoingresearch,Mr.KlasshasactivelyparticipatedasaninterestedcitizenandascholarinthesphereofCanadiancommunicationspolicymakingformorethanfiveyears.HehasparticipatedinnumerousCRTCandCompetitionBureauproceedingsrelatedtobroadcastingandtelecommunications.Thisparticipationhasincludedthedevelopmentandpresentationofnumerousscholarlyreports,asanindividualaswellastogetherwithotherscholarsandgroupssuchastheCMCRP.Mr.KlasshasalsoappearedinpersonbeforeseveralCommissionoralhearings.AfulllistofthesereportsandpresentationscanbefoundinMr.Klass’scurriculumvitae,appendedtothisreportbelow.

From2013-2016,Mr.KlassinitiatedandpursuedanapplicationbeforetheCRTCandlatertheFederalCourtofAppealwhichultimatelyresultedintheprohibitionofBellMobility’sdiscriminatoryzero-ratedpricingforits“mobileTV”application.Thisdecisionlatercontributedtothedevelopmentofanover-archingCRTCpolicywhichprohibitsonabroadbasistheuseofcontent-specificdiscriminatorypricingintheCanadiantelecommunicationsmarket.4

OutsideofhispositionasaPhDstudentatCarleton,Mr.KlassactsinavolunteercapacityasaresearchassociatefortheFirstMileConnectivityConsortium(FMCC),aregisterednationalnot-for-profitresearchandadvocacyorganizationwhosemembersincludeFirstNationscommunity-basedtelecommunicationsorganizationsservingremoteandruralcommunities.TheFMCCisdedicatedtoengaginginthe

3CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject.Availableat::http://www.cmcrp.org4CRTC(2017).TelecomRegulatoryPolicyCRTC2017-104,“Frameworkforassessingthedifferentialpricingpracticesofinternetserviceproviders”.Availableat:https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2017/2017-104.htm

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developmentofevidence-basedpolicyrelatedtobroadbandinfrastructure,digitalservicesandtechnologyadoptioninremoteandruralcommunities.5Mr.KlassalsofillsavoluntarypositiononthepolicycommitteeoftheInternetSocietyCanadaChapter,anorganizationwhichdevelopspositionsonCanadianlegislationthataffectstheaffordability,accessibility,fairnessandsecurityoftheInternet.6

Mr.Klass’sworkhasbeenfeaturedinmediarangingfromlocalstationsandnewspaperstonationalprintandbroadcastoutlets,andhisviewshavebeensolicitedbyprint,online,andbroadcastmediasuchastheCBC,Globe&Mail,WinnipegFreePress,FinancialPost,Mobilesyrup,theWireReport,andTorontoStar.

Mr.Klasshasalsooccasionallyactedasaconsultant,providingcommunicationsresearch,analysis,andexpertopiniontolawfirms,consumergroups,andadvocacyorganizations.

Dr.WinseckisProfessorattheSchoolofJournalismandCommunication,withacross-appointmentattheInstituteofPoliticalEconomy,CarletonUniversity.HehastaughtcoursesorgivenlecturesandworkshopsinArgentina,China,Denmark,Mexico,Turkey,theUnitedKingdom,theUnitedStatesandUruguay.

Hismainresearchinterestsincludethepoliticaleconomyoftelecommunications,theinternetandmediaaswellascommunicationhistoryandtheory.HeisalsodirectoroftheCanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProjectandwastheleadCanadianresearcherintheInternationalMediaConcentrationResearchProjectbetween2009and2016.Hisresearch,dataandviewsonthetelecommunications,internetandmediaindustries,aswellasthepolicyandregulatoryissuesaffectingthem,arewellknownandhavebeensolicitedorcitedwidelyinthescholarlyliterature,byjournalistsacrossCanadaandinothercountriesincludingtheNewYorkTimesandTheGuardian,aswellasbytheParliamentofCanada,CanadianSenate,DepartmentofCanadianHeritage,theCanadianRadio-televisionandTelecommunicationsCommission,theCompetitionBureau,theWorldTradeOrganizationandtheInternationalTelecommunicationsUnion,amongstothers.

In2012,DwaynewasakeynoteSpeakeratNewZealandCommerceCommission’sTheFuturewithHigh-SpeedBroadbandConference,andheiscurrentlyservingasanexpertadvisertotheIndependentCommunicationsAuthorityofSouthAfrica.HeisalsoaregularparticipantinregulatoryandpolicyproceedingsinCanadaconvenedbytheCRTC,theCompetitionBureauandParliamentofCanadacommittees.DwaynewasalsoacolumnisttheGlobeandMail,andmaintainsawell-regardedblog,Mediamorphis7andanotherfortheCanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject.Hisco-authoredbookwithRobertPikeCommunicationandEmpire:Media,MarketsandGlobalization,1860-1930wontheCanadianCommunicationAssociation’sbook-of-the-yearprizein2008.Heisalsoco-editor,withDalYongJin,ofPoliticalEconomiesoftheMedia(2011)andseveralothereditedandsole-authoredbooks.

Forfurtherinformationregardingtheauthors’experienceandqualifications,pleaseseeourcurriculavitae,appendedtotheendofthisreport.

Inthisreport,webeginbyprovidingabriefoverviewofCanadiancommunicationspolicydevelopment,focusinginparticularonissuesinthemobilesectorandtheirrelationtothepresentproceeding.We

5FirstMileConnectivityConsortium(n.d.).Website.Availableat:http://firstmile.ca/fmcc-2/6InternetSocietyCanadaChapter(n.d.).Website.Availableat:https://internetsociety.ca/what-we-do/7Winseck,D.“Mediamorphis”(Blog).Availableat:http://dwmw.wordpress.org

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thenexamineissuesrelatedtoavailabilityofandaccesstomobileservicesalongsideconsiderationsofadoptionandaffordability.Weconductanextended,finegrainedanalysisofmobileadoptionandservicepricing,whichincludesanexaminationofCanada’sperformanceininternationalcomparisonsandpresentationanddiscussionofstand-alonefiguresforCanadawhereappropriate.WethencriticallyanalyseclaimsthatCanada’shighwirelesspricesarejustifiedonthebasisofqualityorthecostofprovidingservice.Thisisfollowedbyanexaminationofthe“lower-costdata-only”plansthathavebeenproposedbythenationalcarriersasrequestedbytheCommission.Finally,weproviderecommendationsabouthowbesttoproceedinordertoaddressCanada’sproblemwithlowmobileadoptionandunaffordableservices.

PolicyBackground

Thepresentproceedingrepresentsjustthelatestinalonglineofmobilewirelesspolicydevelopments,allofwhichhavebeenaimedtowardimprovingthestateofmobilewirelesstelecommunicationsmarketsinCanada.Foratleastthelastdecade,variousbranchesofgovernmentacrossnumerouslevelshaveundertakensustainedeffortstobringaboutimprovementsinmobilepricing,availability,andquality,amongotheraspectsofthisimportantsectorofsociety.Itistruethatstrideshavebeenmade,asindustry,government,andthepublichavebeencollectivelyengagedinacommonenterprisetoensurethatCanada’smobilewirelessnetworksmeettheneedsofpeopleacrossthecountry,consistentwiththeobjectivessetforwardintheTelecommunicationsAct.8

Theauctionforadvancedwirelessservices(AWS)spectrumthattookplaceover10yearsagosetthestagefornewentryintoamarketwidelyperceivedasunresponsiveandoligopolistic.Sincethattime,newentrantsandregionalprovidershavemadenoticeableinroads,althoughprogresshasbeenunevenatthebestoftimes.IndustryCanada,nowknownasInnovation,ScienceandEconomicDevelopment(ISED),hasremainedengagedwiththeissues,andcontinuestoreleaseadditionalspectruminordertomeetgrowingdemandandtoshoreupthecompetitivenessofthesector.TheCRTChasplayedasubstantialroleaswell.TheCommissionhasextendedtheapplicationofmoderncommoncarriagerules—knowncolloquiallyas“networkneutrality”—tomobilenetworks;institutedasector-widecodeofconduct(the“WirelessCode”)toinformandprotectconsumers;ithasestablishedtheregulationofwholesaleroamingratesinfurtheranceofimprovedcompetitionbetweenproviders;andithasarticulatedavisionofuniversalservicefitforthetwenty-firstcentury,amongstnumerousotherinitiatives.9

8TheTelecommunicationsAct’spolicyobjectivesarefoundin§7oftheAct.Theseinclude,butarenotlimitedto:(a)tofacilitatetheorderlydevelopmentthroughoutCanadaofatelecommunicationssystemthatservestosafeguard,enrichandstrengthenthesocialandeconomicfabricofCanadaanditsregions;(b)torenderreliableandaffordabletelecommunicationsservicesofhighqualityaccessibletoCanadiansinbothurbanandruralareasinallregionsofCanada;(c)toenhancetheefficiencyandcompetitiveness,atthenationalandinternationallevels,ofCanadiantelecommunications;[…](f)tofosterincreasedrelianceonmarketforcesfortheprovisionoftelecommunicationsservicesandtoensurethatregulation,whererequired,isefficientandeffective;[…](h)torespondtotheeconomicandsocialrequirementsofusersoftelecommunicationsservices;

9Forgreaterdetailabouttheseandotherrelevantpolicydevelopments,see:CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject(n.d.)“Policyinterventions”.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/policy-interventions/Inparticular:Winseck,D.(2014).“MobileWirelessinCanada:

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Duringthistime,theindustryhascontinuedtoinvestinmoderncommunicationnetworksthroughoutCanada,andhascontributedsubstantiallytoexpandingtherangeofadvancedtechnologiesthatareincreasinglyfindingtheirwayintothehands,homes,andworkplacesofpeopleacrossthecountry.However,thelargestandmostinfluentialcompaniesinvolvedinthecommunicationsectorhaveoftensoughttostop,obstruct,orreversemeasuresintendedtoservethepublicinterest,suchastheonesdescribedabove.

Indeed,acentralthemeinthepresentproceedingisthecontrastbetweentheprotestationsofthedominantcarriersthat‘alliswellinthemarket’versusrepeatedfindingsbygovernmentthattheyarenot.Telus,forinstance,opposestheCommission’seffortstoimprovemobileaffordability,puttingforwardtheargumentthat“[t]heCommissionhasrepeatedlyfoundthattheCanadianmarketforretailwirelessserviceshassufficientcompetitiontoprotecttheinterestsofusers.”10Yet,overthepastfiveyears,branchesofgovernment—uptoandincludingCanada’sGovernorGeneral—haverepeatedlyreachedtheoppositeconclusion.11Asrecentlyas2017,Canada’sfederalCompetitionBureaufoundafteranine-monthinvestigationthat“asaresultofcoordinatedbehaviouramongBell,TELUS,andRogers,mobilewirelesspricesinCanadaarehigherinregionswhereBell,TELUSandRogersdonotfacecompetitionfromastrongregionalcompetitor.”12Thesefindings(aswellasaslewofothersimilarones)areconspicuouslyabsentfromthecarriers’presentationstotheCommissioninthisproceeding.

Despitethewidespreadrecognitionthattherearesignificantproblemsthatneedtobeaddressed,actualoutcomesinthemobilesectoroverthepastdecadeshouldbecharacterizedasuneven.Whileitisundeniablethatsignificantadvancesintechnologyhavebeenmade,thesameunambiguousconclusioncannotbedrawnwithrespecttothesocialandeconomicstandingofpeoplewithinthecommunicationssphere.Whilemeasurableprogresshasbeenmadeonsomefronts,Canadastillstandsoutamongstitspeersasanationinwhichadoptionofthelatestmobileservicesisunacceptablylow.Asweshowinthisreport,Canada’slowmobileadoption—particularlyamongsociety’smostvulnerablemembers--isexplainedbythemarket’sfailuretoofferusefulservicesatratesthatareaffordableforeveryone.

Indeed,thisas-yet-unresolvedproblemhasbeenoneofthecentralfactorsdrivingpolicyactivityinthisareaformorethantwentyyears.Thepreferredmethodforattackingthisproblemhasbeentoseekgreatermarketcompetition.Althoughcompetitioninthemobilesectorhasnominallyincreasedinrecentyears,Canada’smobileindustryremainshighlyconcentratedbywell-establishedeconomicmeasures.Thisistruewhetherthefocusisonthenationallevel—wherethreeprovidersenjoyedroughlyequalcontrolover91%ofthemarketbyrevenuein201613--orwithineachprovince,wheremobilemarketstendtobecontrolledbytwodominantfirmswhichfacerivalryfromweakerthirdand

Recognizingtheproblemsandapproachingsolutions”,Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Mobile-Wireless-in-Canada-Final-Report.pdf;Klass,B.(2015).“MobilewirelessinCanada:Policy,problems,andprogress”,Mastersthesis.Availableat:https://mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca/bitstream/handle/1993/30704/Klass_Benjamin.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y10Telus(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para43.11See,e.g.,Canada,GovernorGeneral(2013).“SeizingCanada’smoment:prosperityandopportunityinanuncertainworld”,SpeechfromtheThrone,October16,2013.Availableat:http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2013/gg/SO1-1-2013-eng.pdf12Canada(2017).“CompetitionBureaustatementregardingBell’sacquisitionofMTS”,Availableat:http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/04200.html13Mostrecentfiguresavailable.See:figure5.5.6,CRTC(2017).“Communicationsmonitoringreport”,Availableat:https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/PolicyMonitoring/2017/cmr.htm

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fourthproviders.14In2017,Manitobasawaworryingdecreaseincompetition,whenthelocalcommunicationsincumbentMTSwaspurchasedbyBell,leavingManitobawithonlythreeremainingmobileoperatorsinoperation,behindotherprovinces.

Competitioncanbeusefulasameanstoachievingvariousends,chiefamongwhichinthetelecommunicationsindustryaretechnologicalinnovationandaffordableservicepricing.Whiletheindustryhashadnotablesuccessesonthefirstmeasure,withrespecttopricing,problemshaveprovenintractable.Despiteongoingeffortstoimprovethesituation,mobileservicesremainunaffordablefortoomanypeople,aswediscussatgreaterlengthbelow.

Astherecordofthisproceedingdemonstrates,Canada’snationalmobilecarriers—whoshouldbethechampionsofincreasingadoption—appeartoshowlittleinterestinremedyingtheproblem.DespitetheGovernorinCouncil’srecentrecognitionthat“Canadahasamongthelowestadoptionratesformobilewirelesstelecommunicationsservicesamongindustrializednations”andthat“Canadianswithlowhouseholdincomeinparticularfacechallengesrelatedtotheaffordabilityoftelecommunicationsservices”,15Teluscontinuestoinsistthat“thereisnogapinthemarketwithrespecttolower-costdata-onlyplans”andthat“[t]otheextenttheOrderinCouncilispredicatedonafindingthatwirelessadoptionislowinCanada,thatfindingisalsoincorrect”.16Bellsimilarlyarguesthat“thereisnoadoptionprobleminCanada,”andexpressestheviewthat“[t]hissuccessistheresultofthecompetitiveretailwirelessmarketinCanada”.17

Thesecarriersmaydenythefacts,buttheycannotescapethem.IndenyingtherealdifficultiesfacingmanypeopleinCanada—peoplewhodeserveaccesstoaffordablecommunicationsservices—thelongstandingandingrainednatureofthemarketfailureatissueisfurtherexposed.

Intheabsenceofindustryinitiative,Commissionactionisnecessarytoprotectthepublicinterest.Inthisreport,welayouttherationalefortakingsuchactionandproviderecommendationsregardingwhatcanbedonetoaddresstheproblem.

Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobileservices

Initsnoticeofconsultation,theCommissionhasrecognizedthat“theGovernorinCouncilhasexpressedconcernsregardingchoiceofinnovativeandaffordablemobilewirelessservices,particularlyforCanadianswithlowhouseholdincomes”.18Indeed,theCommissionappearstosharetheseconcerns.AsitnotedinTelecomDecisionCRTC2018-97,“…thereisanoticeablegapinthemarketintermsoflower-costdata-onlyplansavailabletoconsumers”.19Consistentwiththisobservation,theCommissionwasclearwithregardtoitsintentioninestablishingthepresentproceeding:“theCommissionacknowledges

14Foramorein-depthanalysisofmarketconcentrationinCanadiancommunicationmarkets,see:Winseck,D.(2017).“MediaandinternetconcentrationinCanada,1984-2016”,CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/media-and-internet-concentration-in-canada-results/15P.C.2017-0557,1June2017.16Telus(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,paras.54&49,respectively.17Bell(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,paras.21&23,respectively.18TelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para.3.19TelecomDecisionCRTC2018-97,“ReconsiderationofTelecomDecision2017-56regardingfinaltermsandconditionsforwholesalemobilewirelessroamingservice”,para.98,emphasisadded.

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theGovernorinCouncil’sdesiretoimprovethechoiceofinnovativeandaffordablemobilewirelessservices,particularlyforCanadianswithlowhouseholdincomes,andagreesthatsuchimprovementisimportant”.20

ThelackofaffordablemobilewirelessdataplansinCanadarepresentsasignificantproblem,andindeed,isaclearexampleofmarketfailurethatdemandstheCommission’sattentionandcorrection,consistentwith“thegoalofensuringthatlower-costdata-onlyplansarewidelyavailabletoCanadians”.21

AsrequestedbytheCommission,onApril23,2018,eachofthethreenationalcarrierssubmittedaproposaloutlininghowtheyintendtoaddresstheCommission’scalltoensurethatmoreaffordabledataplansbemadeavailabletopeopleacrossCanada.Thedetailsoftheplanspresentedbythecarriersareasfollows(Figure1).

Figure1:Carrierproposalsfor“lower-costdata-only”mobilewirelessplans

Price/mo. MBincluded NotesBellMobility $30 500 Availableaspostpaid&prepaid;overagefeenotspecified.

RCCI(Rogers) $25 400

Availableaspostpaid&prepaid;$7/100MBoveragefee;includesabilitytocall9-1-1;mayreceivemarketingSMSfromRogers.

TCI(Telus) $30 500

Postpaidonly;$7/100MBoveragefee;optionfor"tab"(i.e.smartphonesubsidy)

TCI(Telus) $30 600 Nooverage(customermustbuyadd-onforadditionaluse)Source(s):Carrierproposals,TNCCRTC2018-98,“Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices.”Notes:“MB”standsfor“megabyte”,aunitofdatatransfer;“SMS”standsfor“shortmessageservice”,or,inplainlanguage,atextmessage.Postpaidplansareonesinwhichacustomerpaysforservicealreadyrendered,typicallyattheendofthemonthandrequiringacreditcheck;prepaidplansarepaidforinadvance.Overagesarefeesincurredfornetworkusagebeyondamonthlyusagelimitestablishedintheservicecontract.

Whileweaddressthespecificsoftheseproposalsingreaterdetailbelow,wenoteherethat,inourview,theproposalsaredisappointinginthattheyareunlikelytomovetheneedlewhenitcomestoaddressingthe‘affordabilitygap’identifiedbytheCommissionastheprimarytargetofthisproceeding.Inwhatfollows,weexplainwhythisisthecase,startingwithananalysisofthecarriers’justificationsfortheirproposals.

Injustifyingtheirproposals,thecarriershavesubmittedargumentsthatgenerallydenythatthereisanaffordabilityissueinthemobilewirelessmarket.Telus,forinstance,arguesthat“…therequestforproposalsfromthenationalwirelesscarriersispredicatedonthefaultyassumptionthatthemobilewirelessmarketinCanadaisnotstrong.Inahigh-performingmarketsuchasCanada’s,consumerdemandisalreadymetwithavailablecompetingoffers”.22Telusalsocontendsthat“…pricesareaffordable;andthatCanadahasamongstthehighestadoptionratesforwirelessservicesin20Ibid.,para.86.21TelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para.8.22Telus(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para.14,emphasisadded.

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industrializedcountriesandiswell-positionedamongstitspeers”.23Telussumsupitsviewsuccinctly:“Thereisnogapinthemarketwithrespecttolower-costdata-onlyplansandthereisnoneedfortheCommissiontomandatetheprovisionofsuchplans”.24

Bellissimilarlyadamantinitsoppositiontotheveryideathatthereisaproblemtobeaddressedinthisproceeding.Astheyseeit,“Canadiansseekingthemostaffordablewirelessservicesarewell-servedandmarketforceswillcontinuetoincreasetheoptionsavailable”.25Further,asfarasBellisconcerned,Canada’swirelesspolicyrepresentsacut-and-driedcaseof‘missionaccomplished’:

“Canada’swirelessregulatorypolicy,whichhasfocusedonfacilities-basedcompetitionandregulatoryforbearance,hasachievedeffectively100%wirelesspenetrationinthelargesturbancentresdespitetherelativelylargepresenceoflow-incomeCanadians.ThisdemonstratesthataffordabilityisnotabarriertoadoptionofwirelessservicesinCanada”.26

Rogers,foritspart,andunliketheothertwonationalcarriers,ismainlydescriptiveinitsproposal,andlargelyavoidstheextendedandrecalcitrantdiscussionsthatcharacterizetheproposalsofBellandTelus.Itdoes,however,havethefollowingtosayaboutthestateoftheCanadianwirelessmarket:“Canadianshavereadyaccesstoavarietyoflow-costplans,includingplanswithdata”.27Afterpresentingtheirproposalindetail,Rogersconcludes:“Canada’sfiercelycompetitivemobilewirelessmarketplacewillensurethatserviceproviderscontinuetoofferlow-costplanswithouttheneedofanyfurtherregulatoryintervention”.28

Asweshowbelow,thecarriers’statementsignoretheexistenceofsignificantproblemsinthewirelessmarket,specificallyconcerningtheabilityoflow-incomepeopleinCanadatoaffordaccesstohigh-quality,reliablemobilewirelessservices.Notonlydotheirproposalsignorethisproblem,buttheirclaimsarenotsupportedbyrelevantevidence,and,insomecases,arenotsupportedbyanyevidenceatall.Furthermore,particularlyinthecaseofTelus,thecharacterizationofthestateofaffairsinthemobilemarketconspicuouslyomitscrucialfactsanddevelopmentsthatarerelevanttothedispositionofthisconsultation.

23Ibid.,para.17,emphasisadded.24Ibid.,para.54,emphasisadded.25Bell(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para17.26Bell(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para.21,emphasisadded.27Rogers(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para.2.28Ibid.,para.25.

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Availabilityisnotthesameasaffordability

Thecarriersrelyincommononseverallinesofargumentinordertocharacterizethemobilewirelessmarketas“strong”and“highperforming”,29andtosuggestthatnoregulatoryactionisrequiredsince,intheirview,“Canadiansseekingthemostaffordablewirelessservicesarewell-served”.30Thesearguments,andtheevidenceonwhichtheyarebased,sufferfromasharedflaw:theyaddresstheissueofavailabilitywhileignoringtherealproblem,whichisthatservicesaregenerallynotaffordableformanylow-incomeindividualsandfamiliesinCanada.

Thecarriers’evidenceinsupportofthepropositionthatthereisnoprobleminthewirelessmarketfallroughlyalongthefollowinglines:thatthequalityofCanadiannetworksishigh,andcoverageisubiquitous;thatadoptionisalreadyhighandincreasing;thatpricesareonthedecline;andthattheCanadianwirelessmarketislessconcentratedthaninothercomparablejurisdictions,or,inotherwords,thatthemarketissufficientlycompetitivetomeettherequirementsofusers,andthatthishasbeenrecognizedbypolicymakersfordecades.

Insum,thecarriers’broadcharacterizationofthemobilewirelessmarketasoneinwhich‘alliswell’standsinstarkcontrasttoavailableevidenceandpriorfindingsbytheGovernorGeneral,theCompetitionBureau,andtheCommissionitself.

Speedandcoverage

Bell’sproposalarguesthatCanada’swirelesscarriershaverolledout“multiplegenerationsofthenewestwirelesstechnologiesmorequicklyandmorewidelythaninalmostanyothercountry[…]andprovideconsumerswithubiquitous,reliable,andcompetitively-pricedwirelessservicesacrossourvastandsparselypopulatedcountry.Forexample,”Bellcontinues,“99%ofCanadianshaveaccesstolong-termevolution(LTE)wirelessnetworks,andby2019,morethan40%willhaveaccesstonetworkspeedsgreaterthan900Mbps”.31

Similarly,throughoutitsproposal,Telusstressesthatitsservices,andthoseofitsvariousflankerbrands,offerbroadgeographicalcoverageusingthelatesttechnology(i.e.LongTermEvolution,orLTE).Specifically,Telusnotesthat“AsofDecember31,2017,TELUS’4Glong-termevolution(LTE)networkcovers99percentofCanada’spopulationwhiletheRogersLTEnetworkreached96percentoftheCanadianpopulation”.32Additionally,citingarecentOpenSignalreport,33Teluspointsoutthat“Canadiansenjoysomeofthehighestaveragesmartphoneconnectionspeedsintheworld.Asof

29Telus(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para.14.30Bell(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para.23.31Bell(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para.1.32Telus(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para.48.33Opensignalproducesreportsaboutmobilenetworksincountriesaroundtheworldusinguser-generateddatafromcustommeasurementappsinstalledonsmartphonesandothermobiledevices.Formoreinformation,see:https://opensignal.com/reports/

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February2018,Canada’saverageLTEconnectionspeeds[sic]was32.9Mbps,comparedwith25.39MbpsinJapan,16.31MbpsintheUSand23.11MbpsintheUK”.34

Infigures2and3below,wepresentdatafromOpenSignal’sJanuary2018“TheStateofLTE”reportwhichhighlightCanada’sstandinginLTEcoverageandspeed,respectively,incomparisontoOrganizationforEconomicCo-operationandDevelopment(OECD)andEuropeanUnion(EU)countriescoveredbythatreport.

OpenSignal’sdata“showshowconsistentlyaccessible4Gnetworksareineachcountry.Ratherthanmeasuregeographiccoverage,OpenSignal'savailabilitymetrictrackstheproportionoftimeusershaveaccesstoaparticularnetwork”.35Bythismeasure,mobileusersinCanadacanexpecttheirdevicestobeconnectedtoLTEnetworks82.4%ofthetime.Whilecertainlyimpressive,thedatadonotpaintCanadaasanoutlier.Indeed,Canadaranks17thoutofthe38countriesmeasured,slightlyaboveaverage.OpenSignalnotesthat“4Gavailabilityamongtheelitecountriesisstillsteadilyrising.ConsumersinfivecountrieshadaccesstoanLTEconnectionmorethan90%ofthetime–upfromameretwocountriesjustthreemonthsago”.36WhileCanadaisonpacetoeventuallycrossthatthreshold,bythetimeitdoesthe“elite”statuswilllikelynolongerapply.

Figure2:4G/LTEAvailabilityComparison(December2017)

Source(s):OpenSignal,“TheStateofLTE(February2018)”,availableat:https://opensignal.com/reports/2018/02/state-of-lte

34Ibid.35OpenSignal(2018),“TheStateofLTE(February2018)”,availableat:https://opensignal.com/reports/2018/02/state-of-lte36Ibid.

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ThesedatabringimportantperspectivewhenaddressingclaimssuchasBell’sthatCanadianwirelesscarriers“roll-outmultiplegenerationsofthenewestwirelesstechnologiesmorequicklyandmorewidelythaninalmostanyothercountry”.37Intermsofreal-worldavailabilityofLTEconnectivity,theOpenSignaldataclearlyshowthatCanadaisamiddleperformeramongcomparablecountries.

Toputafinepointonit,evenifanLTEsignalisavailableacross99%ofCanada’spopulatedgeography(withinwhich,astheOpenSignaldatashow,anLTEsignalisavailable82.4%ofthetime),geographiccoverageisanecessarybutnotasufficientconditionforadoptionofmobileservices.Asweshowbelow,whileCanadianmobilecarriersmayhaveestablishednear-ubiquitousavailabilityofmodernmobileservicecoverage,Canadastillsuffersfromanacuteproblemwithrespecttomobileserviceadoption,particularlywhenitcomestolow-incomeindividualsandhouseholds.

ComparedtoitsrankinLTEavailability,Canadafaresbetterwithrespecttospeed,placing9thof33countriesforwhichdataarepresented(seefigure2below).OpenSignal’sdata,whichTelusreliesupontosupportitsassertionthat“Canadiansenjoysomeofthehighestaveragesmartphoneconnectionspeedsintheworld”doshowthatCanada,withanaverageLTEconnectionspeedof32.9Mbps,performsbetterthantheaverageof28.4Mbps.OpenSignal,however,offersseveralqualificationsregardingthestandingofcountrieswhenitcomestospeed.Theyobservethat:“[t]hefastestLTEspeedsseemtohavehitaplateauataround45Mbps.Forthelastseveralglobalreports,we'vefailedtoseeanysizableincreasein4Gspeedsamongthetopperformingcountries,andtheHolyGrailof50Mbpsremainsjustaselusive”.38If45Mbpsrepresentsthemetricforcharacterizinga“topperformingcountry”,thenCanadastillhassomewaytogo,althoughitisnotunreasonabletoexpectthismilestonetobeachievedintheforeseeablefuture.

37Bell(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para.1.38OpenSignal(2018),“TheStateofLTE(February2018)”,availableat:https://opensignal.com/reports/2018/02/state-of-lte

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Figure3:4GLTESpeedsforOECDandEUCountries,Dec.2017

Source(s):Source(s):OpenSignal,“TheStateofLTE(February2018)”,availableat:https://opensignal.com/reports/2018/02/state-of-lte

Wealsonotethat,whilehavingaccesstohigh-speedmobilenetworksmaybeimportantasageneralpolicygoal,whenfocusedspecificallyonthetypeoflow-usageplansproposedbythenationalcarriers,higherspeedsmayactuallybecomeanimpedimenttotheseplans’utilityforlow-incomepeoplewhomightadoptthemastheonlyaffordableoption.Consider,forinstance,thatasubscriberwhomakesuseoftheserviceattheaverageconnectionspeedof32.4Mbpswouldreachamonthlydatalimitof400MB(Rogers’proposedlimit)injustoveroneandahalfminutes,a500MBlimit(proposedbyBellandTelus)inapproximately2minutes,ora600MBlimit(proposedbyTelus)inlessthan3minutes.Inanyofthesescenarios,theextraspeedwhichthecarriersportrayasanunalloyedbenefitmayresultincustomersoftheproposedplansunexpectedlyreachingtheirmonthlydataallotmentsinamatterofmoments,afterwhichtheywouldfacethechoicebetweenpayingunexpectedfeesforadditionaldata39orceasingtheiruseofthemobileservice.Itshouldberecognized,atminimum,thatthereisatradeoffbetween‘speed’and‘dataallowance’thatmustbeaccountedforwhenattemptingtomaximizetheutilityofmobileplans,aconcernthatisparticularlysalientwithregardtoplansdesignedforlowerlevelsofusage.

Ascenariosuchastheonedescribedaboveisnotfarfetched;asarecentEricssonreportnotes,“[o]fallthetrafficgeneratedbytheusersoflimitedplans,around30percentisconsumedabovedatabucketlimits.Thisallowsoperatorstocontinuouslyupselldatathroughtop-ups.Inaddition,thisdemandformoredataplaysakeyroleintheshifttolargerplans”.40IftheCommission’sobjectiveinthisproceeding

39Atthetimeofwriting,KoodoandFidoeachcharge$7peradditional100MBbeyondauser’smonthlydataallotment.VirginMobile’swebsitedoesnotmakeitsdataoverageratesavailableforviewingbythegeneralpublic;usersmustlogintoanexistingaccounttoaccessthisinformation.Thecarriers(asidefromTelus,whichissilentontheissue)haveindicatedthattheoveragefeesapplicabletoitsproposedplanswillbeequivalenttothoseoveragefeeswhichalreadyapplytoexistingin-marketplans.See:RogersProposal,para.9;BellProposal,para.4.40Ericsson(2017),“EricssonMobilityReport,November2017:Shiftingmobiledataconsumptionanddataplans”,Availableat:https://www.ericsson.com/en/mobility-report/reports/november-2017/shifting-mobile-data-consumption-and-data-plans

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istoensurethatpeopleinCanadawhoearnlowincomeshaveaffordableaccesstomobileservicesthatmeettheirneedsandtheirbudgets,thenouranalysissuggeststhefocusshouldbelessonthespeedofnetworksandmoreonensuringthatmonthlydatalimitsassociatedwiththeplansaresufficienttoensurethatuserswillnotbehitwithsteepunexpectedfees,andthattheplans,onceapproved,arenotusedbythecarriersmerelyasavehicletoupselltheircustomers.Inotherwords,monthlydataallowance,notspeed,isthemoreimportantfactorwhenconsideringhowtobestmaximizetheutilityofmobileservicesforusers.

Bothofthemetricsabove,networkcoverageandspeed,whileinteresting,areofquestionablerelevancetothecentralpolicyquestionanimatingthisproceeding:namelywhethermobilewirelessservicesaresufficientlyaffordabletoqualifyassatisfyingtheCanadiantelecommunicationspolicyobjectivetorenderreliableandaffordabletelecommunicationsservicesofhighqualityaccessibletoCanadiansinbothurbanandruralareasinallregionsofCanada”.41Thereasonforthisisthatthecarriers’effortstocharacterizetheirnetworksasfastandubiquitousfundamentallymisconstrueavailabilityforaffordability.Livingwithinthecoverageareaofafastwirelessnetworkprovideslittlecomfortorutilityforafamilythatcannotaffordaccessinthefirstplace.

TheseconclusionsaresupportedbyarecentreportonaffordabilitycommissionedbytheCRTC,whichfoundthat“[i]nadditiontodocumentingthepersistenceofthedigitaldivide,theliteraturehasincreasinglyrecognizedthatgeographicnetworkcoverageisnotinitselfenoughtoensurewidespreadaccessanduse”.42

Itisunderstandablethatthecarriersareproudofthequalityoftheirnetworks;however,solongasaccessremainsunaffordableforsomany,thenthereisalotmoreworktobedone.Inthefollowingsection,wesurveytheavailabledataonadoptionofmobileservices,findingthatCanadaexhibitsasignificant“gap”inmobileadoption,particularlyamongstlow-incomehouseholds.Thisgap,inourview,isattributabletoalackofaffordabilityforthosehouseholds.ThisisthegapwhichtheCommissionshouldseektoaddressinthisproceeding.

Adoptionandaffordability

Initsproposal,TeluscharacterizesthesituationinCanadaasoneinwhich“wirelessadoptionishighandincreasing”.43TeluspresentsfiguresontheabsolutenumberofmobilesubscriptionsinCanada(30.7millionin2016,or84.3%ofthepopulation),referstogrowthrates,notesthat75%ofmobilesubscribersinCanadausesmartphones,andarguesthat“[i]nCanada,ahigherproportionoflower-incomeconsumersareusingsmartphonesrelativetohighincomeconsumers,thaninothercountries”.44ThefiguresthatTeluscitesarelargelyirrelevant,oratminimumlessappropriateanddescriptiveoftheactualsituationinCanadathanfiguresoncomparativeinternationaladoptionandadoptionbyincomeandgeography,whichwepresentbelow.Thereasonforthisissimple:Teluspresentsoveralladoption

41TelecommunicationsAct(S.C.1993,c.38).s.7(b).42Rajabiun,R.,Ellis,D.,&Middleton,C.(2016).“Literaturereview:Affordabilityofcommunicationsservices”,page25.Availableat:https://www.ryerson.ca/~cmiddlet/ourresearch/lit-review-for-crtc-2016-affordability-rajabiun-ellis-middleton.pdf43Telus(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”.44Telus(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para.49.

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statisticswithoutprovidingappropriatecontext;nexttocomparablenations,aswedemonstratebelow,Canada’soverallmobileadoptionlevelsarerelativelylow.Telus’relianceonoveralladoptionalsoignoresavailableevidencethataccountsfordifferingadoptionlevelsaccordingtodemographicconsiderationslikeincome.Asthedatashow(seebelow),thereisinfactasignificant‘gap’inadoptionamongstlower-incomepeopleinCanada.Second,Teluspresentsfiguresshowingtheproportionofsubscribersusingsmartphones,inanefforttopaintCanadaasanationwhoseresidentsarelargelyadoptersofadvancedtechnologies.Butthisconclusionsuffersfromarudimentaryerrorresultingfromselectionbias:therelevantmetricagainstwhichsmartphoneadoptionshouldbemeasuredistotalresidents,nottotalsubscribers.Choosingsubscribersasthebase,whichTelusdoes,removesfromconsiderationpeoplewhodonotsubscribetoanymobileservice,andthustheirconclusionconstructsaninflatedpictureofsmartphoneadoption.Asweshowbelow,whensmartphoneadoptionismeasuredonthebasisoftotalpopulation,Canadafarespoorlycomparedtootherdevelopednations.

SimilartoTelus,Bellarguesthat“Canada’swirelessregulatorypolicy[…]hasachievedeffectively100%wirelesspenetrationinthelargesturbancentresdespitetherelativelylargepresenceoflow-incomeCanadians.”45BellalsoarguesthatpeopleinCanadaare“amongtheworldleadersinadoptingnewwirelesstechnologiesasaresultofthehighqualityandaffordableservicesmadeavailableintheCanadianwirelessmarket.Forexample,[…]in2016CanadawassecondintheG20withrespecttosmartphonesasapercentageofdeviceconnections[at59.2%].CanadaexceedstheEuropeancountriesinthismeasure,”Bellcontinues,“furtherdemonstratingthatthereisnoadoptionprobleminCanada”.46

Thecarriers’presentationoffiguresandargumentsreferredtoaboveare,simplyput,anexerciseinfeatheringtheirownnest,bysidesteppingtheveryrealproblemwithmobileadoptionintheCanadianwirelessmarket.Bell’sassertionthatmobileadoptionisuniversalinurbanareasisnotsupportedbyanyevidence,and,unlesstheonlypeopleinCanadawithoutamobilephoneresideinruralareas,isplainlynottrue.Additionally,bothBellandTelus’figureswithrespecttosmartphonesasapercentageoftotalconnectionsignoresthattheabsolutenumberofmobileconnectionsinCanadaareatpresentandhavebeenhistoricallylowincomparisontoothercountries,specificallymember-statesoftheOrganizationforEconomicCooperationandDevelopment(OECD).

Infigure4below,wepresentcomparativefiguresonmobilewirelessbroadbandadoptionacrossOECDmembercountriesfor2017.Thesedatacontainpenetrationfigures(i.e.subscriptionsper100inhabitants)forboth“standardmobilebroadband”plans(i.e.smartphoneplansthatincludebothvoiceanddata)aswellas“dedicatedmobilebroadband”plans(i.e.data-onlysubscriptionssuchastheonesunderconsiderationinthisproceeding,typicallyusedwithtablets,orportableinternet“hotspots”).Theevidenceisclear:Canadadoesnotcomparewelltoothernationswhenitcomestoadoptionofmodernmobilewirelessservices.

45Bell(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para.21.46Ibid.

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Figure4:OverallMobileWirelessBroadbandPenetration(subscriptions/100people)(June2017)

Source:OECDBroadbandPortal.Availableat:http://www.oecd.org/sti/broadband/broadband-statistics/

TheOECDdatapresentedaboveshowthecombinedpenetrationrateofmobilebroadbandplanspercountry.Thisincludesboth“standardmobilebroadband”plansaswellas“dedicatedmobilebroadband”plans.ThesedatashowthatCanadahadanoverallmobilewirelessbroadbandpenetrationrateof70.7(i.e.70.7mobilebroadbandsubscriptionsper100inhabitants)asofJune2017,significantlylowerthantheOECDaverageof101.8.47ThisranksCanadaat28thoutof36developednations,substantiallylowerthanAustralia--acountrythatis,likeCanada,largeandsparselypopulated--whichsatatrank3withapenetrationrateof132.5,ortheUnitedStates,in5thplacewith128.6connectionsper100people(CanadawastiedwithIsraelin2017).Asthesedataclearlyshow,Canadaislaggingbehinditspeerswhenitcomestoensuringuniversaladoptionofmobilewirelessservices.

47Thenumbersometimesexceeds100,becausepeopleoftenhavemorethanonedevice.Thiscouldbeseeninthecaseofpeoplewhomaintainseparatesubscriptionsforpersonalversusworkpurposes,orpeoplewhosubscribetoseparatemobileplansfortheirsmartphoneandtabletdevices.Totheauthors’knowledge,therearenoauthoritativestudiesthatcorrectforthisphenomenonforthepurposeofmakingreliableinternationalcomparisons.

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Figure5:StandardMobileBroadbandPenetration(subscriptions/100people)(June2017)


Withrespectto“standardmobilebroadband”plans–thatis,mobilewirelessplansthatincludebothvoiceanddatacomponents,orthekindusedtoenablesmartphoneconnectivity—Canadafaredpoorlyaswell,sittingat23rdoutof34countrieswithapenetrationrateof64.8%.48Thedatapresentedabove(figure5)directlycontradictclaimsbyBellandTelusthatCanadaisaleaderwithrespecttosmartphoneadoption.So,whileTelusmayclaimthatCanadaisaleaderbasedonitsobservationthat“75percentofCanadianmobilesubscribersusedsmartphones[in2016]”,thefactisthattheabsolutenumberofmobileuserswhosubscribetovoiceanddataplansinCanada—themorerelevantfigure—showsthatCanadaiswellbelowaverage.

48TheUnitedStatesandIsraelareexcludedfromthiscomparison,sincetheOECDdoesnothavefiguresspecificto“standardmobilebroadband”plansforthesecountries.Bothcountriesare,however,includedintheOECD’soverallmobilebroadbandpenetrationfigurespresentedaboveinfigureX.

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Figure6:DedicatedMobileBroadbandPenetration(subscriptions/100people)(June2017)

Source:OECDBroadbandPortal.

Figure6showsdatafromtheOECDrepresentingdedicatedmobilebroadband(i.e.mobile“data-only”plans)penetrationinOECDcountriesforwhichthisfigureisavailable.49Heretoo,Canadarankedpoorlyin2017:ofthe34countriesforwhichdatawereavailable,Canadaranked21stwithapenetrationrateof5.9%.

Contrarytotherosyportraitpaintedbythenationalcarriers,OECDdatashowinnouncertaintermsthatCanada’slevelsofmobilewirelessbroadbandadoptionlagbehindincomparisontoourpeernations.Thisistruewhetherwelookatoverallmobilebroadbandpenetration,standardmobilebroadbandpenetration,ordedicatedmobilepenetration.Furthermore,thisisnotanewphenomenon:Canada’srankingintermsofoverallmobilebroadbandpenetrationamongstOECDpeershasactuallyfallenfrom21stin2010to28thin2017.Thesenation-levelfiguresdirectlycontradictclaimsthat“thereisnoadoptionprobleminCanada”.50Telus’contentionthatCanada“hasamongstthehighestadoptionratesforwirelessservicesinindustrializedcountriesandiswell-positionedamongstitspeers”51,inotherwords,doesnotaccordwiththeevidence.

49TheUnitedStatesandIsraelareexcludedfromthiscomparison,sincetheOECDdoesnothavefiguresspecificto“dedicatedmobilebroadband”plansforthesecountries.50Bell(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para.21.51Telus(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para.17.

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Adoptionamonglower-incomehouseholdsislow

Ouranalysisofthemorefine-graineddemographicdataonadoptiontrendswithinCanadarevealsanequallyifnotmoredisconcertingtrend.Inwhatfollows,wepresentStatisticsCanadadataoncellulartelephoneadoption.Thesedatashowcellulartelephoneadoptionatthenationalandprovinciallevels,onanoverallper-householdbasisaswellasbrokenoutbyincomequintiles.Theconclusionthatthesedataleadtoisclear:thereisaveryrealgapinmobileadoptioninCanada,agapthatisparticularlystarkamongstlow-incomehouseholds.

Figure7:HouseholdAccesstoMobilePhoneServicebyIncomeQuintile,Canada,2012-2016

Sources:StatisticsCanada(2018).'Dwellingcharacteristics,byhouseholdincomequintile,Canada,2016,SurveyofHouseholdSpendingin2016;StatisticsCanada(2017).Dwellingcharacteristics,byhouseholdincomequintile,Canada,2015,SurveyofHouseholdSpendingin2015;StatisticsCanada(2016).Dwellingcharacteristics,byhouseholdincomequintile,Canada,2014,SurveyofHouseholdSpendingin2014;StatisticsCanada(2015).Dwellingcharacteristics,byhouseholdincomequintile,Canada,2013,SurveyofHouseholdSpendingin2013;StatisticsCanada(2014).'Dwellingcharacteristics,byhouseholdincomequintile,Canada,2012.InSurveyofHouseholdSpending.

Notes:Upperboundsfor2016incomequintilesareasfollows:1st—$32,090;2nd—$55,470;3rd—85,336;4th—130,045.Boundsdecreasemoderatelygoingbackeachyear.

Themostobvioustrendthatthesedatarevealisthis:lowincomepeopleinCanadasubscribetomobileserviceatadrasticallylowerratethantheirhigher-earningcounterparts.Withamobilesubscriptionrateof68.7%,Canadianhouseholdsinthelowestincomequintile(i.e.householdincomelessthan$32,090peryear,ofwhichtherewereroughly2,853,000in2016)weresignificantlylesslikelytosubscribetoatleastonemobiledevicethanboththeacross-the-boardaverage(87.9%)andthantheir

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higher-earningcounterparts.At85.6%,householdsinthesecondquintile(i.e.earningbetween$32,091and$55,470,ofwhichtherewereroughly2,854,000in2016)subscribedataleveljustbelowaverage,andwerealsonotablylesslikelytohaveatleastonemobilesubscriptionthanhigher-earninghouseholds.Forhouseholdsinthetopthreequintiles,bycontrast,mobileadoptionisnearlyuniversal,rangingfrom92.7-96.4%.

Adoptionofmobilephonesamongthelowestincomebracketdidgrowby7%from2012-2016,outpacingaveragegrowthacrossincomequintilesby0.5%.However,from2015-2016,whilesignificantincreasesingrowthamongthemiddlethreebrackets(5.8%,2.5%,and2.3%,respectively)droveaverageadoptionacrossquintilestoincreaseby1.8%,adoptioninthelowestincomebracketactuallyfellby1.2%duringthistime(themostrecentyearforwhichStatisticsCanadadataareavailable).Inotherwords,increasesinadoptionamonglow-incomehouseholdsappearstohavestalled,leavingabsoluteadoptionlevelsinlow-incomehouseholdsmuchlowerthanthosefoundamongsthigher-earners.BellandTelusmaydenythatthisgapexists,butthefactssayotherwise.

Thesituationissimilarattheprovinciallevel.Thefollowingchart(figure8)showsadoptionbyincomequintileattheprovinciallevelfor2016,themostrecentyearforwhichsuchdataareavailable.

Figure8:HouseholdAccesstoMobilePhoneServicebyIncomeQuintileandbyProvince,2016

Sources:StatisticsCanada(2018).'Dwellingcharacteristics,byhouseholdincomequintilein2016byProvince,SurveyofHouseholdSpendingin2016.Notes:Upperboundsfor2016incomequintilesareasfollows:1st—$32,090;2nd—$55,470;3rd—85,336;4th—130,045.

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Aswiththenationaldata,figure8showsthatadoptionofmobileserviceamongstthelowestincomehouseholdsisdrasticallylowerthanitisforhigher-earninghouseholds,withnoprovinceactingasanexception.Furthermore,innoprovincedoesthelow-incomeadoptionlevelreachthenationalaverageforoveralladoptionrates(87.9%);insomeprovinces,suchasNewBrunswick(55.7%),Québec(59.9%),andPEI(60.9%),theproblemappearstobeparticularlyacute.

Theexplanationforthesetrendsissimple:mobilephonesareunaffordableformanylow-incomepeopleinCanada,whoaredisproportionatelylesslikelytosubscribetomobileservicethanthosewhohavehigherincome.AnaffordabilityreportcommissionedbytheCRTCsupportsthisconclusion,findingthat“…lowincomesandhighcostsrepresenttwomainbarrierstoaffordability”.52Furthermore,theauthorsnotethat:

TheresearchshowsthatbroadbandpenetrationratescontinuetobesubstantiallyloweramonglowincomeCanadians(e.g.60%forthelowestincomequintileversusover95%forthehighestincomequintile).Italsoconfirmsthetendencyofsubscribersonlowincomestoengageinfeweractivitiesonlinerelativetothosewithhighincomes.Whilelackofinterestorlowskilllevelspartiallyexplainloweradoptionanduseamonglow-incomeindividuals,costremainsadominantmotiveforwhylow-incomeCanadiansdonotusetheInternet.Nevertheless,thegrowingessentialityofbroadbandandincreasesintheinelasticityofdemandtoprice,alongwithcountry-specificfactors,enableincumbentoperatorsinCanadatochargepricesthatarehigherthanofferingsbytheircounterpartsinmostotheradvancedeconomies.Internationalcomparisonsalsosuggestthattherangeoflow-costoptionsavailableintheCanadianmarkettendtoberelativelylimited,meaningthatlow-incomehouseholdsarelikelytohavefeweraffordableoptionsinserviceplansthantheircounterpartsinotheradvancedeconomies.53

WehavealreadypresenteddataconfirmingthatlowincomehouseholdsinCanadadoindeedfacesubstantialbarrierstomobileadoption,asreflectedbythedifferenceinadoptionlevelsbetweenhouseholdsbasedonincome.Inthefollowingsection,wepresentpricingdatarelevanttomobileaffordability,drawingonpubliclyavailablesourcesfromNordicityGroup(commissionedbyInnovation,ScienceandEconomicDevelopment/ISED),theInternationalTelecommunicationsUnion(ITU),theUSFederalCommunicationsCommission(FCC),theOECD,andFinnishconsultancyRewheel.54

Thesesources,whichpresentdatausingavarietyofmethodsandmetrics(includingmobilepriceasapercentofgrossnationalincomepercapita,purchasingpowerparity(PPP),pricedeclinesovertime,priceperGB,andinternationalcomparisonofacommonmobileservicebasket)allleadtothesameconclusion:mobilewirelessservicesinCanadaarelessaffordablethantheyareelsewhereincomparablecountries,particularlyforlow-incomehouseholdsandindividuals.

52Rajabiun,R.,Ellis,D.,&Middleton,C.(2016).“Literaturereview:AffordabilityofCommunicationsservices”,ReportcommissionedbytheCanadianRadio-televisionandTelecommunicationsCommission,p.11.Availableat:https://www.ryerson.ca/~cmiddlet/ourresearch/lit-review-for-crtc-2016-affordability-rajabiun-ellis-middleton.pdf53Rajabiun,R.,Ellis,D.,&Middleton,C.(2016).“Literaturereview:AffordabilityofCommunicationsservices”,ReportcommissionedbytheCanadianRadio-televisionandTelecommunicationsCommission,p.25,emphasisadded.Availableat:https://www.ryerson.ca/~cmiddlet/ourresearch/lit-review-for-crtc-2016-affordability-rajabiun-ellis-middleton.pdf54Formoreinformationontheseorganizations,pleaseconsulttheglossaryoftermsincludedinthisreport.

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Mobilepricing,indecline?

Totheextentthatthecarriers’proposalsdiscussthebroadissueofhighmobilepricesinCanada,thefocusisontheassertionthatpricesareindeclinewithnoconsiderationforhowCanadiantrendscomparetothoseinotherjurisdictions.Telus’soleclaimonthispointisthat“[d]ataprovidedintheCRTC[CommunicationsMonitoringReport]showsadeclineofbetween9and16percentinaveragemobileservicepricesforpre-definedbasketsofwirelessservices”.55Bellbrieflyreferstoseveralreports,includinga2017telecommunicationspricingreportbyNordicitycommissionedbyInnovation,ScienceandEconomicDevelopment(ISED);areportbyWallCommunicationsIncthatitcommissionedaspartofitsparticipationinanearlierCRTCproceedingrelatedtomobileservices;andanEconomiststudy.TheconclusionBelldraws,similartothatofTelus,isthat“mobilewirelessservicesareavailabletoCanadians,andtolowincomeCanadiansinparticular,ataffordableprices”.56Aswasthecasewiththecarriers’approachtotheissueofadoption,heretootheirpresentationoffactsisselective,andtheirpredominantfocusonratesofpricedeclineinCanada,absentappropriatecontext,areunhelpfulwithregardtodevelopinganactualunderstandingofthestateofaffairsthatprevailsinCanadaandelsewhere.

Intermsofpricedeclines,whiletheNordicityreportpreparedforISEDdoesshowpricedeclinesovertimeformostofthebasketsstudied,thecarriersneglecttoplacethesefiguresintheirpropercontext:thestudyreferencedisaninternationalcomparison.Unsurprisingly,placingCanadanexttoitsinternationalpeerswithrespecttochangesinmobilepricesshowsthatCanadaisnotaleader,butrather,thatthemagnitudeofpricedeclinesintheCanadianmobilemarketweresignificantlysmallerthaninthemajorityofthecomparators(G7nations+Australia).Thefollowingfiguresshowthesecomparativedeclinesovertimefornon-sharedmobiletelephonybasketswhichincludedata,57aswellasformobilebroadbandplans(i.e.mobilebroadbandplansthatdonotincludevoiceminutes).Changesareexpressedintermsofcompoundannualgrowthrates(CAGR)fortherespectivesurveyperiods.

55Telus(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para.46.56Bell(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,paras.14-16.57Non-sharedplansaremobileplansthatareofferedtoindividualsubscribers.Sharedplans,bycontrast,makeavailableapooldataallowancestomultipledevicesonthesameaccount.Theplansproposedbythecarriersinthisproceedingarenon-sharedplans,andthereforesharedplansarenotconsidereddirectlycomparableforthepurposeofthisreport.However,theevidencepresentedbyNordicityforsharedplansplacesCanadainasimilarlypoorpositionwithrespecttocomparatornationswhenconsideringsharedplanpricedeclinesandoverallprices.Forservicelevel6,whichrepresentssharedplansfeaturingunlimitedminutes,SMS,10GBofdata,and3lines,Canadaranked4thof5countries(2ndmostexpensive).See:Nordicity,2017PriceComparisonStudyofTelecommunicationsServicesinCanadaandSelectForeignJurisdictions.

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Figure9:InternationalComparison

MobileTelephonyPriceDeclines,CAGR2008-2017

ServiceLevel3(1200minutes,300SMS,&1GBdata)

Source:Nordicity,2017PriceComparisonStudyofTelecommunicationsServicesinCanadaandSelectForeignJurisdictions.Note:CAGRstandsfor“compoundannualgrowthrate”.Seeglossaryforfurtherexplanation.



ServiceLevel4(Unlimitedminutes,SMS,&2GBdata)

Source:Nordicity,2017PriceComparisonStudyofTelecommunicationsServicesinCanadaandSelectForeignJurisdictions..

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Source:Nordicity,2017PriceComparisonStudyofTelecommunicationsServicesinCanadaandSelectForeignJurisdictions.Notes:Nodataongrowth/declineforJapan.

Forallthreeoftheservicebasketsshowninfigures9-11,Canadafaredpoorlyincomparisontoitsinternationalpeersbythemeasureofmobilewirelesstelephonypricedeclines.Between2008and2017,forthefirsttwobaskets(planswith1GBand2GBofdata),CanadianpricedeclinesofCAGR-5%and-4.3%,respectively,weresignificantlyoutstrippedbydeclinesrangingfromCAGR-9.6%to-32.6%inothercountries.PricedeclinesinCanadawereonlygreaterthanthoseinonecountry:Germany.Forplansthatinclude5GBofdata,CanadianpricesdeclinedbyonlyCAGR-1.4%from2015-2017,whileinallothercountriespricesdeclinedbybetweenCAGR-10.5to-24.6%.58Intermsofpricedeclinesformobilewirelessbroadbandplanswhichdonotincludeavoicecomponent,theNordicityreportshowsthatCanada’sperformancewassimilarlypoor,asthefigures12-14demonstrate.

58Nordicity’smobiletelephonyservicelevels1and2representplansthatdonotincludeadatacomponent,andthusareexcludedfromthisreport,astheyarenotdirectlycomparabletothedata-onlyplansthatareunderconsideration.Fortheseplans,Canadaisamiddle-topoor-performer.Forlevel1plans,whichincludeonly150minutes,Canadaranks4thof5countriesmeasured(2ndmostexpensive).Forlevel2plans,whichinclude450minutesand300SMS,Canadaranks4thof6,or3rdmostexpensive.See:Nordicity,2017PriceComparisonStudyofTelecommunicationsServicesinCanadaandSelectForeignJurisdictions.

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MobileBroadbandPriceDeclines,CAGR2010-2017

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Source:Nordicity,2017PriceComparisonStudyofTelecommunicationsServicesinCanadaandSelectForeignJurisdictions.



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Source:Nordicity,2017PriceComparisonStudyofTelecommunicationsServicesinCanadaandSelectForeignJurisdictions.

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ServiceLevel3(10GBandmore)

Source:Nordicity,2017PriceComparisonStudyofTelecommunicationsServicesinCanadaandSelectForeignJurisdictions.Similartothecasewithmobiletelephonyplans,theNordicitydatapresentedaboveshowthatmobilebroadbandplansinCanadahavegenerallybeensubjecttomodestpricedecreases,withtheexceptionofplansthatincludemorethan10GB,whichincreasedinpriceby1.6%from2016-2017.Intermsofcomparisons,thesedataagainshowthatpricedeclinesinCanadahavebeensignificantlylessthaninotherG7countriesandAustralia.

Between2010and2017forthelowestusagetier,CanadianpricedeclinesweretheslimmestofallcountriesstudiedatCAGR-3.2%,whiledeclinesinothercountriesrangedfromCAGR-5.5%inItalytoCAGR-17.4%inFrance.Forthemiddletier,onlytheUnitedStates,wherepricesincreasedbyCAGR0.8%,faredworsethanCanada.Forthehighesttier(planswith10GBormore),Canadianpricesincreasedby1.6%,andonlytheUKsawworseperformance.AtthesametimeallothercountriesexperiencedpricedeclinesbetweenCAGR-8.8%and-38.4%.So,whilethecarriersmaybetechnicallycorrectinnotingthatCanadianmobilewirelesspriceshavegenerallydeclinedovertime,theirobservationslackrelevantcontext.Whenplacednexttoourinternationalpeers,Canada’sperformanceonthismeasureisunquestionablypoor.

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Canadadoesnotfarewellintermsofoverallpricelevels

Afocusonchangeinpricepresentsonlyapartialimageofthesituation.AsnotedbytheaffordabilityreportcommissionedbytheCRTC,understandingtherelationshipbetweenadoption,price,andaffordabilityrequiresattentiontofinegrainedand,totheextentpossible,comprehensivedetail.AccordingtoRajabiun,Ellis,andMiddleton:

Understandingthemultifacetednatureofaffordabilityinafinegrainedmannerrequiresdetaileddataonthepriceandqualityofservices,whichcanthenbecorrelatedwithbroaderindicatorsofsocioeconomicdisparities,suchasincome,placeofresidence,healthstatus,ethnicbackground,etc.Indicatorsofpricelevels,rangeofprice/qualitycombinations,penetrationratesofadvancedtechnologiesandotherhigh-levelmarketoutcomemeasurescanofferinformativesignalsaboutaffordabilityasaneconomicconstraintonaccess,use,andthedevelopmentofthebroaderICTsector.59

Asdiscussedabove,afocusonchangeinpricedoesnotpaintCanadainafavourablelightwhencomparedtoourinternationalpeers.ButwhilethecarriershavefocusedonaselectivepresentationofpricedeclinesinCanadatocharacterizethesituationasimproving,theNordicityreport’sstudyofabsolutepricelevelsfurtherconfirmsthatmobilewirelessservicesinCanadaaresignificantlymoreexpensivethanthosefoundincomparablecountries.Followingtheaffordabilityreport’sobservations,wenowpresentinternationalcomparativedataonpricelevelsinordertodeterminewhatthesignalssayaboutaffordability.Asshowninfigure15below,fornon-sharedmobileplansthatincludebothvoiceanddata,CanadianpricesarehigherthanthosefoundinanyoftheG7countriesandAustralia,insomecasesmorethandoublingthelowestpricespresentedintheNordicitystudy.ThesedataconfirmthatmobilewirelessservicesinCanadaaresubstantiallylessaffordablethanthosefoundincomparablecountries.


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PricesforNon-SharedMobileWirelessTelephonyServiceBasketsthatincludedata,Levels3-5

2017,PPP-AdjustedCA$

Source:Nordicity,2017PriceComparisonStudyofTelecommunicationsServicesinCanadaandSelectForeignJurisdictions,pp.95-97.Availableat:https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/693.nsf/vwapj/Nordicity2017EN.pdf/$file/Nordicity2017EN.pdfNotes:Level3:1,200minutes,300SMS,&1GBdata.Level4:Unlimitedminutes,SMS,&2GBdata.Level5:Unlimitedminutes,SMS,&5GBdata.Nodataavailableforlevel3pricebasketinJapan.“PPP-AdjustedCA$”referstopricesinCanadiandollars,adjustedaccordingtothe“purchasingpowerparity”methodofinternationalpricingcomparison.Formoreinformation,seetheincludedglossaryofterms.

Foreachofthemobiletelephonybasketspresentedinfigure15above,2017Canadianpriceswerethemostexpensive,inallthreecasesmorethandoublingthelowest-pricedofferavailable.60Formobileplanswith1,200minutes,300SMS,and1GB,theCanadianplanwas$70.70,$6.67morethanthesameplaninthenextclosestcountry(Germany),$31.62morethanAustralia,and$50.19morethanthelowest(Italy).Forplanswithunlimitedminutes,SMS,and2GB,Canadawasagainthemostexpensiveat$81.61,$27.32morethanthesameplaninAustralia,and$49.74morethanthelowestpricedplan(France).Forthe5GBtier,Canada’spriceof$104.49wasthehighest,$37.45morethaninAustraliaand$65.30morethantheFrenchplan,whichwastheleastexpensiveinthistierat$39.20.Asimilarsituationprevailsformobilebroadbandplans(i.e.mobiledataplansthatdonotincludeavoiceorSMScomponent),asisshowninfigure16,below.

60Nordicitypresents6mobilewirelesstelephonyservicebaskets.Thefirsttwohavebeenexcludedabove,sincetheydonotincludeadatacomponent.Thesixthbasketisfor“shared”dataplans,i.e.thoseplansthatrequireasubscribertohavemorethanoneserviceinordertobeeligibletosignupforthatplan.Wehaveselectedthelevel2-4basketsabovebecausetheyarethemostrelevanttothepresentproceeding.TheotherbasketsintheNordicityreportdonotshowsubstantiallydifferenttrends.Ineachcase,Canadianmobileplansarealsoamongthemostexpensiveofthosesurveyed.Forlevel1,Canadianplansarethesecondmostexpensiveoffivecountriessurveyed.Forlevel2,Canadianplansarethethirdmostexpensiveoutofsixcountries,andforlevel6,Canadianplansarethesecondmostexpensiveoffivecountriessurveyed.

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PricesforMobileWirelessInternetServiceBaskets,Levels1-3

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Source:Nordicity,2017PriceComparisonStudyofTelecommunicationsServicesinCanadaandSelectForeignJurisdictions,pp.95-97.Availableat:https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/693.nsf/vwapj/Nordicity2017EN.pdf/$file/Nordicity2017EN.pdfNotes:Level1:2GBtolessthan5GB.Level2:5GBtolessthan10GB.Level3:10GBandmore.

FormobilebroadbandplanswithoutavoiceorSMScomponent(i.e.data-onlyplans),CanadawasamongthetoptwomostexpensivecountriesforeachofthethreeservicetierscoveredbytheNordicitystudy.Ofparticularnotewithrespecttothepresentproceeding,Canadianmobilebroadbandplansbetween2GBand5GB,thelowesttierstudied,werethemostexpensive.Inthistier,thepriceinCanadaof$43.01wasmorethandoublethatfoundinfiveoftheeightcountriesstudied.

TheNordicitystudyisnotaloneinitsfindings.Thereisalitanyofstudiesofferinginternationalcomparisonsofmobilepricing,eachofwhichemploysauniquemethodologytopresentandanalysetheavailabledata.SimilartotheNordicitystudy,thesereportsallpointtothesameconclusionregardingtheinternationalstandingofCanada’smobilepricing.Simplyput,mobilewirelessservicesinCanadaaremoreexpensivethantheyarevirtuallyanywhereelse.Inwhatfollows,wepresentaselectionofdatafromtheInternationalTelecommunicationsUnion(ITU),theOECD,FinnishconsultancyRewheel,andtheUSFederalCommunicationsCommission.Asisexplainedbelow,eachprovidesaperspectivethatisofparticularrelevancetothepresentproceeding.

TheNordicityreportdoesnotpresentdataonmobilewirelessplansthatincludedatainamountslessthan1GB.Becausethecarriers’proposalsfor“lower-costdata-onlyplans”rangefromoffering400to

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600MBofdata,inthechartsbelowwepresentrelevantcomparisonsofplansthatincludebetween500MB-1GBofdata,drawingonOECDandITUdata.Thesedataareparticularlyrelevanttothepresentproceeding,astheseplanscanbeconsidered“entrylevel”offeringsthataremostlikelytobeoptionsconsideredlowincomepeopleinCanadawhocouldnotaffordthemoreexpensiveoptionsatthehigherrangeofoffersinthemarket.

ThefirstdatawepresentarefromasurveyconductedbytheOECDofmobilebroadbandplansthatincludedatleast100callsand500MBofdataasofMay2017(figure17).Thedatainthissurveyincludeapplicabletaxes,andarecalculatedusingthepurchasingpowerparitymethod,intermsofUSD$.Asthefigurebelowclearlyshows,at$38.38USDPPP,CanadianplanswerenotablymoreexpensivethantheOECDaverageof$22.46USDPPP.Indeed,Canadarankedatadisappointing31stofthe35countriescoveredinthecomparison.ThepriceofCanadianplanswasnearlydoubletheAustralianprice($19.34USDPPP),andonlylessexpensivethanplansinHungary($44.30USDPPP),theUS($46.21USDPPP),CzechRepublic($49.79USDPPP),andJapan($67.16USDPPP).

Figure17:OECDMobilebroadbandbasket,

Lowuser,including100calls+500MB,May2017,VATincluded,USD$PPP


Thedatawepresentinfigure18aredrawnfromtheInternationalTelecommunicationsUnion(ITU)’sWorldTelecommunicationsIndicatorsDatabase.ThemostrecentdataavailablefromtheITUpertainto2016prices,andtheplanssurveyedwere“prepaid”typeplansthatincluded500MBofdata.Thisfigurepresentspricesasafunctionofgrossnationalincome(GNI)percapita,or,inotherwords,intermsof

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averageincome,ameasurethatisofparticularrelevancewhenconsideringtherelationshipbetweenpriceandaffordability,sinceitpresentspricingasafunctionofaverageincomeandthusdrawsadirectlinkbetweenthetwovariables.

Figure18:Mobile-broadband,

prepaidhandset-based(500MB),2016,As%ofGNIpercapita

Source:ITU(2017).ICTPriceTables—Mobile-broadband,prepaidhandset-based(500MB).WorldTelecommunicationsIndicatorsDatabase.

Asfigure18shows,CanadadoesperformbetterthantheOECDaverageonthismeasure,at0.43vs.0.52,respectively.However,atarankof15thoutof35countriesmeasured,Canadacanbeclassifiedasamiddlingperformeratbest.Furthermore,wenotethatthepresentationofdatabyaverageincomedoesnotaccountfordifferencesinincomelevelbetweenhouseholdswithincountries.WhilethisfiguresuggeststhatCanadianpricesfora500MBmobilebroadbandplanmaybewithinthemid-rangeofaffordabilityforpeopleinCanadaearninganaverageannualincome,61thesameconclusioncannotbedrawnwithrespecttothelow-incomepeoplewhichtheCommissionhasidentifiedasaspecificconcernofthepresentproceeding.Asourearlieranalysisofadoptionlevelsbyincomeattheprovincialandnationallevelshowed,formanypeopleearninglowincomeinCanada,mobilephoneserviceremainsoutofreach.

61TheITUusesGNIpercapitainUSDfor2015asareferencepointforthisandtheotherITUfigurespresentedhere.ForCanada,thatfigurewasUSD$47,250.AccordingtoStatisticsCanada,theaveragebefore-taxincomeofaCanadianhousehold(averageofallquintiles)in2016wasCAD$91,358.Averageannualbefore-taxincomeforthelowest-andsecond-lowestincomequintilesfor2016wereCAD$19,559andCAD$43,436.Source:StatisticsCanada(2018).Surveyofhouseholdspendingin2016.“Dwellingcharacteristics,byhouseholdincomequintile,Canada,2016”.

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TheITUalsopresents2016comparativedataforthesamemobilebroadbandbasket(i.e.plansthatinclude500MB)usingthepurchasingpowerparity(PPP)measureratherthanasapercentofGNIpercapita.Onthismeasure,Canadaisalsoamiddleperformer,cominginslightlyworseintermsofPPPthanGNIpercapitawitharankof23ndoutof35countriesmeasured.AtUSD$PPP16.84,CanadawasslightlyabovetheOECDaverageofUSD$PPP16.25,asshowinfigure19.


prepaidhandset-based(500MB),2016,PPP,USD$

Source:ITU(2017).ICTPriceTables--Mobile-broadband,prepaidhandset-based(500MB).WorldTelecommunicationsIndicatorsDatabase.

Formobiledata-onlyplans,theITUpresentsstatisticsforpostpaidcomputer-basedplansthatinclude1GBofdatafortheyear2016.Theseplansareofspecificrelevancetothisproceedingfortworeasons.First,theCommissionisconsideringhowtoformulateastandardwithrespecttowhat“lower-costdata-only”plansshouldbeplacedonoffer,and,unlikeseveraloftheothercomparisonspresented,thisplanonlyprovidesdata(i.e.novoiceorothercostcomponentsrelatedtotransmissionsuchasSMS).Second,the1GBfiguremorecloselyreflectsthevolumeofmobiledatathatCanadiansonaverageactuallyusethandolower-usageplanssuchasthe500MBplan.62Third,wenotethatthefunctionsperformedbythecarrierareidenticalregardlessofwhethertheenduserconnectsasmartphoneorcomputertothenetwork.

62Aswediscussatgreaterlengthbelow,OECDdatashowthatdatausageformobilebroadbandservicesinCanadawas1.49GBpersubscriptionpermonthin2016.

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Onthebasisofpricefor1GBpostpaidcomputer-basedplans,asapercentageofGNIpercapita,figure20showsthatCanadawasamongtheworstperformingcountriesintheOECD.Itplaced30thoutof35OECDcountries,and,at0.97%,wasnearlytwiceashighastheOECDaverageof0.55%GNIpercapita.


postpaidcomputer-based(1GB),2016,asa%ofGNIpercapita

Source:ITU(2017).ICTPriceTables--Mobile-broadband,postpaidcomputer-based(1GB).WorldTelecommunicationsIndicatorsDatabase.

AccordingtoITUdata,forthesameplanasshownabove(figure20)butmeasuredbyPPPinUSD$(shownbelowinfigure21),Canada’spostpaidcomputer-based1GBmobilebroadbandplanscomparedevenlessfavourablythantheydidwithrespecttoGNIpercapita.IntermsofPPPinUSD$,CanadawassecondworstamongOECDcountries(i.e.34thof35)at$37.89USDPPP.IntheUnitedStates,suchplanswerelessthanhalfasexpensiveat$16.32USDPPP,nominallyabovetheOECDaverageof$16.31USDPPP.Canada’spriceforthisserviceofferingwasnearlyfourtimesthepriceofAustralianmobilebroadbandplans($9.66USDPPP)andmorethanseventimestheleastexpensive,whichwerefoundinLuxembourgatarateof$5.05USDPPP.

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postpaidcomputer-based(1GB),2016,PPP,USD$

Source:ITU(2017).ICTPriceTables--Mobile-broadband,postpaidcomputer-based(1GB).WorldTelecommunicationsIndicatorsDatabase.

Figure22(below)showsdatafromtheUnitedStatesFederalCommunicationsCommission(FCC)fortheyear2017,againmeasuredusingPPP,whichconfirmtheobservationthatCanadafarespoorlywithrespecttothemeanmonthlyplanchargeforsmartphonedataplanswithusagelimits≥2to<5GB.Fortheseplans,theFCCpresentsdatafor29oftheOECDcountries.Ofthesecountries,Canadaranked28th,orsecondmostexpensive,at$85.25USDPPP,nearlydoubletheaverageof$43.74USDPPP.OnlyGreecehadplansofthistypethatweremoreexpensive($133.10USDPPP),whilethesuchplansintheUnitedStates($72.99USDPPP)cameinslightlylowerthanCanada.ThepriceofplansinAustralia($25.01)waslessthanathirdthepriceofCanadianones,whileplansinthecheapestcountry,Finland($13.43)werelessthanonesixththepriceofCanadianplans.

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Figure22:Meanmonthlyplanchargeforsmartphonedataplanswith≥2to<5GBUsageLimit

2017(PPP$)

Source:FCC(2018)InternationalBroadbandDataReport.6th.ed,Table5.Availableat:https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-18-99A1.pdf

TheUSFCChasalsocompiledacompositemeasureofthepriceperGBofmobiledatafortheperiodJuly-August2017,againusingthePPPmeasure(figure23below).Inordertocalculatethismeasure,theFCCestimates“ahedonicregressionmodeltoadjustpricesforcountry-leveldifferencesincostanddemographicfactors,differencesinmobilebroadbandproductquality(e.g.,planusagelimits)andcontentquality.”63Evencontrollingforqualityasdescribedabove,Canadafarespoorlybythismeasure,asshowninthefigurebelow.Itranked22of29countriessurveyedwitha2017priceperGBof$51.38PPP,substantiallyhigherthantheaverageof$37.88PPP.TheUS,bycontrast,ranked12th,at$20.02PPP,whileAustraliaranked14that$21.48PPP.

63FCC(2018)InternationalBroadbandDataReport.6th.ed,Table7:MobileBroadbandPriceIndices(PPP),pp.70-71.Availableat:https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-18-99A1.pdf

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Figure23:MobileBroadbandPriceIndices:

Price/GBofMobileData(July-August,2017)(PPP)

Sources:FCC(2018)InternationalBroadbandDataReport.6th.ed,Table7:MobileBroadbandPriceIndices(PPP),p.70.Availableat:https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-18-99A1.pdf

TheFCC’sfindingsonCanada’srelativeinternationalperformancewithrespecttoperGBpricingisalsobroadlyconfirmedbytheindependentanalysisofFinnishconsultancyRewheel.Rewheelcalculatesamedian“fullyallocatedgigabyteprice”metricinordertomakemeaningfulinternationalpricingcomparisons.AsRewheelexplains,the“[f]ullyallocatedGBprice=tariffretailmonthlyprice(incl.VAT)dividedby[the]includedgigabyteallowance”withunlimitedplansbeingassignedafinitevolumeof200GB.ThevaluespresentedbyRewheelrepresentthecountry-specificmedianprice;Rewheelfurtherexplainsitsmethodasfollows:“whencalculatingthecountrymedianwehaveusedthefullyallocatedgigabytepricesfromalltheeligibleplansofoperatormainbrands,theirsub-bandsandtheMVNOswetracked”.64

Rewheel’sfindingsarepresentedinthefollowingtwofigures,whichrefertothecountrymedianfullyallocatedGBpricefor4Gsmartphoneplanswithatleast1,000minutes&featuring3Mbit/sspeeds,andfor4GLTEmobilebroadbandplanswithatleast3Mbit/s(i.e.mobilebroadbandplansthatdonot

64RewheelResearch(2018).“DigitalFuelMonitor:Thestateof4Gpricing—1H2018,DigitalFuelMonitor9threlease”,p.34.

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includeavoicefeature),respectively.BothfiguresarepresentedinEuros,andwerecurrentasofApril2018.

Figure24:FullyAllocatedGigabytePrice

(4Gsmartphoneplanswithatleast1,000minutes&3Mbit/sforHDvideo)

€,April2018,Countrymedian

Source:RewheelResearch.DigitalFuelMonitor.“Thestateof4Gpricing—1H2018,DigitalFuelMonitor9threlease”.1stMay,2018.

Forsmartphoneplans,Rewheel’sdatashowthatCanada,at€9.6perGB,wasranked39thof41countriessurveyed,orinotherwords,aGBinCanadawasthe3rdmostexpensive.ThepriceofaGBinCanadawasmorethan3timesasmuchastheOECDaverageprice,andwasmorethanfourtimesasexpensiveastheEU28average.RewheeldescribesthepricesfoundinCanada(togetherwiththosefoundintheUSandKorea)as“exorbitant”anda“universeapart”fromthosefoundincountrieslikeFrance.65ItgroupsCanadatogetherwithother“laggardcountriessuchasGreece,Cyprus,[and]Malta”,andattributesthedramaticdifferenceinpricetothelaggards’statusas“non-competitivemarkets”.66

Rewheel’sfindingswithrespecttodata-onlymobilebroadbandplansareverysimilartothesituationforsmartphones.Asfigure25belowshows,afullyallocatedGBofmobilebroadbanddatainCanadawas€7.7asofApril2018.Thiswascheaperthanthepriceinonlyonecountry:Cyprus.ThisplacesCanadain40thplaceofthe41countriesmeasured,or2ndmostexpensiveonthismeasure.Canada’spriceof€7.7permobilebroadbandGBwas7timestheOECDaverageandmorethan9timestheaveragepriceofamobilebroadbandGBacrosstheEU28countries.

65Ibid.,p.3.66Ibid.,p.20.

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Figure25:FullyAllocatedGigabytePrice

(4GLTEmobilebroadbandplanswithatleast3Mbit/sforHDvideo)

€,April2018,Countrymedian

Source:RewheelResearch.DigitalFuelMonitor.“Thestateof4Gpricing—1H2018,DigitalFuelMonitor9threlease”.1stMay,2018.

RewheelalsoproducesinternationalcomparisonsofhowmanyGBasubscribercanpurchaseforasetprice,rangingfrom€5to€80.Whilewedonotreproducethosecomparisonshere(forbrevity’ssake),Canadaplacesnobetterthan33rdof41countriesmeasuredforanyofthesemeasures,andindeed,isamongthe5mostexpensivecountriessurveyedforallbuttwooftheelevensetsofcomparisons.67

Thelastfigurewepresentinthissectiononpricing(figure26,below)showsanOECDinternationalcomparisonofmobiledatausagepermobilebroadbandsubscriptionasofDecember2016.Despitesometimesbeingportrayedasheavyusersofcommunicationservices,thesedatashowthatpeopleinCanadauserelativelylessmobiledatathanpeopleinothercomparablecountries.TheOECDdatashowthatsubscribersinCanadaconsumeonaverage1.49GBpermonth,comparedtotheOECDaverageof2.3GB.ThisplacesCanadain23rdplaceofthe32countriesforwhichdataareavailable.PeopleintheUSused2.67GBpermonth,whileinFinland,whichhasthemostprolificusageofthecountriesmeasured,peopleused10.95GBmonthly,representingmorethan7timesasmuchusageastheircounterpartsinCanada.AsimilarpictureispresentedbyCiscodata,whichshowthatmobiledatausageinCanadain2016was1.42GBpermonthcomparedto3.5GBintheUnitedStates.68

67Ibid.,p.12.68Cisco(2018).“VNIForecastHighlightsTool”,AccessedMay21,2018.Availableat:https://www.cisco.com/c/m/en_us/solutions/service-provider/vni-forecast-highlights.html#

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Figure26:MobileDataUsagePerMobileBroadbandSubscription,2016

Source:OECDTable1.14MobileDataUsageperMobileBroadbandSubscription.Availableat:https://www.oecd.org/internet/broadband/broadband-statistics/

Highpricescauseaffordabilityproblems

Thedatapresentedabovearerelevantforseveralreasons.First,itissurprisingthatpeopleinCanada,whoareoftenportrayedasprolificusersofcommunicationservices,infactuselessmobiledatathantheaverageofOECDcountries.ItisouropinionthatthisphenomenonisadirectresultofthecomparativelyhighpricesthatcharacterizetheCanadianmobilewirelessmarket.AstheaffordabilityreportcommissionedbytheCRTCobserved:

Fromtheperspectiveofconsumers,affordabilityisbroadlyviewedasacombinationofpricingandincomevariables,aswellasthesubjectivevalueindividualsderivefromspendingscarceresourcesonparticulargoodsandservices.Traditionaleconomictheorysimplifiestheconceptofaffordabilityintermsoftheconsumer's“willingnesstopay”(i.e.demand),whichtendstoincreasewithincomesanddeclinewithprices.69


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Expandingfurtheronthisdynamic,Rajabiun,Ellis,andMiddletonexplain:

EvenincountrieswithhighaverageincomessuchasCanada,individualswithverylowornoincomemustbalancetheirspendingonaccesstocommunicationsservicesagainstspendingprioritiesforotheressentialssuchasfoodandshelter.Althoughconsumerswithhigherincomescanaffordtopayhigherpricesforhigherqualityservices,theextenttowhichlow-incomeindividualscanaffordservicesofqualitysufficienttomeettheirindividualrequirementsdependsonthelevelandrangeoftheprice/qualitycombinationsonofferinthemarket.70

Clearly,thisisnotasituationthathasbeenresolvedbymarketforces,norhaveregulatoryandpolicyinitiativestodateerasedCanada’s“digitaldivide”,despitesustainedeffortsoverthepastdecade.Theaffordabilitystudydescribestheproblemasfollows:

Theincentivesofoperatorstoofferlow-costoptionsisoftenlimitedinboththeearlystagesofmarketdevelopment,whenonlyasmallnumberofearlyadoptersvalueagivenservicesufficientlytopayforit,andinmaturemarketswheretheservicehasbecomeessentialtomostconsumers.Monitoringtheevolvingpricingstructureoftheindustryoffersanimportantwindowintounderstandingaffordabilityasaneconomicconstraintonconsumers.TotheextentthatmoreaffordablecommunicationsservicesarecrucialtothegrowthofthebroaderICTeconomy,networkaccesspriceandqualityinformationcanbeparticularlyvaluabletopolicymakerstryingtopromoteproductivitygrowthandeconomicdevelopment.71

Itisinthespiritoftheseobservationsontheimportanceofutilizingempiricaldataandanalysistoinformpolicydevelopmentthatwehaveconductedthedetailedstudypresentedabove.Thefigureswehavepresentedonoveralladoption,adoptionbyincome,andservicepricingthereforebringcrucialperspectivewhenconsideringwhypeopleinCanadaareusinglessmobiledatathantheirpeers:basedontheevidenceshownabove,itisouropinionthatCanada’slowmobileadoption,andlowmobileadoptionamongstthoseearninglowerlevelsofincomeinparticular(i.e.thoseinthelowestincomequintile,andtoalesserextent,thoseinthesecondlowestquintile),isexplainedprimarilybythefactthatmobileservicesinCanadaaresoexpensive.Inotherwords,contrarytotheassertionsofcarrierssuchasBellMobilityandTelus,mobileservicesremainunaffordableformanyinCanada.

Thisconclusionisalsosupportedbytheauthorsoftheaffordabilitystudy,whofoundthat:

Whilelackofinterestorlowskilllevelspartiallyexplainloweradoptionanduseamonglow-incomeindividuals,costremainsadominantmotiveforwhylow-incomeCanadiansdonotusetheInternet.Nevertheless,thegrowingessentialityofbroadbandandincreasesintheinelasticityofdemandtoprice,alongwithcountry-specificfactors,enableincumbentoperatorsinCanadatochargepricesthatarehigherthanofferingsbytheircounterpartsinmostotheradvancedeconomies.Internationalcomparisonsalsosuggestthattherangeoflow-costoptionsavailableintheCanadianmarkettendtoberelativelylimited,meaningthatlow-incomehouseholdsarelikelytohavefeweraffordableoptionsinserviceplansthantheircounterpartsinotheradvancedeconomies.72

70Ibid,p.2,emphasisadded.71Ibid,p.12,emphasisadded.72Ibid,p.25,emphasisadded.

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Inthefinalsectionofthisreport,weassessthespecificproposalsthatthenationalcarriers(i.e.Bell,Rogers,andTelus)havesubmittedtotheCommissioninthisproceeding.WeareoftheviewthattheseproposedplansarenotlikelytomeettheaffordabilityneedsofpeopleearningalowincomeinCanada.Basedonthisassessment,wealsoareconcernedthattheplansproposedbythecarriers,andspecificallytheirpricing,cannotbeconsidered“justandreasonable”byeitherthestandardofapricelevelthatreflectsthecostofserviceprovisionplusareasonablemarkup,73orbytherequirementthattelecommunicationsservicesmeetthesocialandeconomicrequirementsofusers.74Inlightoftheevidence,wequestionwhetherapolicyofunconditionalretailforbearancecanorshouldmaintainedbytheCommission,andsuggestthattodosomayinfactbeinconsistentwiththelegislatedtelecommunicationspolicyobjectivesaswellasthestandardsforforbearanceestablishedinsection34oftheTelecommunicationsAct.Simplyput,webelievethattheevidencepresentedinthisreportandbyothersoverthecourseofthisproceedingshowsthatcompetitioninthemobilewirelesssectorhasbeeninsufficienttoprotecttheinterestsofusers—asdemonstratedbythepersistentlackofaccesstoaffordablemobileservicesfacinglower-incomepeopleinCanada--andthereforethattheCommissionmusttakeconcreteactiontoaddressthesituation.

Finally,basedonourassessmentofthecarriers’proposals,andusingotherrelevantinformation,weprovideseveralrecommendationsabouttheshapethatasolutiontotheproblemsdescribedabovemighttake.

DoesthecostofprovidingservicemakeCanada’shighrates“justandreasonable?”

DespitethefactthatapreponderanceoftheevidenceshowsthatmobilewirelesspricesinCanadaaresubstantiallyhigherthantheyareincomparablecountries,andthatadoptionofmobileservicesthatincludeadatacomponentarecomparativelylow,thecarriersmaintainthat“Canadiansarereceivingexceptionalvaluefortheirwirelessserviceswithaccesstoworld-leadingwirelessinfrastructureandservicesataffordableprices.ThissuccessistheresultofthecompetitiveretailwirelessmarketinCanadathatisbasedonbillionsofdollarsinprivateinvestmentandrigorouscompetitiveprocess”.75Similarly,Telusarguesthat“[t]hebestevidenceofthestrengthofthewirelessmarketplaceinCanadaliesinitsoverallperformance,especiallywhenconsideredaccordingtotheincentivesofserviceproviderstoinnovateandinvest[…]Wirelessprovidersinthiscountryareallinvestingscarcecapitaldollarstodeliverthebestnetworkexperiencefortheircustomers”.76

Indeed,theargumentthatinternationalcomparisonsofpricingdatadonotadequatelyaccountfornetworkqualityorthehighrelativecostofbuildingnetworksina“vastandsparselypopulatedcountry”77likeCanadaarenothingnew.Theseargumentshavebeenfrequentlyinvokedbythecarriers

73TheCommission’scurrentrangeofacceptablemarkupsrangesfrom15to40percent.See:CRTC(2016).“Informationalsessioncostingprinciplesandconcepts:telecommunicationindustry”.Availableuponrequestfromtheauthors.Seealso:Telecomproceduralletteraddressedtodistributionlist,Re:CRTCInformationalsessionsontelecommunicationservicescostingprinciples&concepts,availableat:https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2016/lt160120.htmandassociatedreference:https://crtc.gc.ca/partvii/eng/2008/8638/c12_200805906.htm74ThisrequirementisfoundintheTelecommunicationsAct’ssection7objectives,andadditionallycompetitionsufficienttoprotecttheinterestsofusersisthekeycriterionindeterminingwhethertheCommissionmay,orshall,forbearfromtheregulationoftelecommunicationsservicespursuanttosection34oftheAct.75Bell(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para23.76Telus(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,paras.47&48,respectively.77Bell(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para1.

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andotherstojustifythehighpricelevelsthatprevailintheCanadianmobilewirelessmarket.AnarticlefromTelus’sblogin2013,writtenbyTelusseniorvicepresidentTedWoodhead,arguesthefollowing:“Whenyouconsiderourenormousinvestment,challenginggeography,sparsepopulationandoutstandingnetworksCanadareallySHOULDbethemostexpensivecountryforwirelessserviceintheOECD,butwe’renot.That’sagreatsuccessstoryweshouldbecelebrating”.78Telus’proposalinthepresentproceedingalsoreliesonareportbyconsultantJeffreyEisenachwhichmakessimilarargumentsinanefforttodiscredittheNordicityreport’sfindingsthatCanadianmobilewirelesspricesareexpensiveandunaffordable.79Forinstance,theEisenachreportarguesthat“byfailingtoaccountfordifferencesinservicequalityandusage,aswellasunderlyingcostfactors,theNordicityReportignoresthefactthatCanadiansaregettingmorefortheirmobilebroadbanddollarthanconsumersinlow-price/low-performancecountriesinEurope”.80

Theseargumentshavebeenechoedmorerecentlyinareportentitled“ThestateofcompetitioninCanada’stelecommunicationsIndustry—2018”authoredbyMartinMasseunderthebannerofafree-marketthinktankcalledtheMontrealEconomicInstitute(MEI).81WhiletheMEIreportconcedesthat“[t]hepricesCanadianspayfortelecommunicationsservicesaccordingtoNordicity’sinternationalcomparisonsremaingenerallyhigherthaninmostcountries”,itneverthelessattemptstocastaspersionsontheNordicityreport’smethodologyandconclusions.Instead,theMEIarguesthat,because“Canada’sdensityofwirelessconnectionsperkm2isoneofthelowestintheworld”,andsincetheleveloftelecommunicationsinvestmentinCanada“outshinesmostothercountries[…][t]heaveragebillthatCanadianspayfortheirwirelessandinternetserviceskeepsincreasingnotbecausetheyhavetopaymoreforthesameservices,butbecausetheyarepayingformoreandbetterservices”.82

Theessenceofalltheseargumentsistwo-fold.First,itisarguedthatinternationalcomparisonsaregenerallyinapt,sincethesecomparisonsdonotalwaysaccountforthequalityofnetworks.Accordingtothislineofargument,therelativelyhighqualityofCanadiannetworksisshownbyreferencetoperformancemetrics(e.g.speedandcoverage)aswellasthecomparativelyhighlevelofinvestment(i.e.cost)inCanada’snetworks.Second,itisarguedthatthepricesfacingwirelesssubscribersinCanada,evenwhenitisconcededthattheyarecomparablyhigh,areeconomicallyjustified,becausetheyreflectthehighcostofbuildingnetworks,andthatCanadians“arepayingmoreformoreandbetterservices”.83

Wehavealreadyaddressedtheissueofnetworkqualityabove,inthediscussionofLTEavailabilityandLTEspeed.Briefly,thisdiscussionshowedthatCanadaisamiddleperformerintermsofLTEavailability,and,whilespeedsareonthehighsideat9thof33countriessurveyedbyOpenSignal,Canada’smeasuredspeedof32.9MbpsisnotremarkablyhigherthantheOECDaverageLTEspeedof28.4Mbps.Inother78Woodhead,T.(2013).“Scratchthesurfaceandtheshinecomesoffcritic’smythology”.TelusBlog.Availableat:https://blog.telus.com/public-policy/scratch-the-surface-and-the-shine-comes-off-critics-mythology/79ReportofDr.JeffreyEisenachatpara59,submittedbyTELUSasexpertevidenceinTNC2017-259.Dr.EisenachisaneconomistandManagingDirectorandCo-ChairofNERA'sCommunications,Media,andInternetPractice.ForitssubmissionsinTNC2017-259,TELUSaskedDr.EisenachtoprovidetheobjectiveevidenceoftheperformanceoftheCanadianwirelessretailmarketplace.TELUSsubmittedthisevidenceontherecordoftheproceedinginTNC2017-259(the“EisenachReport”)andquotesfromthatreportinitsIntervention.Seehttps://services.crtc.gc.ca/pub/DocWebBroker/OpenDocument.aspx?DMID=2963477.80Ibid.,para.77.81Masse,M.(2018).“ThestateofcompetitioninCanada’stelecommunicationsindustry—2018”.Montreal:MEI.Availableat:https://www.iedm.org/sites/default/files/web/pub_files/cahier0118_en.pdf82Ibid.,p.5.83Ibid.

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words,whileCanada’smobilenetworksfarereasonablywellonavailabilityandperformancemeasures,thedatadonotsupporttheconclusionthatCanadianwirelessnetworksare“worldleading”asthecarrierscontend.84

Furthermore,wenotethatallofthecomparisonsdoaccountforqualityinsofarastheycompareplansofsimilarorequalmonthlydatavolume.Thismetricisparticularlyrelevantwhenconsideringtheissueof“lower-costdata-only”planstargetedtowardprovidingaffordableaccessforlower-incomepeople.Aswehavepreviouslydiscussed,datavolume,notspeed,isthemorerelevantfactorinthepresentsituation,sincehigh-speednetworksmaybeoflittleornovalueforpeoplewhoexpecttomakesmallamountsofnetworkusageoverextendedperiodsoftime,ratherthanlargeburstsofusageinshortepisodes.Whenvolumelimitsaresosmallastobepotentiallyreachedinamatterofmoments,itisthelimitthatmattersmost,notthespeedwithwhichitcanbereached.

Thecarriersthemselvesappeartohaverecognizedthatsomepeoplevaluehavinggreaterdatavolumesatlowerspeedsratherthanlessdataathigherspeeds.Thisisdemonstratedbytheintroductionof“3G”(i.e.LTEaccessthrottledto3Mbps)plansthatincludemoredatavolumedollar-for-dollarrelativetocomparable4Gplans,bynational-carriersub-brandssuchaschatrandPublicMobile.85Wenote,however,thattheintroductionoftheseplansdoesnotappeartohavesubstantiallycontributedtoclosingthepersistentaffordabilitygapintheCanadianmarkettodate.

Additionally,wenotethattheFCCdatapresentedaboveemploy“ahedonicregressionmodeltoadjustpricesforcountry-leveldifferencesincostanddemographicfactors,differencesinmobilebroadbandproductquality(e.g.,planusagelimits)andcontentquality.”86TheseFCCdatagenerallysupporttheconclusionofothersourcesthatCanadianmobilepricesarehighbyrelativestandards,insomecasesdramaticallyso.

Inspiteofallthis,thereareadditionalreliabledataavailablewhichallowforanassessmentofthecarriers’proposed“lower-costdata-only”plansfactoringforcapitalinvestmentandothercostfactors.Thesourceofthesedata,infact,istheCRTCandthecarriersthemselves,which,overthecourseofthepastseveralyears,havedevelopeddetailedeconomiccoststudiesbasedonthecarriers’ownregulatoryeconomiccoststudymanuals.Thesestudiesapplytothenationalcarriers’mobilewirelessnetworksandarebasedontheprospectiveincrementalcostmethodologyknownasthe“PhaseII”model.WhilecomparabledataareunfortunatelynotavailableforcountriesotherthanCanada,makinganinternationalcomparisonbythismetricimpossible,itisneverthelessouropinionthattheresultsofthesestudiesareareliableandaccuratemeasurebywhichtoassessthecarriers’proposed“lower-costdata-only”plansonthebasisofcost.

84Bell(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para23.85SeePublicMobilewebsite,“Offerdetails”:“Planswith4GLTEdatacanaccessmaximumLTEdownloadspeeds(manufacturerratedatupto750Mbps;expectedaveragespeeds12-200Mbps).Planswith3Gdatamayreachdownloadspeedsofupto3Mbps,withthecoverageandreliabilityoftheLTEnetwork.”AccessedMay21,2018.Availableat:https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/bc/plans/40for2GB-3Gspeed86FCC(2018)InternationalBroadbandDataReport.6th.ed,Table7:MobileBroadbandPriceIndices(PPP),pp.70-71.Availableat:https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-18-99A1.pdf

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Assessmentofcarriers’proposed“lower-costdata-only”plans

InTelecomRegulatoryPolicyCRTC2015-177,“Regulatoryframeworkforwholesalemobilewirelessservices”,theCommissiondeterminedthatregulationofwholesalemobilewirelessroamingratesisnecessary“inlightofitsfindingthatwholesaleroamingisnotsubjecttoasufficientlevelofcompetition”.87ThedeterminationthatsuchregulationisnecessarywasadirectresultoftheCommission’sfindingthat,infact,“BellMobility,[Rogers],and[Telus]collectivelypossessmarketpowerinthenationalmarketforGSM-basedwholesaleroaming”.88Inthatsamedecision,theCommissionfoundthat“BellMobility,[Rogers],and[Telus]collectivelypossessmarketpowerinthenationalmarketforGSM-basedwholesaleMVNOaccess”,89althoughitdeclinedtorequirethatthecarriersofferaccesstothird-partyserviceproviders(i.e.mobilevirtualnetworkoperators,orMVNO)satthattime,adecisionwhichithasrecentlyreconfirmed.90

InMarchof2018,theCommissionissuedTelecomOrderCRTC2018-99,“Wholesalemobilewirelessroamingservicetariffs—Finalrates”.Inthisorder,theCommissionapproved“onafinalbasisratesforthewholesalemobilewirelessroamingservicesprovidedbyBellMobility,RCCI,andTCI.”91Additionally,theCommissionexplainedthatitsdeterminations“willfurtherenablesustainablefacilities-basedcompetitionintheCanadianmobilewirelessservicesmarket.Thedeterminationsfosterincreasedinvestmentinhigh-qualitynetworksbywirelesscarriersresultinginmoreaffordableandinnovativeservicesbeingavailabletoallCanadians.”92

Theorderapprovingthefinalratesforthenationalcarriers’wholesalemobilewirelessroamingservicetariffscameafteralengthyprocess,theoverarchinggoalofwhichwastoensurethatregionaland“newentrant”mobileserviceproviderssuchasFreedomMobile,Vidéotron,Eastlink,andSasktelwouldbeabletoeffectivelycompetewiththenationalcarriers.Whiletheorderonlyregulateswholesalemobilewirelessroamingservices,theactualfiguresarrivedatasaresultofthatprocessaredirectlyapplicabletothenationalcarriers’costsfortransmissionofdatatotheirownendusers.AccordingtotheCommission’sanalysisanddeterminations:

Thewholesaleroamingcoststudiessubmittedbythenationalwirelesscarriersarebasedonanall-carrierapproachandincludealltrafficonthemobilewirelessnetworkforeachofvoice,SMS,anddataservices.Inaddition,thestudiesincludecoststhatarespecifictowholesaleroamingcustomers,suchascostsrelatedtointerconnection,roamingagreementprocessing,billing,andthird-partyclearinghouses.

Furthermore,onthebasisthatthereisnodifferenceinthecosttodeliveramobilewirelessunitofdemand(e.g.amegabyte[MB]ofdata,aminuteofvoice,oranSMS)foranationalwirelesscarrier’sretailend-userorforawholesaleroamingcustomer’send-user,theCommissionconsidersitappropriateforcostsforallwirelessnetworkelements(i.e.theradioaccessnetwork[RAN],the

87TelecomRegulatoryPolicyCRTC2015-177,“Regulatoryframeworkforwholesalemobilewirelessservices”,introduction.88Ibid,para.74.89Ibid,para.88.AnMVNOisathird-partyserviceproviderwhichpurchaseswholesaleaccesstomobilenetworksandestablishesadirectretailrelationshipwithcustomers,oftenofferingdifferentiatedproductsandservicesnotonofferfromincumbentfirms.Formoreinformation,seeincludedglossaryofterms.90See:TelecomDecisionCRTC2018-97,“ReconsiderationofTelecomDecision2017-56regardingfinaltermsandconditionsforwholesalemobilewirelessroamingservice”.Availableat:https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2018/2018-97.htm91TelecomOrderCRTC2018-99,“Wholesalemobilewirelessroamingservicetariffs—Finalrates”,introduction.Availableat:https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2018/2018-99.htm92Ibid.

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backhaulnetwork,andthecorenetwork),includingspectrum,tobeincludedinthewholesaleroamingcoststudies.93

Althoughtheregulatoryrequirementtoprovideserviceattheseratesonlyappliestowholesalemobileroamingservices,theCommissionclearlyrecognizesthattheratesthemselvesarerepresentativeofthenationalcarriers’costfordeliveryofvoice,SMS,anddatatoretailend-users.AsnotedbytheCommission,theseratesarecalculatedusingforecastsofdatausagederivedfromcompany-specifichistoricalinformation(i.e.historicalunitdemand)94andaccountforthecostof“allwirelessnetworkelements”.ThesefiguresarethereforeparticularlyusefulwhenaddressingclaimsthatCanadianmobilepricesarehighbecauseoflowpopulationdensity,challenginggeography,or,inotherwords,thatitisexpensivetobuildnetworksbecauseofthelargeinvestmentsrequired.

Weacknowledgethattherearecostsassociatedwiththeprovisionofretailservices,includingsales,marketingandcustomerservicecosts,thataredifferentfromthecosts“relatedtointerconnection,roamingagreementprocessing,billing,andthird-partyclearinghouses”includedinthewholesaleroamingrates.Whiletheinformationrequiredtocomparethesecostsisnotpubliclyavailable,wenotethattheregulatedratesincludeamarkupthatisdesignedtoenablethecarrierstorecoverfixedcommonexpensesnotcapturedbytheunderlyingcausalcostfactorsthatdeterminethebaseregulatedrate.Examplesofthetypeofcoststhemarkupisdesignedtorecoverincludethoseassociatedwithcorporatefinance,humanresources,legal,corporatesecurity,corporatecommunications,corporateadvertising,andregulatory.95

Indeed,whenconsideringwhatmagnitudeofmarkuptoapplytowholesalemobilewirelessroamingrates,whichhadnotbeenpreviouslyregulated,theCommissionoptedforthemaximumrateof40%asproposedbythenationalcarriers.Itexplaineditsdecisiontodosoasfollows:

InTelecomRegulatoryPolicy2015-177,theCommissiondeterminedthataccesstothenationalwirelesscarriers’wholesaleroamingisessentialtoprovidingbroadornationalnetworkcoveragesothatsmallerwirelesscarriersmaycompetesustainablyintheretailmarket.TheCommissionalsoconsideredthattheestablishmentofcost-basedwholesaleroamingratesforthenationalwirelesscarriersmusttakeintoconsiderationbothanincentiveforthesecarrierstokeepinvestinginanddeployingwirelessnetworks,andfornewentrantsandsmallerwirelesscarrierstoinvestinareaswheretheyhavespectrum.

[…]

Inlightoftheabove,theCommissionconsidersthatthenationalwirelesscarriers’proposedmarkupof40%respondstotheCommission’sconcernsexpressedinTelecomRegulatoryPolicy2015-177regardingtheincentiveforinvestment.Further,inlightofallofthealreadydiscussedadjustmentstothenationalwirelesscarriers’wholesaleroamingrates,theCommissionconsidersthatthismarkupwouldnotrepresentabarriertosustainableretailcompetition.Accordingly,the

93Ibid,paras.22-23,emphasisadded.94See:ibid.,paras.91-99.95AcomprehensivelistisprovidedinDecisionCRTC2008-14.Formoreinformation,see:CRTC(2016).“Informationalsessioncostingprinciplesandconcepts:telecommunicationindustry”.Availableuponrequestfromtheauthors.Seealso:Telecomproceduralletteraddressedtodistributionlist,Re:CRTCInformationalsessionsontelecommunicationservicescostingprinciples&concepts,availableat:https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2016/lt160120.htmandassociatedreference:https://crtc.gc.ca/partvii/eng/2008/8638/c12_200805906.htm

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Commissiondeterminesthatamarkupof40%istobeappliedtothenationalwirelesscarriers’wholesaleroamingrates.96

Inshort,theCommissionconsidersthattheratesithassetforregulatedwholesalemobileroaming,includingthe40%markup,maintainstheincentiveofnationalcarrierstocontinueinvesting,onaforward-lookingbasis,inthesame“high-quality”networksthattheyhavebuiltoverthecourseofthepastthreedecades.Italsoconsidersthattherateswillenablecompetitorswhopurchasethisroamingaccessinordertoprovidetheirowncustomerswithbroadnationalcoveragewillalsobeabletoofferretailserviceatratescommensuratewiththosewhichprevailintheretailmarket.

Initsfinaldetermination,theCommissionconfirmstheappropriatenessoftheratesithasset,notingthat:

TheCommissionhasadutytoensurethattheratespaidforregulatedtelecommunicationsservicesarejustandreasonableatalltimes.TheCommissionconsidersthatthefinalratesforthenationalwirelesscarriers’wholesaleroamingsetoutinthisorderarejustandreasonable,forthereasonssetoutinthisorder.97

Inthefollowingfigure(27),weapplytheCommission’sestablishedratestothecarriers’proposed“lower-costdata-only”plans,inordertoserveasthebasisforourassessmentofwhethertheseplanscanbeconsideredreasonablypricedinreferencetothecostofthedataprovidedbytheservice(s),or,inotherwords,asanillustrativemeansofassessingclaimsthatmobilewirelesspricesinCanadaarehighbecausetheyreflectthecostofbuildingnetworks.

Figure27:Proposed“lower-costdata-only”plans,incl.deliverycost&markup

Carrier PlanPrice MBincluded Carrier’scost/MB Totalcostofdata

transmission Markup

BellMobility $30 500 $0.013281 $6.64 351.8%RCCI(Rogers) $25 400 $0.013978 $5.59 347.1%TCI(Telus) $30 500 $0.014071 $7.04 326.4%TCI(Telus) $30 600 $0.014071 $8.44 255.3%

Source(s):Carriers'proposals:TNCCRTC2018-98;CostperMB:TelecomOrderCRTC2018-99,"Wholesalemobilewirelessroamingservicetariffs–Finalrates",Availableat:https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2018/2018-99.htm.

Note:CostperMBincludesCRTC-approved40%markup.

Asthefigureaboveshows,thecarriers’proposed“lower-costdata-only”plansrangeinpricefrom$25to$30permonth,andincludedatavolumesofbetween400and600MB.ApplyingtheCRTC’sfiguresforthecostofdatatransmissiontotheseplansshowsthattheproposedretailpricesoftheseplansarenotonlyhigherthanthecostofdeliveringtheservice,butaredrasticallyso.Thecarriers’deliverycostrangesfromatotalof$5.59forRogers’$25400MBplanatthelowendtoatotalof$8.44forTelus’$30600MBplan.Fortheplanspresentedabove,thetotalmarkup—whichrepresentsacompoundfigure,sincetheprincipalsumuponwhichitisbasedalreadyincludesa40%markup—rangesfromalowof255.3%forTelus’plan,toahighof351.8%forBell’s$30500MBplan.Theseratiosareastonishingly96TelecomOrderCRTC2018-99,“Wholesalemobilewirelessroamingservicetariffs—Finalrates”,paras.186&189,emphasisadded.Availableat:https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2018/2018-99.htm97Ibid.,para.193.

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high,andstandasasoberingcounterpointtoclaimsthatCanada’swirelesspricesarejustifiedbecausetheypurportedlyreflectthecostofnetworkbuilding.

Again,wenotethat,whiletheabovefiguresdemonstratethattheproposedretailpriceofthecarriers’plansismuchhigherthantheircosttoprovidethedeliveryoftheincludeddata,thecommoncostsassociatedwithwholesaleversusretailserviceprovisionmaybedifferent.However,themagnitudeofthemargindisplayedaboveishighlysuggestiveofpricesthataremuchhigherthanwhatcouldbeconsidered“justandreasonable”weretheyregulatedatretail,andfurthermore,thattheretailratesbeingproposedaremuchgreaterthantheprospectiveincrementalcostsassociatedwithsustainablybuildingandmaintainingmobilenetworkinfrastructure.98

Forcomparativepurposes,wehavealsodevelopedthefollowingfigure(28).Thedataaredrawnfromthelegislatedroamingratesthatwereputinplacein2014underthepreviousgovernment,whichwereinturnbasedonallcarriers’averageperMBretailrevenuefortheyear2013.99Wenotethat,sincetheyarebasedonaverageperMBretailrevenue,theestimatesbelowarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeoftheactualpricespaidforCanadianmobilewirelessserviceplansin2013.Thepriceofdatavariesfromplantoplanandfromprovidertoprovider.Thatbeingsaid,ifthecarriershadofferedtheirproposed“lower-costdata-only”plansin2013atindustry-averageperMBrates,thenthefollowingchartprovides,inourview,areasonableapproximationofwhattheirretailpriceswouldhavebeen—or,tobemoreprecise,whatrevenuetheproposedplanswouldhavegenerated.

Figure28:“Lower-costdata-only”plansbasedon2013averageperMBretailrevenue

Carrier PlanRevenue MBincluded Averageretailrevenue/MB

Pricedifferential,proposedvsestimate

BellMobility $18.50 500 $0.037 38.3%

RCCI(Rogers) $14.80 400 $0.037 40.8%

TCI(Telus) $18.50 500 $0.037 38.5%

TCI(Telus) $22.20 600 $0.037 26%

Source(s):Carriers’proposals,TNCCRTC2018-98;Averageretailrevenue/MB:TNCCRTC2015-186,Availableat:https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2015/2015-186.htm

Asfigure28shows,thepriceoftheplansthatthecarriershaveproposedinthisproceedingishigherthantheestimated2013pricesforallcarriers,byasubstantialmargin.Thissuggeststhat,inessence,if

98Finally,wenotethatthewholesaleroamingratesusedtoestimatethecarriers’costsforthisplan,andforourotherestimatesabove,arebasedontheprospectiveincrementalcostmodel(i.e.PhaseII).Insimpleterms,thismethodofimputingthecostofaserviceisbasedonformulatinganestimationandhypotheticalcalculationofwhatitwouldcosttoestablishanetworkforthepurposeofprovidingtheserviceinquestion.Inthecaseofthenationalwirelesscarriers,thecapitalcostsoftheirrespectivemobilewirelessnetworkshavealreadybeenincurredoverthecourseofthepastthreedecades.Thismeansthattheaboveestimate,basedasitisontheCommission’sapprovedforward-lookingcosts,isinherentlyconservative.Thenationalcarriersdonotneedtobuildnewnetworkstoprovideservice.Themarginalcostofprovidingtheservicetonetworkoperatorswhoseinfrastructureisalreadyinthegroundandoperationalacrossthenetworkisundoubtedlymuchlowerthanwhatisrepresentedbyourproposal.

99Theserateswerecalculatedusingacomplexmethodology.Formoredetail,see:TelecomDecisionCRTC2015-540,“LegislatedwholesaledomesticroamingcapsundertheTelecommunicationsAct”.Availableat:https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2015/2015-540.pdfForthelegislatedrates,seeassociatednoticeofconsultation,availableat:https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2015/2015-186.htm

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theCommissionweretoapprovethecarriers’proposalsastheycurrentlystand,itwouldbeeffectingapriceincreaseofbetween26%-40.8%fortheseplans.Putanotherway,theplansbeingproposedatpresentarepricedinsuchawayastogeneratesubstantiallyhigherrevenuesthanwouldsimilarlyconfiguredplanssetat2013rates.ThispresentsasignificantconcernandshouldgivetheCommissionpauseasitconsidershowtoaddressthecarriers’“lower-cost”proposals.

Furthermore,whilethefiguresprovidedaboveinfigure28areanestimate,theycorrelatecloselywithdata-only“flex”plansthatwereavailablein2013,confirmingtheirappropriatenessasacomparatorforavailable2013plans.Thefollowingimages(figure29)areexcerptedfroma2013Rogersmarketingleaflet:

Figure29:Rogers’iPadflexrateplan,2013

Source:Authors’archives.

Asisclearfromtheimagesinfigure29above,in2013Rogersinfactdidoffera500MBstand-alonedata-onlyplanfor$20,apricewhichcloselyresemblesour2013estimatebasedonaverageper-MBretailrevenueof$18.50fora500MBplan.Wealsonotethat,in2013,bothBellandTelusofferedflexplansthatweresimilar,ifnotidentical,totheRogersplanshownaboveintermsofpriceandcorrespondingdatavolume.This,inourview,confirmsthattheestimatesprovidedinfigure28areanappropriaterepresentationofthemarketpriceofdata-onlyplansavailablein2013,andthusserveanimportantillustrativepurposeinthecontextofthisproceeding.Furthermore,theseestimatessupporttheconclusionsthatthatthecarriers’currentproposedplansarenotsufficienttomeettheexpectationsassociatedwithwhat“lower-costdata-only”plansshouldlooklikeintoday’smarket.

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Infact,thenationalcarriersallcurrentlyorrecentlyhaveofferedmobilewirelessdata-only“flex”plansatrateslowerthanthoseproposedtotheCommissioninthisproceeding.BellMobility,forinstance,offersa“Flexplan”fortabletsthathasabaserateof$10permonthandincludesa100MBdataallowance.Afterasubscriberreachesthatlimit,thepriceincreaseswithusage.Ifasubscribertotheflexplanuses500MB,theratebecomes$20,or$10lowerthanBell’sproposedplanforthesameamountofproposeddata.Ifasubscriberuses2GBofdata,thepricebecomes$30,equaltotherateofBell’sproposedplanbutallowingfourtimesasmuchusage.Thepriceincreasesoneadditionaltime,to$45for5GBofdata,afterwhicha$10/GBrateischarged.Regardlessofusage,theflexplanalsogivesusersaccesstoBell’s“TabletTV”applicationatnoadditionalcost,althoughBellnotesthat“standarddataratesapplytoanyviewingoverthecellularnetwork.”100Seefigure30below.

Figure30:BellTabletFlexPlan

Source:Bellwebsite(2018).“Tabletdataplans”.AccessedMay22,2018.Availableat:https://www.bell.ca/Mobility/Cell_phone_plans/Turbo-Stick-and-Turbo-Hub-data-plans

Telususedtoofferasimilar“flexplan”fortablets,buthasremovedtheofferfromthemarketplace.Itdoes,however,continuetoofferflexplansformobileinternetdevicessuchasdongles,portable“hot

100BellMobility(2018).“Tabletdataplans”.AccessedMay20,2018.Availableat:https://www.bell.ca/Mobility/Cell_phone_plans/Tablet_PC_data_plans

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spots”or“rocketsticks”101atthesameeffectiverateasitsproposedplans(i.e.$30for500MB),102anditalsocurrentlyoffersa$30500MBdata-onlyplanthroughitsKoodosub-brandthatappearstobeavailabletosmartphoneusers.103IftheCommission’sintentionisthatthecarriers’“lower-costdata-only”plansshouldofferdataatrateslowerthanthosecurrentlyavailable,thenclearlyneitherBellnorTelus’proposalsqualify,althoughTelus’600MBplancouldbeseenasamodest,ifwhollyinadequate,stepintherightdirection.

RogersalsousedtoofferaflexplanfortabletssimilartothoseofferedbyBellandTelus,asnotedabove.AsrecentlyasApril25,2018,Rogers’websitewasadvertisingthestand-aloneavailabilityofits“Light”data-onlyplan.104SimilartotheBellflexplan,Rogers’latestdata-onlyflexplanstartedat$10forthefirst100MBandcharged$20per2GBforfurtherusage.However,shortlyaftersubmittingits“lower-costdata-only”planstotheCommission,Rogerschangedthetermsofitsin-marketdata-onlyplan,makingtheofferavailabletoexisting“eligibleRogerspostpaidmobilecustomersonly”.105Bytyingitsservicetothepurchaseofasmartphoneplan,Rogersappearstohaveeffectivelytakenawayitsmostaffordablemobilebroadbandplanwithonehand,whileofferingtheCommissionaninferiorplanwiththeother.

Basedontheaboveassessment,itisouropinionthatthecarriers’proposedplansarenotlikelytomeettheaffordabilityneedsofpeopleearningalowincomeinCanada.Wearealsooftheviewthattheplansproposedbythecarriers,andspecificallytheirpricing,wouldlikelyfailthe“justandreasonable”test,iftheCommissionweretoengageinacomprehensiveanalysisoftherelevantfactsandcircumstancesrelatedtoforbearanceandrateregulation.Inlightoftheevidencepresentedabove,wequestiontheappropriatenessofunconditionallymaintainingapolicyofretailforbearance.Inourview,thepersistentgapinadoptionamongstlower-incomepeopleinCanada,coupledwiththehighlyproblematicnatureofthecarriers’proposals,callsoutforcorrectiveaction.

Takingsuchactionwouldcontributetofurtheringthelegislatedtelecommunicationspolicyobjectives,particularlys.7(b)oftheTelecommunicationsAct,whichreferstothegoalofrendering“reliableandaffordabletelecommunicationsservicesofhighqualityaccessibletoCanadiansinbothurbanandruralareasinallregionsofCanada”,ands.7(h),whichseekstoensurethattelecommunicationsinCanada“respondtotheeconomicandsocialrequirementsofusersoftelecommunicationsservices”.106WenotethatcompetitioninCanadianmobilewirelessmarketstodatehasclearlybeeninsufficienttomeettherequirementsoflower-incomepeople,andthatconsiderationofthisstateofaffairsiscrucialtothelegislativetestfordeterminingwhetherforbearanceisappropriateornecessary.107

Giventheinformationprovidedabove,webelievethattheCommissionshouldrejectthecarriers’proposalsastheystandatpresent.Endorsingtheseproposalswouldbetantamounttoconcludingthat

101Dongles,hotspots,androcketsticksareportabledevicesofferedbymobileserviceprovidersthatenablemobiledataconnectivitymuchinthesamewayasastandardrouterwould,butinportableformat.102Telus(2018).“Mobileinternet”.AccessedMay20,2018.Availableat:https://www.telus.com/en/bc/mobility/mobile-internet/?linktype=nav103Koodo(2018).“Selectaplantype”:Notab.AccessedMay20,2018.Availableat:https://www.koodomobile.com/rate-plans?INTCMP=KMNew_NavMenu_Shop_Plans104See:https://twitter.com/BenKlass/status/989002538841092097105Rogers(2018).“MobileInternet”.AccessedMay20,2018.Availableat:https://www.rogers.com/consumer/wireless/mobile-internet?ipn=1106TelecommunicationsAct(S.C.1993,c.38).107See:TelecommunicationsAct(S.C.1993,c.38).s.34.

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‘poorinternetforpoorpeople’isgoodenough.Respectfully,wesubmitthattherearealternativeoptionsbettersuitedtomeetingtheneedsofallparties,aswediscussbelow.

Recommendations—priceanddatavolume

Withtheaboveinmind,andinconsiderationnotjustofthecostfiguresandestimatespresentedabove,butoftheinternationalpricingcomparisonspresentedearlierinthisreportaswell,wepresentthefollowingproposalfortheCommission’sconsideration.Infact,ourproposalwasinspiredbyoursurveyoftheavailablein-marketmobilebroadbandplanspresentedabove.Webelieveourproposalrepresentsanelegantsolutionwhichaddressestheaffordabilityneedsofeveryoneaswellasthecarriers’legitimateinterestinearningafairreturn:

Figure31:“CRTCflexplan”

Source(s):Inspiredbyexistingin-marketcarriermobilebroadbanddata-onlyplans.

Essentially,weproposethattheCommissionshouldadoptthecarriers’“flexplan”approachtoproviding“lower-costdata-only”plans.Therearenumerousadvantagestothisapproach,and,asfaraswehavebeenabletoascertain,nodiscernabledownsides.

First,subscriberstothisplanwouldpayaninitialfeeof$5—thesameentry-levelpricepointatwhichRogers,Bell,andTelusofferedtheirflexplansin2013--whichfortheCRTCflexplanwouldenable250MBofdatausage.Justlikewiththeexistingflexplans,increaseduseofthenetworkwouldtriggercorrelativeincreasesintherate.Weproposethat,afterreaching250MB,thefeewouldincreaseby$5

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perincrementof250MBuntilreaching$20,whichcorrespondsto1GBofusage.Twentydollarspermonthisequivalentto1.2%oftheaverageincomeamonglowest-incomehouseholdsfor2016,roughlythesameproportionofincomethatBellendorsesasaffordableinitsproposal.1081GBalsoalignsmorecloselywithhowpeopleactuallyusetheirmobileservicesthandothecarriers’400MB-600MBinitialproposals—asfigure26showedabove,usersinCanadagenerateonaverage1.49GBoftrafficpermonth.

Afterreaching1GB,the$5incrementswouldcontinue,buttherateatwhichthedataallowanceincreaseswouldgoup,incorporatingareasonablevolumediscount.$25wouldprovidea1.5GBdataallowance,reflectingtheaverageamountofdatathatpeopleinCanadauseinamonth.At$30for2GB,theCRTCflexplanwillhaveconvergedwithexistingmarketpricing.Furtherdatausagewouldtriggerthefinaltier,whichissetat$45for5GB,thesameasBell’sexistingflexplan.

ThefeasibilityoftheseplansforcarriersandtheirappealtopeoplewhocouldnototherwiseaffordloweramountsofmobilenetworkaccessissupportedbytheEricssonreport’sfindingthat,“[p]lanswithlow-to-moderateallowances(lowerthan2GBpermonth)representaround35percentofusersand12percentoftrafficinthenetworks.Fromacapacitypointofview,”thereportnotes,“thesecustomerscouldbeviewedaseasytoserve.”109

WebelievethatourCRTCflexplanproposalrepresentsaconservativecompromise.Theconservativenatureofthisproposalisunderscoredbythegenerousmargin(overandabovethebuilt-inmarginof40%)thatresultsfromeachtier’scombinationofpriceanddataallowance.Evenatlowerlevelsofdatausage,theplanisrevenue-positiveforcarriersintermsoftheassociatedprospectiveincrementalcostofnetworkbuilding,renderingtheplanssustainablefromthelong-termperspectiveofmaintainingappropriateinvestmentincentives.Forlower-incomepeople,theplanprovidesflexibilitywithregardtousagewhileofferingserviceatratesthataremoreaffordablethanthosealreadyfoundatthemarket.SincetheCRTCflexplan’spricingconvergeswithin-marketflexplanpricingbeyondthethresholdofaverageuse(i.e.atthe$30/2GBpricepoint),concernsaboutexistingheavyusers‘jumpingship’(i.e.theopportunitycosttocarriersofofferingsuchaplan)aremitigated.

Furtherunderscoringtheconservativenatureoftheproposedplan,therateof$20perGBislowerthantheCanadianpricepointinmostoftheinternationalcomparisonsfoundabove,butitishigherthantheOECDaveragepricefor1GBdata-onlybroadbandplans(figure21),substantiallyhigherthantheRewheel“fullyallocatedGBprice”forCanada,andstillmuchgreaterthantheOECDandEU28averagesalsoshownbytheRewheeldata(figures24&25).AstheEricssonreportobserved,“…thelargerthemobileplanconsumershave,thelesspronetheyaretoswitchtoWi-Fi.Forsmallplans(below100MB),onlyaround5percentoftrafficpassesthroughmobilenetworks.Forunlimitedplans,thisfigurecanbeashighas35percent.”110Inotherwords,price-sensitivecustomersmakesubstantiallygreateruseofWi-Finetworks,andlesseruseofmobilenetworks,thanheavierusers,forwhomaffordabilityislessofanissue.OneparticularlysignificantadvantageoftheCRTCflexplan,therefore,isthatitisdesignedtorewarduserswhoconscientiouslyprioritizeWi-Ficonnectivityovercellulardatabyofferingaffordable

108Bell(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para.9.109EricssonMobilityReport,November2017.“Shiftingmobiledataconsumptionanddataplans”,Availableat:https://www.ericsson.com/en/mobility-report/reports/november-2017/shifting-mobile-data-consumption-and-data-plans110Ibid.

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ratesforlowmobiledatausage,whileatthesametimeensuringthatpeoplewhousethemobilenetworkmorethanaveragepaymarketratestodoso.

Ourproposalhasthedoublebenefitofsatisfyingaffordabilityrequirementsforlowuserswhileatthesametimemeetingtheindustry’sexpectationswithrespecttoreceivingfairmarketreturns.TheproposedplanwoulddirectlyaddresstheCommission’sconcernaboutthecurrentgapinlower-costdata-plans,namelythat“[a]tthelowerendoftherange,wirelessserviceplansappeartobepricedinawaythatprioritize[s]voiceminutes(and,toalesserextent,textmessaging)overdata,suchthattheabilityofCanadianstoleveragelesseramountsofwirelessdata(asidefromWi-Ficonnectivity)islimited.”111Becausetheproposedplanofferssmalleramountsofdatausageatpricesthataremoreaffordablethanthosecurrentlyonoffer,ithelpstoloosenconstraintsonpeopleseekingtomakelesseruseofmobilenetworks.Butbecausetheplan’spriceisequivalenttomarketpriceonceusersgobeyondCanadianaveragemonthlydatausage,thecarriers’opportunitycostsassociatedwithintroducingsuchplansareminimized,sinceheavierdatauserswillwinduppayingthemarketprice.Thispricingmodelhastheaddedbenefitofprovidingpredictability,andpromotesfairnessbyensuringthatpeoplepayforwhattheyuse.

Totheextentthattheproposalwehaveputforwardestablishesratesandcorrespondingdataallowances,webelievethattheCommissionshouldtreattheseaspriceceilingsanddatafloors,respectively.TreatingtheproposedratesasmaximumandcorrespondingdataallowancesasminimumwouldbeparticularlyimportantinlightoftheavailabilityofbetterpricedserviceplansincertainCanadianmarkets.

Weareawarethatsomeserviceprovidersareofferingdata-onlyplansincompetitiveCanadianmarketsthatfeaturesubstantiallymoredataatbetterpricesthaneitherthecarrier’sinitialproposalsorevenourproposedCRTCflexplan.Tobespecific,Sasktelpresentlyoffersstand-alonedata-onlyplansbeginningat$15permonthfor1GBofdata,with5GBavailablefor$20,10GBfor$30,or20GBfor$40.112WhileourproposedCRTCflexplanhasbeentailoredtomeettheaffordabilityneedsoflower-incomepeopleseekingtomakesmalleruseofthenetwork,ithasbeendesignedwithreferenceprimarilythenationalcarriers’performance,nottosmallercompetitorsforwhomsuchinformationisunavailable.TotheextentthattheCommissioncouldfinetunethepricinganddataallowanceoftheproposedlower-costplans,webelievethattheremayberoomforadjustmentsthatbenefitthosewhowouldadopttheseplans.

WithregardtotheCommission’srequirementthat“lower-costdata-only”plansbemadeavailableonbothaprepaidandpostpaidbasis,theCRTCflexplanwouldeasilybeadaptedforprepaid:peoplecouldpre-purchasedataatanyofthedatatiersshowninfigure31above,withtheoptionof“topping-up”shouldtheirinitialestimatesproveunrealistic.Additionally,forbothprepaidandpostpaidserviceplans,thecarrierscouldberequiredtodeliverSMSnotificationspriortoeachdatatierbeingreached.Thiswouldenhancethetransparencyoftheflexplan’spricing,aswellasensurepredictabilityforsubscribers.Mostcarriersalreadyoffernotificationstotheircustomerswhoapproachmonthlydatalimits,aswellastheoptiontopurchaseadditionaldatabytextmessageincaseswheremorethanthe

111TDCRTC2018-97,“ReconsiderationofTelecomDecision2017-56regardingfinaltermsandconditionsforwholesalemobilewirelessroamingservice,para.100,emphasisadded.Availableat:https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2018/2018-97.htm112Sasktel(2018).“Sharemoreplans”,accessedJune11,2018.Availableat:http://www.sasktel.com/store/product-detail-compare/Personal/Wireless/Rate-plans/shareMORE-plans/_/N-27ai

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monthlyallowanceisneeded.Thissuggeststhatadjustingsuchnotificationsfortheproposedplanscontemplatedinthisreportwouldlikelynotinvolvesignificantnewcostsforthecarriers.

Finally,weexpectthatsomecarriersmightobjecttothecomparisonwedrawbetween“tablet”and“smartphone”plans.Suchobjectionsarewithoutmerit.ThereisnomaterialdifferenceregardingthenetworkcostsincurredbyacarrierbasedonwhatkindofdeviceacustomerinstallsaSIMcardinto.Boththefunctionperformedbythecarrieraswellasitscostsarepreciselythesame,regardlessofwhetheracustomerusesaSIMcardtobringconnectivitytotheirsmartphoneortotheirtablet.Infact,priceconsciouspeoplehavebeenusingtabletplansasago-tooptionfordata-onlymobilesmartphoneconnectivityforyears,withnoapparentdeleteriouseffectonthecarriers’operations.113

Inanycase,weareoftheviewthatthebroadpublicbenefitofenablingmobileaccessforpeoplewhowouldnototherwisebeabletoafforditclearlyoutweighsthecarriers’prerogativetopricediscriminateonthebasisofaperson’schoiceofmobiledevice.114Totheextentthatthecarriers’arbitrarypricingdecisionswouldpreventlowincomepeoplefrombeingabletoaffordmobileservices,suchpracticeswouldlikelysubjectlower-incomepeopletoanunreasonabledisadvantage,andthereforebeincontraventionofs.27(2)oftheTelecommunicationsAct.115

Inwhatfollows,wepresentseveralconcernsregardingthetermsoftheproposedplans,beforeofferingconcludingthoughtsandobservations.

Recommendations--termsofserviceandotherconsiderations

Beyondtheprimaryconsiderationsofpriceanddataallowance,thereareseveralaspectsoftheproposedserviceplansthatdeserveattentioninordertoensurethattheseplansmeettheneedsoftheirusers.

First,withrespecttotheissueofoveragefees,thecarriershaveproposedthattheirplanswouldbeavailableonthesametermsasareofferedforotherplansfromtheirsub-brands,suchasVirginMobile,Fido,andKoodoorPublicMobile.WhileVirginMobiledoesnotpublishtheoverageratesthatapplytoitsserviceplans,theoveragefeeforbothKoodoandFidois$7per100MB.ComparedtoTelus’andRogers’deliverycostper100MBof$1.41and$1.40per100MB,respectively,theseoveragefeesappeartobeexcessive,andassuch,toentertainallowingsuchfeestoapplytoplansintendedtoaddresslow-incomepeoplecouldresultinsubstantialharm.TheCRTC’s2017CommunicationsMonitoringReport

113Misener,D.(2014).“HowIditchedmyvoiceplanandwentdata-only”,Availableat:http://misener.org/ditched-voice-plan-went-data/114Infact,Parliamentappearstohaveintendedthatcarriers,undercertaincircumstances,bepermittedtodiscriminatetotheextentthatitwouldbenefitcertainclassesofsubscriber.Tobespecific,s.27(6)(b)oftheActexpresslyallowsthat“[n]otwithstandingsubsections(1)and(2),aCanadiancarriermayprovidetelecommunicationsservicesatnochargeoratareducedrate[…]withtheapprovaloftheCommission,toanycharitableorganizationordisadvantagedpersonorotherperson.”Wesubmitthat,topermitthemaintenanceofdevice-basedservicepricingdiscriminationtotheexclusionofmakingservicemoreaffordableforlower-incomepeopleinCanadawouldruncountertothecircumstancescontemplatedbythissectionoftheAct.115Subsection27(2)oftheTelecommunicationsActread:“NoCanadiancarriershall,inrelationtotheprovisionofatelecommunicationsserviceorthechargingofarateforit,unjustlydiscriminateorgiveanundueorunreasonablepreferencetowardanyperson,includingitself,orsubjectanypersontoanundueorunreasonabledisadvantage.”(S.C.1993,c.38).Foranin-depthdiscussionofthehistoricaldevelopmentofthisprovision,see:Klass,B.,Winseck,D.,Nanni,M.&McKelvey,F.(2016).“Thereain’tnosuchthingasafreelunch:HistoricalandinternationalperspectivesonwhycommoncarriageshouldbethecornerstoneofcommunicationspolicyintheInternetage.”SubmittedbeforetheCanadianRadio-televisionandTelecommunicationsCommissionTelecomNoticeofConsultationCRTC2016-192,ExaminationofdifferentialpricingpracticesrelatedtoInternetdataplans.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/CMCRP_Intervention_to_TNC_CRTC_2016-192_Jun2016.pdf

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indicatesthat,asofFall2016,“[a]sizeablenumberofCanadians(21%)continuetoexperiencebillshock”(CRTC,2017,p.72),despitetheWirelessCode’smeasuresintendedtoaddressthisproblem.Thepossibilityofincurringlargeoveragefeesisofparticularconcernforlower-incomepeople,whomaybeputinfinancialjeopardyshouldtheyfindthemselvesinsuchasituation.

Wenotethatthe$10perGBoveragefeethatappliestoBell’sflexplanisactuallylessthanthetariffrateformobiledata.However,theCommissionmaywishtoconsiderimposingconditionslimitingorprohibitingtheuseofoveragefeesonthelower-costdata-onlyplansinconsiderationofthedifficultcircumstancesfacingpeopleoflowincome.Itcoulddothis,forinstance,byrequiringthecarrierstoimplement“soft”datalimitsinsteadofoveragefees,i.e.byrequiringthatthecarriersslowdowndataratesafterthelimitisreachedratherthanaddingextracharges.IftheCommissionweretopursuethisroute,itcouldmakesurethatthespeedtowhichserviceisslowedafterreachingapredefinedlimitwouldnotbetoolowtoeffectivelyrendertheserviceuseless.Atpresent,forexample,certainplansfromchatrslowspeedsto64Kbpsforuserswhoexceedlimits.Inouropinion,dialupspeedsbelonginthe20thcentury.Atminimum,theCommissioncouldensurethatspeedisnotthrottledbelowthatwhichwouldberequiredtomakecontinueduseofthenetworkincaseofanemergency.

Second,measurescouldbetakentoensurethatcarriersdonotusetheseplansasavehicletoupselltheircustomerstomoreexpensiveplans.WhilewebelievethatadoptionofourCRTCflexplanproposalwouldlargelyaddressesthisissue,aswenotedearlier,Ericssonhasidentifiedthisasaconcern:“[o]fallthetrafficgeneratedbytheusersoflimitedplans,around30percentisconsumedabovedatabucketlimits.Thisallowsoperatorstocontinuouslyupselldatathroughtop-ups.”116Rogershasalreadyindicatedthatsubscriberstoitsplanwouldreceive“importanttextservicemessagesfromRogersatnocost”(i.e.marketingoffers).117Thebestwaytoaddressthispossibilityistoensurethatthedatavolumeprovidedwiththeplansissufficientlylargetomeettheneedsofthepeoplewhowillusetheservice.

Third,theCommissioncouldensurethattheseplansremainavailableandatapredictablepriceuntilsuchtimeasanappropriatereviewisundertaken.Rogershasalreadyindicatedthat“theratesandtermsofallplansaresubjecttochange”andthat“theoffermayadjustforinflationandotherfactors”.118Totheextentthatchangesmustbemadetotheseplans,theCommissioncouldensurethattheyaretothebenefitofpeoplesubscribingtotheplans.ThiscouldbeachievedbyimposingaconditionsimilartotheonefoundinsectionD.1.iii.oftheWirelessCode,whichonlyallowskeycontracttermsorconditionstobechangedbytheserviceproviderwiththeexpressconsentoftheaccountholderorauthorizeduser,andonlyifitclearlybenefitsthecustomerbyeitherreducingtherateforasingleserviceorbyincreasingtheusageallowanceforasingleservice.Withrespecttotheproposedplans,werecommendensuringthattheincludeddataallowancesareconsidered“keyterms”forthepurposeofanypotentialWirelessCodeanalysis.

Fourth,therequirementthatthe“lower-costdata-only”plansbemadewidelyavailablecouldalsoextendtothenatureoftheserviceoffered.Inrecentyears,somecarriershavebeguntoofferplanswhereinnormalusageisrestrictedtogeographic“zones”.Whileweacknowledgethatthistypeofofferrepresentsanicheoptionthatmaybeattractivetosomepeople,theseplansalsocreateuncertainty

116EricssonMobilityReport,November2017.“Shiftingmobiledataconsumptionanddataplans”,Availableat:https://www.ericsson.com/en/mobility-report/reports/november-2017/shifting-mobile-data-consumption-and-data-plans117Rogers(2018).InterventiontoTelecomNoticeofConsultation2018-98,“Callforcomments:Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para.8.118Ibid,para.13.

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withrespecttothepossibilityofadditionalfeesthatmaybeoccurredwhenaccesstoserviceisrequiredwhileroamingoutsidethezone.Totheextentthattheseplanscouldresultinunexpectedfeesand“billshock”,theCommissioncouldseektoensurethattheplansmadeavailableasaresultofthisproceedingarenationalincoverage,or,ifgeographicpricediscriminationispermitted,thattheplansdonotinvolveadditionalfeesbasedontheareainwhichtheservicesareaccessed.

Fifth,withrespectto“speed”,wedrawattentiontotheCommission’sexpressexpectationthat“lower-costdata-onlyplansshouldbeavailableonthelatestmobilewirelessnetworktechnology”.119Wesharethisexpectation,notinginparticularthatLTEaccessisarequirementofthenewly-institutedwirelesspublicalertingsystem.120Whilethecarriers’proposalsmakemuchofthehighspeedoftheirLTEnetworks,aswehavediscussedabove,inouropinion,datavolumeallowancesareamorerelevantconsideration,especiallysowithregardtolower-costplans.Indeed,someofthecarriers’sub-brands(e.g.chatrandPublicMobile)havebroughtplanstomarketthatareadvertisedasproviding“3G”speeds.Theseplansofferatrade-offbetweenavailablespeed,ontheonehand,anddatavolumeandprice,ontheother.Inotherwords,theytendtobepricedlower,andincludemoredata,thanplansthatofferaccesstofull4GLTEspeeds.Thisisaformofpricedifferentiationthatmirrorsthepracticethatgenerallyprevailsinthewirelinemarket:graduatedpricepointsareofferedonthebasisofincreasingspeed,withlower-pricedplansofferingslowerspeeds.Theauthorsoftheaffordabilityreportdrawaconnectionbetweentheprevalenceofpricedifferentiationinbroadbandmarketsandpositiveimpactsonadoptionandaffordability:

Recentresearchsuggeststhat,inadditiontothepositiveimpactofincome,educationandspeedsondemand,havingalargervarietyofservicetariffshashadasignificantandpositiveimpactonbroadbandpenetration.Nevertheless,thisresultisbasedonaglobalsamplethatincludesbothdevelopingandhigh-incomecountries.Inmorematuremarketswheredemandbecomesinelastic,theincentivesofoperatorstoengageinpricediscriminationarelikelytodiminish,particularlywithrespecttolow-costofferings.

Whilefurtherresearchwillberequiredtobetterunderstandthedeterminantsandconsequencesofpricediscriminationinmaturingbroadbandmarkets,internationaldatasuggeststhatinmaturedigitaleconomiessuchasthoseofCanada,theUnitedStates,theNetherlands,France,NorwayandIceland,low-costoptionsinthemarkettendtoberelativelylimited.Althoughthehigherincomesinthesecountriesmakecommunicationsandotherbasicservicesmoreaffordableingeneralterms,thelackoflow-costoptionsincreasesconcernsabouttheabilityoflow-incomegroupstoaccessservices.Asdescribedlaterinthisreport,theevolutionofbroadbandpricesinCanadaoverthepastfewyearsprovidesaclearexampleofthiswidertrend.121

Weobservethat,whilesomeserviceprovidershavebeguntoengageinthetypesofpracticesabove,theextenttowhichithastakenplaceinthemobilemarketappearstobelimited.Increasingtherange

119TelecomNoticeofConsultationCRTC2018-98,“Lower-costdata-onlyplansformobilewirelessservices”,para.12.Availableat:https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2018/2018-98.htm120CRTC(2018).“Emergencyalertmessagesandthenationalpublicalertingsystem”,Availableat:https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/television/services/alert.htm121Rajabiun,R.,Ellis,D.,&Middleton,C.(2016).“Literaturereview:AffordabilityofCommunicationsservices”,ReportcommissionedbytheCanadianRadio-televisionandTelecommunicationsCommission,pp.19-20,emphasisadded.Availableat:https://www.ryerson.ca/~cmiddlet/ourresearch/lit-review-for-crtc-2016-affordability-rajabiun-ellis-middleton.pdf

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ofchoiceofserviceavailableonthemarketcouldhavethebenefitofbringingserviceswithinreachofpeoplewhocouldnototherwiseaffordthem;however,westresstheimportanceofensuringthatsuchmeasuresaretailoredtomeettheactualneedsofpeoplewhorelyontheseservicesasabaselinemeansofcommunication.Ataminimum,theremustbetransparency:peoplehavearighttoknowwhattheyarepayingfor.

Withtheaboveinmind,wewishtodrawtheCommission’sattentiontoanimportantdetail:theuseof“3G”torefertoexistingmarketplansinthecasesdescribedaboveisamarketingterm,indistinctionfromatechnicalterm.Tobeclear,whileprovidersadvertise“3G”speeds,theseservicesareactuallyofferedovertheLTEnetworkatthrottledspeeds.122Inourview,theseplanscouldmeettheCommission’sexpectationswithregardtotheoutcomeofthisproceeding,althoughwearewaryofanoutcomethatwouldseehigher-qualityservicescompletelyreplacedorprecludedbyalower-quality‘goodenough’offering.Wedonotbelieveitwouldbeappropriatetoendorseapolicythatwouldresultin‘poorinternetforpoorpeople.’

Additionally,whiletheproposalsfromBellandRogersindicatethattheir“lower-costdata-only”planswillbeofferedat4Gspeeds,theactualspeedoftheplanisnotalwaysreadilydiscernabletothepublicfromavailablemarketingmaterial.Aftersurveyingthechatrwebsite,wewereonlyabletoascertainthespeedsatwhichservicesareofferedorinformationaboutthenetworksthatareusedaftergreatdifficulty.OnMay21,weplacedacalltoRogers’chatrcustomerserviceseekingclarificationofthesequestions.ThecustomerservicerepresentativeconfirmedthatallplansmakeuseoftheLTEnetwork,andthat3Gplansarethrottledto3Mbps.Wewereconcerned,however,tolearnthattheplanschatroffersat4Gspeedsarethrottledto4Mbps,substantiallybelowthetheoreticalmaximumsavailableonLTEnetworks,and,indeed,wellbelowthespeedsthateven3GHSPAnetworksarecapableofproviding.

Inlightofthisinformation,theCommissionmightconsiderreiteratingitsrequirement,establishedinthe2009InternetTrafficManagementPracticesframework,thatcarriersarerequired,“asaconditionofprovidingretailInternetservices,todisclosetotheirretailcustomers,clearlyandprominentlyontheirwebsites,informationrelatedtotheirtechnicalITMPs”.123Indeed,basedonresearchconductedoverthecourseofpreparingthisreport,thereareatpresentnumerousreadilyidentifiableinstancesinwhichcarriersdonotappeartobeactingincompliancewiththisestablishedpolicy.Additionally,theCommissioncouldrequestthatthecarriersprovideadditionalclarificationandtransparencyregardingtheactualspeedsatwhichtheproposedplanswillbeoffered,aswellasotherrelevantinformation,beforecomingtoitsdeterminationsinthisproceeding.

Compliancefailuresnotwithstanding,weareoftheviewthatanincreasedavailabilityofplansthatemploypricedifferentiationonthebasisofspeedinthemobilebroadbandcouldimprovetherangeofoptionsavailabletolower-incomepeopleinCanada,ifcarefullyimplemented,withinitialtermsand122SeePublicMobilewebsite,“Offerdetails”:“Planswith4GLTEdatacanaccessmaximumLTEdownloadspeeds(manufacturerratedatupto750Mbps;expectedaveragespeeds12-200Mbps).Planswith3Gdatamayreachdownloadspeedsofupto3Mbps,withthecoverageandreliabilityoftheLTEnetwork.”AccessedMay21,2018.Availableat:https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/bc/plans/40for2GB-3Gspeed123TelecomRegulatoryPolicyCRTC2009-657,“ReviewoftheInternettrafficmanagementpracticesofInternetserviceproviders”,para60.Availableat:https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2009/2009-657.htmSeealso:TelecomDecisionCRTC2010-445,“Modificationstotheforbearanceframeworkformobilewirelessdataservices”,Availableat:https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-445.htmWeareawarethatinformationprovidedbycarrierCSRsmaybeinaccurate.Forthepurposeoftheaboveobservationsaboutchatr’sspeeds,however,weareoperatingundertheassumptionthatwewerenotmisinformedormisledbytherepresentative.Formoreinformationaboutcarriersalespractices,seeCBC’s“GoPublic”investigativejournalismbyEricaJohnson,availableat:http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/erica-johnson-1.3454654

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ongoingcomplianceguidedbytheCommission.124Thisviewisconfirmedbytheauthorsoftheaffordabilityreport,asistheneedfornewpolicymechanismsdesignedtoencouragedominantoperatorstoexpandtheirofferings:

Inmaturemarketswheredemandforanincreasinglyessentialservicebecomesprice-inelastic,theextenttowhichoperatorsofferlow-costoptionsofsufficientqualitycanhaveanimportanteffectontheaffordabilityofaccesswithrespecttolow-incomeadopters(i.e.thegrowingmajority)andnon-adopters(i.e.theshrinkingminority)alike.Thisoutcomeleadstodiminishingreturnsongainsinmarketsharebyloweringpricesasastrategy,inducingdominantoperatorstoincreasepricesandreducepricediscriminationinthelow-costendofthemarket.Inthiscontext,wholesaleaccesspoliciesthatencouragepriceandqualitydifferentiationmightbethemosteffectivemethodforstimulatingmarketforcesinamannerthatmeetstheneedsofdifferentclassesofusers,includingthosewithlowincomes.Theliteraturesuggeststhatalthoughtechnologicalandbusinessprocessinnovationsarelikelytobetheprimarydriversofaccesstolowercostandhigherqualitybroadbandservices,thedesignofboththepublicpoliciesandprivate-sectorbusinessstrategiesoutlinedabovewilllikelyshapeaffordabilityasaneconomicconstraintonconsumersintheshorttomediumterm.125

Sixth,weacknowledgethatthepresentproceedingexplicitlycontemplatestheprovisionof“data-only”plans.However,wewishtodrawattentiontoseveralimportantconsiderationsthat,inourview,suggestthatvoiceserviceshaveanimportantroletoplayinaddressingthetelecommunicationsneedsoflower-incomepeople.First,wenotethatthisproceedingwasinitiatedpursuanttotheCommission’sconfirmation,deliveredinaccordancewiththeOrderoftheGovernorinCouncil,ofitsdecisionnottoallowWi-Fi-basedMVNOsaccesstonationalcarriers’mobilenetworksatregulatedrates.Theseriesofprocessesthatledtothepresentconsultation,subsequenttotheestablishmentofthewirelessroamingframeworkin2015,werelargelyspurredbyalow-costSugarMobile/IceWirelessoffering.TotheextentthatthiscurrentproceedingcanbeseenasanefforttoemulatethetypeofofferingpreviouslyavailablefromSugarMobile,ortoservethesamemarketsegment,wenotethatSugarMobile’s$19offeringwasnotadata-onlyplan;itincludedunlimitedCanadaandUStalkthatwasseparatefromandnotdependentuponthemobilecomponentoftheservice,whichincluded400MBofdata.126

DuetothefactthatSugarMobilewasabletoofferthisservicewhilepayinghighinterimwholesaleroamingratesbasedonthenationalcarriers’costsincludingmarkup,itstandstoreasonthatthenationalcarrierscouldaffordtodothesame.Infact,thenationalcarriers,whobenefitfromeconomiesofscalestemmingfromsubscribershipthatisordersofmagnitudelargerthanthatofSugar,andwho

124Suchguidancecouldtaketheformofanexpostcomplaints-basedframework;theestablishmentofbright-lineexpectations,aswasthecaseinthedifferentialpricingframework,theuseofadministrativemonetarypenaltiesfornon-compliance,theappointmentofinspectorsbytheCommission,orsomecombinationoftheabove,allofwhicharefirmlywithintheCommission’slegislativepowersundertheTelecommunicationsAct.125Rajabiun,R.,Ellis,D.,&Middleton,C.(2016).“Literaturereview:AffordabilityofCommunicationsservices”,ReportcommissionedbytheCanadianRadio-televisionandTelecommunicationsCommission,p.22,emphasisadded.Availableat:https://www.ryerson.ca/~cmiddlet/ourresearch/lit-review-for-crtc-2016-affordability-rajabiun-ellis-middleton.pdf126SugarMobile,website.AccessedMay21,2018.Availableat:https://www.sugarmobile.ca/index.php#starter-kitWenotethat,notonlydidSugarMobile’splanoffertalk&textaswellasdata,but,at$19permonth,wasnotablylessexpensivethanthecarriers’currentproposals.ThisisinspiteofthefactthatSugar’scostincludedtheVoIPsolutionemployedtoenablevoiceandtext,and,additionally,thatSugarwasaccessingmobiledataonthenationalcarrier(s)’networksatratessubstantiallygreaterthaneventhecurrentlyvalidwholesalemobilewirelessroamingratesthatwereusedtocalculateourestimateofthecarriers’costsandfordevelopingour$20,1GBproposal.BeforetheCommissiondeterminedthatSugarMobile’suseofmobileroamingwasnotpermittedbythetariffs,itwaspayingfordataroamingataninterimrate(i.e.$0.0252perMBperRogerstariffnotice42)whichwasnearlydoubletheratesapprovedinTOCRTC2018-99.

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havealreadymadetheinvestmentsrequiredtoestablishnationalmobilenetworkcoverage,areevenbetterpositionedthanSugartoprovideservicethatincludesvoice.

Furthermore,thedecisiontoexcludevoiceservice(whichcouldbeoffered,atminimum,asanoptionatlittleornoadditionalcost)fromtheproposedplanscouldbeseentobeinconsistentwiththeCommission’sdeterminationsregardingwhatconstitutesabasictelecommunicationsservice.InTelecomRegulatoryPolicyCRTC2016-496,“Moderntelecommunicationsservices–ThepathforwardforCanada’sdigitaleconomy”,theCommissionestablishedauniversalserviceobjectivewhichseekstoensurethat“Canadians,inurbanareasaswellasinruralandremoteareas,haveaccesstovoiceservicesandbroadbandInternetaccessservices,onbothfixedandmobilewirelessnetworks.”127Tobemorespecific,theestablishmentofthisobjectiveentailedthedeterminationthatmobilewirelessvoiceservices“areherebybasictelecommunicationsserviceswithinthemeaningofsubsection46.5(1)oftheTelecommunicationsAct”.128Whilesomepeoplemightseekoutinnovativeonlinevoiceapplications,othersprefertraditionalmobiletelephonyservices,mayrequirethemforsafetyand/orsecuritypurposes,orpossiblylackthedigitalliteracyskillstomakeuseofonlineservices.Thislattergroupshouldnotbedeniedtheoptionofaddingvoicecallingtotheirconnection.

TonowmandatetheofferingofservicesthatdonotcontemplateatminimumtheoptionofprovidingvoiceserviceswouldappeartobeareversaloftheCommission’srecentdeterminationsinthebasicservicesproceeding.This,inouropinion,wouldbeanunacceptablestepbackwards,especiallyinthecontextofeffortstoimproveaccesstotelecommunicationsservicesforlow-incomepeople.Wethereforebelievethat,ataminimum,theCommissioncouldrequirethatwhateverplansitapprovesasaresultofthisproceedingcomewiththeoptionofaddingvoiceservicesatlittleornoadditionalcosttothesubscriber.

Conclusion

Finally,whilewesupporttheCommission’sinitiativetorequirethatthenationalcarriers’offer“lower-costdata-only”planstopeopleacrossthecountry(subjecttothesuggestionsabove),itisouropinionthatsuchanapproachrepresentsabehaviouralremedy,which,byitsverynature,isinferiortothetypeofsolutionsthatarerequiredtoaddressproblemsthatareinourviewinherentlystructural.ThetypeofproblemsfacingtheCanadianwirelessmarketare,inourview,onesthatstemfromthehighlyconcentratedcompositionofamarketthatisalsocharacterizedbyextremelevelsofverticalanddiagonalintegration,aswellastheinsufficiencyorunavailabilityofthelegalandregulatorytoolsandprioritiesthatwouldbenecessarytoensurethatourwirelessmarketcandeliveronthepromiseofuniversalcommunicationservices.

Weacknowledgethatthescopeofthepresentproceedingislimited,andfurthermorethatthecomplextechnological,economic,social,cultural,andlegalissuesthatmustbeconfrontedinordertoaddressthepersistentshortcomingsinthecommunicationsspheregowellbeyondtheroleoftheCRTCitself.Thatbeingsaid,wewishtoexpressspecificconcernthat,whatevertheoutcomeofthisproceeding,itisallbutassuredthatcontinuedactionandattentionwillberequiredbeforeCanada’slongstanding

127TelecomRegulatoryPolicyCRTC2016-496,“Moderntelecommunicationsservices–ThepathforwardforCanada’sdigitaleconomy”,introduction.Availableat:https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2016/2016-496.htm128ibid,para.131.

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problemwithmobileadoptionissolved.WethereforeurgetheCommissionandinterestedpartiestocontinueintheireffortstoaddresstheseandrelatedissues,buttoremainopentothepossibilitiesofferedbynewandinnovativewaysofthinkingabouthowwemightovercometheseobstacles.129

GlossaryofKeyTermsandAcronyms

3G–ThirdGeneration–thethirdgenerationstandardformobilewirelesstechnology;enablesmobilebroadbandconnectivity.Seealso:HSPA

4G–FourthGeneration–thefourthgenerationstandardformobilewirelesstechnology;enablesfasterspeedsforend-usersandmoreefficientuseofexistingspectrumresourcesforcarriers.Seealso:LTE.

CA$--Canadiandollars.

CAC–Consumers’AssociationofCanada,ManitobaBranch.

CAGR–Compoundannualgrowthrate.

CMCRP–CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject–DirectedbyDr.DwayneWinseck,see:http://cmcrp.org.

IMCRP–InternationalMediaConcentrationResearchProject–DirectedbyDr.EliNoam.See:https://global.oup.com/academic/product/who-owns-the-worlds-media-9780199987238?cc=us&lang=en&

CRTC–CanadianRadio-televisionandTelecommunicationsCommission.AdministrativeregulatoryagencychargedwithadministeringCanada’sBroadcastingandTelecommunicationsActs.

Ericsson–mobilenetworkequipmentmanufacturer;research&informationonmobilenetworks.

EU–EuropeanUnion.

FCC–FederalCommunicationsCommission–AmericanadministrativeregulatoryagencytaskedwithoverseeingUScommunicationsindustry.

FMCC–FirstMileConnectivityConsortium.Formoreinformation,see:http://firstmile.ca

G7–GroupofSeven.Sevenofthelargestadvancedeconomiesintheworld.IncludesCanada,France,Germany,Italy,Japan,theUnitedKingdom,andUnitedStatesofAmerica.

GB–Gigabyte.Equalto1000megabytes.Seealso:MB.

129Theaboverepresentsthesumtotalofourobservationsandrecommendationswithrespecttotheissuesraisedinthisproceeding.Wenotethatsilenceoromissionwithregardtoanyparticularaspectoftheproceedingortheissuesraisedthereinisnottobeconstruedassupportfororoppositiontosame.

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GIC–GovernorinCouncil(ofCanada).Formoreinformation,see:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_General_of_Canada

GNI–Grossnationalincome.

GSM–Globalsystemformobilecommunications.Formoreinformation,see:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM

HSPA–Highspeedpacketaccess.Technicalprotocolenabling3Gmobilebroadbandconnectivity.Formoreinformation,see:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Speed_Packet_Access

ISED–Innovation,ScienceandEconomicDevelopment.FormerlyIndustryCanada,Canadianfederalministryresponsiblefortelecommunications.See:https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development.html

ICT–Informationandcommunicationtechnologies.

ISCC–InternetSociety,CanadaChapter.Formoreinformation,see:https://internetsociety.ca

ITMP–Internettrafficmanagementpractice(s).Formoreinformation,see:https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2009/2009-657.htm

ITU–InternationalTelecommunicationsUnion.Formoreinformation,see:https://www.itu.int

LTE–Longtermevolution.Technicalprotocolunderpinning4Gmobilenetworks.

MB–Megabyte.Aunitofdigitalinformation.Formoreinformation,see:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megabyte

Mbit/s–Megabitspersecond.Ameasureofdigitalnetworkdatatransferrate.Seealso:Mbps.

Mbps–Megabitspersecond.Ameasureofdigitalnetworkdatatransferrate.Formoreinformation,see:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data-rate_units

MEI–MontrealEconomicInstitute.Formoreinformation,see:https://www.iedm.org/e

MTS–ManitobaTelecomServices.PreviouslyManitoba’sincumbenttelecommunicationsserviceproviderbeforebeingpurchasedbyBellCanadaEnterprisesin2017.

MVNO–Mobilevirtualnetworkoperator.Athirdpartyserviceproviderwhichprovidesend-userswithmobileservicebypurchasingwholesaleinputsfrommobilenetworkoperators.Formoreinformation,see:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_virtual_network_operator

Nordicity–Aconsultingfirmspecializinginpolicy,strategy,andeconomicanalysisinthemedia,creative,andinformationandcommunicationstechnologysectors.Formoreinformation,see:http://nordicity.com/home/about

OECD–OrganizationforEconomicCooperationandDevelopment.Formoreinformation,see:http://www.oecd.org

OIC–Orderincouncil.

Opensignal–ALondon,UKbasedfirmspecializinginmobilenetworkperformancemeasurement.Formoreinformation,see:https://opensignal.com/about

Penetration–ameasureofmobileadoption,expressedasconnectionsper100inhabitants.

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PILC–LegalAidManitoba’sPublicInterestLawCentre.Formoreinformation,see:https://www.legalaid.mb.ca/pilc/public-interest-law-centre/

PPP–Purchasingpowerparity.Amethodofcomparingthecostofgoodsandservicesacrossjurisdictionswithdifferentcurrencies.Formoreinformation,see:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purchasing_power_parity

SIM–Subscriberidentitymodule.ASIMcardisinstalledintoamobiledeviceinordertolinkittoausers’accountandidentifyinginformation,suchasphonenumber.Formoreinformation,see:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subscriber_identity_module

SMS–Shortmessageservice.Morecommonlyknownasamobiletextmessage.Formoreinformation,see:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS

RAN–Radioaccessnetwork.Akeycomponentinmobilenetworks.Formoreinformation,see:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_access_network

Rewheel–Finnishconsultancyspecializinginresearchandanalysisrelatedtomobilenetworks.Formoreinformation,see:http://rewheel.fi

RCCI–RogersCommunicationsCanadaInc.

TCI–TelusCommunicationsInc.

UK–UnitedKingdom.

USA–UnitedStatesofAmerica.

USD$--USdollars.

VAT–Valueaddedtax.EuropeanUnionequivalentofgoodsandservicestax(GST).

Wi-Fi–WirelessFidelity.Wirelessnetworkprotocolthatusesunlicensedradiospectrumforwirelessnetworkingapplications.Formoreinformation,see:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi

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CurriculumVitae

BenjaminKlassPersonalInformation

GraduateStudent(PhD),SchoolofJournalismandCommunication,CarletonUniversity

Citizenship:Canadian

Webpage:http://benklass.wordpress.com

WorkExperience

CONSULTANT,SELFEMPLOYED,OTTAWA,ON,SUMMER2015-PRESENT.

Variousclients,includingpublicsector,not-for-profit,lawfirms,advocacyorganizations.Provisionofresearchandanalysisonmattersrelatedtoeconomicsoftelecommunications,broadcasting,communicationsregulation,law,andpolicy.

TEACHINGASSISTANT,CARLETONUNIVERSITY,OTTAWA,ON,FALL2014-PRESENT

Variouscourses.SupervisedbyDr.DwayneWinseck,Dr.KirstenKozolanka,CindyKardash-Lalonde.

TERMEMPLOYEE,CANADAPOST,WESTHAWKLAKE,MB,2006-2014

Responsibleforseasonalmanagementofruralpostaloutlet2006-2010.Dutiesincludemanagementofday-to-dayoperationsincludingreception,sorting,anddeliveryofmail.Processingofcashtransactions,face-to-facecustomerserviceinteraction,anddailyfinancialreporting.Monthlydutiesincludefinancialaccountmanagementandinventorymanagement.Part-time/oncall2011-2014.

TEACHINGASSISTANT,UNIVERSITYOFMANITOBA,WINNIPEG,MB,FALL2012,FALL2013

POLS1000-DemocracyandDevelopment.SupervisedbyProf.RadhikaDesai.Led4seminarsperterm,consistingof12-15studentseach.Metwithstudentsforextraassistanceduringofficehours.FilledinforProfessor’slectureon2occasions,alsoinvigilatedmidtermexam.Graded~50papersperterm,provideddetailedfeedback.(Seeevaluationforms-appended)

BUILDER,DOWNBYCREEKFINECARPENTRY,(204)349-8484.WESTHAWKLAKE,MB—2008-2012

Assistedinruralhomebuilding,onprojectsofvariousscales.Roofing,decking,painting,generalmaintenance,dockbuilding,timber-frameadditionsandnewconstruction.WorkedsoloandunderthesupervisionofjourneymancarpentersTrevorDown,JimOrr,AnnaHargreaves,andDaveSpence.

PREVIOUSEMPLOYMENT—1997-2008

Detailsofpreviousemploymentavailableuponrequest.

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Education

UniversityofManitoba,2015-MasterofArtsinPoliticalStudies.Supervisor:Dr.RadhikaDesai.Thesistitle:MobileWirelessinCanada:Policy,problems,andprogress.

UniversityofToronto,2006-BachelorofArts(Honours)inPhilosophy,Economics,andAboriginalStudies.

Awards

UniversityofCarletonDoctoralScholarship,SchoolofJournalismandCommunication,2014

UniversityofManitobaPoliticalStudiesSpecialStudentAward,2011

UniversityofManitobaPoliticalStudiesGraduateConferenceTravelAward-2012

UniversityofManitobaFacultyofGraduateStudiesConferenceTravelAward-2012

Presentations,Lectures,Workshops

Conferencepresentation,title:“Justandreasonable?HistoricalandcontemporaryperspectivesonrateregulationinCanadiantelecommunications”,CanadianCommunicationsAssociationAnnualMeeting,UniversityofRegina,Regina,Saskatchewan.May2018.

Invitedlectureanddiscussant,title:“Netneutrality,commoncarriageinCanadiantelecommunications”,forCommunicationsandtechnologywebinar,UniversityofAlberta,Dr.RobMcMahon,January17,2018.

Invitedguestlecture,title:“Networksandregulation”,for“Digitalmediaindustries”COMMS4403-A,SchoolofJournalismandCommunication,CarletonUniversity,Ottawa,Ontario,Dr.LiamYoung.October5,2017.

Conferencepresentation,title:“Makingwavesinwireless:TheturbulentdevelopmentofCanadianwirelesspolicyca.2007-2017”,CanadianCommunicationsAssociationAnnualMeeting,RyersonUniversity,Toronto,Ontario.June2017.

Conferencepresentation,title:“Whyarelesscarrierscompeting?Canadianmobilewirelesspolicy2006-2017”,forCanadianSpectrumResearchGroup,SpectrumSummit2017.UniversityofCalgary,Calgary,Alberta,May11,2017.

Invitedguestdiscussant,topic:“NetNeutralityinCanada:2008-2017,”for“SeminaronthebroadbandInternet,”COMN4520,DepartmentofCommunicationStudies,YorkUniversity,Dr.DavidEllis.March7,2017.

Invitedguestlecture(s),title:“Whyismysmartphonesoexpensive?Consumers,citizens,corporations,andtheCRTC”,for“IntroductiontoCommunicationandMediaStudies”,

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COMMS1000,DepartmentofJournalismandCommunication,CarletonUniversity,Dr.SandraRobinson.January12&13,2017.

Keynotelecture,title:“WhatdoesBCE-MTSmeanforManitoba?”,forConsumersAssociationofCanada,ManitobaBranch;CanadianCentreforPolicyAlternatives,ThePublicInterestLawCentre,MennoSimonsCollege,andtheUniversityofWinnipegDepartmentofEconomics.November29,2016.

OralpresentationtoCRTC,TelecomnoticeofconsultationCRTC2016-192,“Examinationofdifferentialpricingpracticesrelatedtointernetdataplans”,Gatineau,Quebec,October31,2016.

Conferencepresentation,title:“CommoncarriageinCanadiancommunications”,CanadianCommunicationsAssociationAnnualMeeting,UniversityofOttawa,Ottawa,Ontario.May302016.

Workshoppresentation,title:“Gifthorseortrojanhorse?Regulators’responsestothezeroratingofmobileapplicationsinCanadaandaroundtheworld”,Internationalexploratoryworkshop“Transnationalhistoriesoftelecommunication@ITU”,Geneva,December17-19,2015.

Conferencepresentation,title:“Zero-rating:gifthorse,orTrojanhorse?”,forGeopoliticalEconomyResearchGroupinauguralconference,UniversityofManitoba,Winnipeg,Manitoba.Friday,September25,2015.

Panellist,“Quasiv.judicial-haveexpectationsforfairprocesschangedinthecentury”,ForumforResearchandPolicyinCommunications(FRPC),“RebootingCanada’sCommunicationsLegislation”Conference,UniversityofOttawa,Ottawa,Ontario.May22-23,2015.

InvitedGuestLecture,title:“ForeignownershipinCanadiancommunications”,forIntroductiontoCommunicationStudies”,COMMS1000,DepartmentofJournalismandCommunication,CarletonUniversity,Ottawa,Ontario.ForDr.BenjaminWoo.January26,2015.

OralpresentationtoCRTC,TelecomnoticeofconsultationCRTC2014-76,“Reviewofwholesalemobilewirelessservices”,Gatineau,Quebec,September29,2014.

Lecture:“TheWirelessRip-Off:OligopolyControlofTelecommunicationsinCanada,”UniversityofManitobaGraduateStudentLectureSeries,UniversityofManitoba,Winnipeg,Manitoba.January31,2014.

Invitedguestdiscussant,topic:“NetNeutralityandITMPs,”for“TheElectronicInformationNetworkMarketplace”,COMN4520,DepartmentofCommunicationStudies,YorkUniversity,Dr.DavidEllis.January29,2014.

Conferencepresentation:“TheTechnologicalImperativeinCanadaandtheIdleNoMoreMovement,”CommunicationGraduateConference,CarletonUniversity,Ottawa,Ontario.March2013.

Conferencepresentation:“PuttingtheCommonbackintoCommonCarriage:WhyNetworkOwnershipMatters,”4thAnnualICT-SConference,UppsalaUniversity,Uppsala,Sweden,May2012.

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Publications

Klass,B.(Bookchapter,forthcoming).“Whyarelesscarrierscompeting?MobilecompetitioninCanada2006-2017.”InAsyetuntitledbookresultingfromSpectrumSummitconference,2017.

Klass,B.(2016).“OnceManitobaTelecomServicessold,there’snohitting‘redial’”,WinnipegFreePress,Tuesday,November29,2016.Availableat:http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/once-manitoba-telecom-services-sold-theres-no-hitting-redial-403515116.html

Winseck,D.&Klass,B.(2016).“MTSdealwouldsetaharmfulprecedentforwirelesscompetition”,Globe&Mail,WednesdayMay18,2016.Availableat:http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/mts-deal-would-set-a-harmful-precedent-for-wireless-competition/article30060562/

Klass,B.(2013).“SparklingLakesandSpectrumAuctions,”HuffingtonPost,September3,2013.Availableat:http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/benjamin-klass/sparkling-lakes-and-spect_b_3857200.html

Klass,B.(2013).“IamCanadian:AReplytoBell’sOpenLetter,”HuffingtonPost,August8,2013.http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/benjamin-klass/bell-canada-verizon_b_3726444.html

AdditionalResearchExperience

Researchcontributor,variousroles,CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject,supervisedbyDr.DwayneWinseck.2012-present.

VolunteerWork

Researchassociate,FirstMileConnectivityConsortium.2015-present.

Member,policycommittee.InternetSociety,CanadaChapter.2015-present.

Organizer,Openmedia“ConnectedCanadaConversation,”Winnipegpublicforumondigitalissues,January25,2014.

DepartmentRepresentative,UniversityofManitobaGraduateStudents’Association,2011-2012.Memberships

CanadianCommunicationAssociation,2014-present.

CUPE4600,2014-present

CUPE3909,2012-2017

CPAA(CanadianPostmastersandPostmasters’AssistantsAssociation),2006-2017

ReportsandSubmissionstoGovernment

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Winseck,D.&Klass,B.“WebsiteBlocking,CloggingthePipes,andCripplingCitizens’FundamentalCommunicationRights.”CMCRPSubmissioninresponsetotheFairplayCoalition’sapplicationforwebsiteblocking.SubmittedbeforetheCanadianRadio-televisionandTelecommunicationsCommission,Application8663-A182-201800467todisableon-lineaccesstopiracysites,March29,2018.

Klass,B.,Winseck,D.,McKelvey,F.,&Nanni,M.“Thereain’tnosuchthingasafreelunch:HistoricalandinternationalperspectivesonwhycommoncarriageshouldbeacornerstoneofcommunicationspolicyintheInternetage.”June2016.

Klass,B.&Winseck,D.“WhyBell’sbidtobuyMTSisbadnews:ReportsubmittedtotheCompetitionBureauassessingBellCanadaEnterprises’proposedbidtoacquireManitobaTelecomServices.”May2016.

Klass,B,&Ellis,D.Intervention(s)toTNCCRTC2014-76,Reviewofwholesalemobilewirelessservices,”February20,2014.

Klass,B.“Part1ApplicationrequestingfairtreatmentofInternetservicesbyBellMobility,”November22,2013.

Klass,B.InterventiontoCRTC2013-685,“Callforcomments-WholesalemobilewirelessroaminginCanada-Unjustdiscrimination/unduepreference,”January29,2014.

Klass,B.Interventionto“CNOCPart1applicationrequestingrelieftoimprovethequalityofwholesalehigh-speedaccessservicesprovidedbycablecarriers,”September30,2013.

Klass,B.Interventionto“DiversityCanadaFoundation,Part1ApplicationtoReviewandVarySectionJofTelecomRegulatoryPolicyCRTC2013-271”(“TheWirelessCode”),October7,2013.

MediaCoverage

CBC:LangandO’LearyExchange;CBC:TheNational;CBCNewsOnline;CBCOntheMoney;VariousCBCradioprograms;TheWireReport;TorontoStar;HuffingtonPost;CANADALANDPodcast;TheManitoban(OnlineandPrint);Cantechletter;Yahoo!NewsOnline;MonctonFreePress(Online);AM900CHML;rabble.ca;openmedia.ca;DSLReports.com;techdirt.com;etc.

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DwayneRoyWinseckMay2018

SchoolofJournalismandCommunication,CarletonUniversity310St.Patrick’sBuilding,1125ColonelByDrive,Ottawa,ONK1S5B6CanadaTel:(613)520-2600(ext.7525)

Fax:(613)520-6690Email:[email protected]

EDUCATION:

1993Ph.D.DepartmentofTelecommunicationandFilm,UniversityofOregon,Eugene,Oregon.

1989MasterofArts,CommunicationStudies,UniversityofWindsor,Windsor,Ontario

1988HonoursBachelorofArts,CommunicationStudies,UniversityofWindsor,Windsor,Ontario

TEACHINGEXPERIENCE:

07/2009toPresentProfessor

10/2000to07/2009AssociateProfessor

1/1998to10/2000AssistantProfessorSchoolofJournalismandCommunication(withJointAppointmenttotheInstituteofPoliticalEconomy),310St.Patrick’sBuilding,1125ColonelByDrive,Ottawa,ONK1S5B6Canada

8/1995to12/97LecturerCentreforMassCommunicationsResearch,UniversityofLeicester,104RegentRoad,Leicester,LE17LT,UnitedKingdom

8/1994-7/1995AssistantProfessor,DepartmentHeadDepartmentofCommunicationandMediaStudies,EasternMediterraneanUniversity,GaziMagusa,TRNC,viaMersin10,TURKEY.

8/1993to6/1994VisitingAssistantProfessorDepartmentofCommunication,BoiseStateUniversity,Boise,Idaho,U.S.A.

9/1990to6/1993GraduateTeachingFellowDepartmentofTelecommunicationandFilm,UniversityofOregon,Eugene,Oregon,USA.

9/1989-7/1990VisitingInstructorDepartmentofInternationalEconomicsandTrade,HuazhongUniversityofScienceandTechnology,Wuhan,People’sRepublicofChina.

9/1988-6/1989GraduateTeachingAssistant,DepartmentofCommunicationUniversityofWindsor,Windsor,Ontario.

PROFESSIONALAWARDS&HONOURS

2017FacultyGraduateMentoringAward,FacultyofPublicAffairs,CarletonUniversity.

2015NominatedforCapitalEducatorsAward

2014PublicCommentaryAward,FacultyofPublicAffairs,CarletonUniversity.

2014NominatedforTeachingExcellenceAward,FacultyofPublicAffairs,CarletonUniversity.

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2013MobileWirelessinCanada:RecognizingtheProblemsandApproachingtheSolutions.InternationalInstituteofCommunication(Canada),12thAnnualConference,OttawaConventionCentreNovember18-19,2013

2012NewZealand’sUltrafastBroadbandPlan:DigitalPublicWorksProjectforaNetworkFreePressinthe21stCenturyorPlayfieldofIncumbentInterests?KeynoteSpeakerattheNewZealandCommerceCommission’sTheFuturewithHigh-SpeedBroadbandConference,Auckland,NewZealand,February20-21,2012.

2011TowardaCritiqueofthePoliticalEconomiesofNetworkMedia.KeynoteaddresstotheJournalism,MediaandDemocracyConference,AucklandUniversityofTechnology,Auckland,NewZealand,September14-16,2011

2008WinneroftheCanadianCommunicationAssociation’sG.J.RobinsonbookoftheyearawardforCommunicationandEmpire.

2007DeepeningtheTransformationoftheMexicanCommunicationsMediaLandscape.“MagisterialLecture”byspecialinvitationoftheProfeco,theConsumerProtectionBureau,GovernmentofMexico,MexicoCity,March15.

BOOKS:

2011Winseck,D.&Jin,D.Y.(eds.).PoliticalEconomiesofMedia:theTransformationoftheGlobalMediaIndustries.London:Bloomsbury.

2007Winseck,D.&Pike,R.CommunicationandEmpire:MediaPowerandGlobalization,1860-1930.Durnham,N.C.:DukeUniv.Press.(WinneroftheCanadianCommunicationAssociation’sG.J.Robinsonbookoftheyearaward)

1998ReConvergence:ApoliticaleconomyoftelecommunicationsinCanada.Cresskill,NJ:Hampton.

1997Bailie,M.&Winseck,D.(eds.).Democratizingcommunication?:Comparativeperspectivesoninformationandpower.Cresskill,NJ:Hampton.

1997Sreberny-Mohammadi,A.,Winseck,D.,McKenna,J.&Boyd-Barrett,O.(eds.).MediainGlobalContext.London,UK:EdwardArnold.

REFEREEDJOURNALARTICLES:

2018Jia,LR&Winseck,D.ThepoliticaleconomyofChineseinternetcompanies:Financialization,concentrationandcapitalization.TheInternationalCommunicationGazette,80(1),30-59.

2017Winseck,D.&Pooley,J.ACuriousTaleofEconomicsandCommonCarriage(NetNeutrality)attheFCC:AReplytoFaulhaber,Singer,andUrschel.InternationalJournalofCommunication,11,2702-2733.

2017TheGeopoliticalEconomyoftheGlobalInternetInfrastructure.JournalofInformationPolicy,7,228-267.

2016ReconstructingthePoliticalEconomyofCommunicationfortheDigitalMediaAge.ThePoliticalEcomomyofCommunication,4(2),73-114.

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2015NewZealand’sUltrafastBroadbandPlan:DigitalPublicWorksProjectforthe21stCenturyorPlayfieldofIncumbentInterests?MediaInternationalAustralia,(151),157-170.

2011SubmarineTelegraphs,TelegraphNews,andtheGlobalFinancialCrisisof1873.JournalofCulturalEconomy:SpecialIssueonFinancialCriseseditedbyM.Poovey,5(2),197-212.

2010Winseck,D.Financializationandthe“CrisisoftheMedia”:TheRiseandFallof(Some)MediaConglomeratesinCanada.CanadianJournalofCommunication,35(3),1-28.

2009Winseck,D.&Pike,R.TheGlobalMediaandtheEmpireofLiberalInternationalism,circa1910-1930.MediaHistory,2009,15(2),31-54.(70/30contribution)

2008InformationOperations‘Blowback’:Communication,PropagandaandSurveillanceintheGlobalWaronTerrorism.InternationalCommunicationGazette,70(6),419-441.

2008Winseck,D.&Pike,R.CommunicationandEmpire:Media,MarketsandGlobalization,1860-1910.GlobalMediaandCommunication,4(1),7-37.(70/30contribution).

2008MediaOwnershipandtheConsolidationofMediaMarkets.SociologyCompass,2(1),34-47.

2004(Pike,R.&Winseck,D).Thepoliticsofglobalmediareform,1907-1923.Media,CultureandSociety,26(5),643-675

2002Illusionsofperfectinformationandfantasiesofcontrolintheinformationsociety.NewMediaandSociety,4(1),89-118.

2002Netscapesofpower:Convergence,consolidationandpowerintheCanadianmediascape.Media,Culture&Society,24(6),795-819.

2001Winseck,D.andPike,R.Monopoly’sfirstmomentinglobalelectroniccommunication:Fromprivatemonopolytoglobalmediareform,circa1860-1920.JournaloftheCanadianHistoricalAssociation,10,149-183.

2001Thebiasoftransnationalcommunications:TheWTO,WiredCitiesandLimitedDemocracy.Javnost–ThePublic,7(4),17-36.

1999ThequestforinformationhighwaysandmediareconvergenceinCanada.Information,1(6),477-499.

1999Telegraphs,onlinecontentservicesandtheearlyhistoryof‘electronicpublishers’(1846-1910).MediaHistory,5(2),137-157.

1999Guo,Z.Z.andWinseck,D.MediatechnologyandthepoliticaleconomyofcommunicationinCanada.ChineseJournalofInformationandMediaSudies,February(aninterviewbetweenWinseckandGuo).

1998Pursuingtheholygrail:InformationhighwaysandmediareconvergenceinBritainandCanada.EuropeanJournalofCommunication,13(3),337-373.

1997AhistoryandpoliticaleconomyoftelecommunicationsandmediareconvergenceinCanada.CanadianJournalofCommunication,22(2),217-260.

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1997Contradictionsinthedemocratizationofinternationalcommunication:NAFTAandWTOasvehiclesforexpandingthefreeflowofinformation.Media,Culture&Society,19(2),219-246.

1997Winseck,D.andCuthbert,M.Fromcommunicationtodemocraticnorms:Reflectionsonthenormativedimensionsofinternationalcommunicationpolicy.Gazette(UniversityofAmsterdam),59(1),1-20.

1995Powershift?:TowardsapoliticaleconomyofCanadiantelecommunicationandregulation.CanadianJournalofCommunication,20,83-106.

1995AsocialhistoryofCanadiantelecommunications.CanadianJournalofCommunication,20,143-166.

1991Winseck,D.andCuthbert,M.SpaceWARC:Anewregulatoryenvironmentforcommunicationsatellites?Gazette(UniversityofAmsterdam),47,195-203

1991TheMotionPictureExportAssociationofAmerica:Culturefortheworld.StudiesinCommunicationandCulture,1(5),29-53.

BOOKCHAPTERS:

2018BeyondRedemption?OrwhatistherelevanceoftheInternationalTelecommunicationsUnionin“theInternetAge”.InGabrieleBalbi&AndreasFickers(eds.).ITUasActor,Arena,andAntennaoflongueduréeTechno-Diplomacy

2018MediaConcentrationintheAgeoftheInternetandMobilePhones.InMarkDeuze(ed.).MakingMedia:Production,PracticesandProfessions.Amsterdam:AmsterdamUniversityPress(forthcoming).

2016Winseck,D.PoliticalEconomy.InK.B.Jensen(ed.).TheInternationalEncyclopediaofCommunicationTheoryandPhilosophy(pp.1500-1515).Hoboken,NJ:Wiley.

2016MediaOwnershipandConcentrationinCanada.In.E.Noam(ed.).MediaConcentrationAroundtheWorld(pp.455-493).NewYork:OxfordUniversity.

2015Winseck,D.InternetIntermediaries:NeutralPlatformsorPowerWithoutResponsibility.InR.Mansell&P.H.Ang(eds.).TheEncyclopediaofDigitalCommunicationandSociety(pp.1-15).Boston,MA:Wiley-Blackwell.

2014TheNetworkMediaEconomy:TriumphoftheMediaInfrastructureIndustries,orCrisisofMedia?InHong,J.H.(eds.).NewApproachestoMediaandCommunicationStudies.Beijing:XinhuaUniversity.

2013CriticalToolsforCriticalMediaResearch:MediaOwnershipandConcentrationinCanadaandtheQuestionofMethods.InI.Wagman&P.Urquhart(eds.).Culturalindustries.ca.Toronto:Lorimer.

2013WeakLinksandWikiLeaks:HowControlofCriticalInternetResourcesandSocialMediaCompanies’BusinessModelsUnderminetheNetworkedFreePress.InB.Brevini,A.Hintz&P.McCurdy(eds.).BeyondWikileaks:ImplicationsfortheFutureofCommunications,JournalismandSociety(pp.166-177).London:PalgraveMacMillan.

2012GlobalizingTelecommunicationsandMediaHistory:BeyondMethodologicalNationalismandtheStruggleforControlModelofCommunicationHistory.InM.Hampf&S.Mueller(eds).Global

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CommunicationElectric:EssaysonMediaandTelecommunicationsHistory.Berlin:FreieUniversitat(Chaptercompleted).

2011PoliticalEconomiesoftheMediaandtheTransformationoftheGlobalMediaIndustries:AnIntroductoryEssay.InWinseck,D.&Jin,D.Y.(eds.).PoliticalEconomiesoftheMedia:theTransformationoftheGlobalMediaIndustries(pp.3-48).London:Bloomsbury.

2011FinancializationandtheCrisisoftheMedia:TheRiseandFallof(Some)MediaConglomeratesinCanada.InWinseck,D.&Jin,D.Y.(eds.).PoliticalEconomiesoftheMedia:theTransformationoftheGlobalMediaIndustries(pp.142-166).London:Bloomsbury.

2011AWorldonEdgeandthe‘CrisisoftheMedia’.InL.R.Shade&MaritaMoll(eds.).TheInternetTree:TheStateofTelecomPolicyinCanada3.0(pp.195-206).Ottawa:CanadianCentreforPolicyAlternatives.

2011MediaOwnershipandtheConsolidationofMediaMarkets.ReprintedinG.Dines&J.MHumes(eds.).Gender,Race,andClassinMedia:ACriticalReader,3rd.ed.ThousandOaks,CA:Sage.

2010InformationOperations“Blowback”:Communication,PropagandaandSurveillanceintheGlobalWaronTerrorism’.ReprintedinP.Seib(ed.).WarandConflictCommunication.London:Routledge.

2010Double-EdgedSwords:CommunicationsMediaandtheGlobalFinancialCrisisof1873.InP.Putnis,J.Wilke&C.Kaul(eds.)Communication,NewsandGlobalization:HistoricalStudies.Cresskill,NJ:Hampton(forthcoming).

2009Pike,R.&WinseckD.ThePoliticsofGlobalMediaReform,1907-23.ReprintedinP.James(ed.).GlobalizationandCulture.London,Sage.(60/40).

2008CommunicationsandtheSorrowsofEmpire:InformationOperations‘Blowback’andSurveillanceintheGlobalWaronTerrorism.InS.P.HeirandJ.Greenberg(eds.).SurveillanceandSocialProblems:CanadianPerspectives(151-168).Blackwood,NS:Fernwood.

2008TheConsolidationofMediaMarkets.InternationalEncyclopediaofCommunication,Vol.(pp.932-937).London:BlackwellPress.

2008GlobalMediaHistory.InternationalEncyclopediaofCommunication,Vol.V(pp.1975-1980).London:BlackwellPress.

2004Telegraphs,onlinecontentservicesandtheearlyhistoryof‘electronicpublishers’(1846-1910).InD.Robinson(ed.).CommunicationHistoryinCanada(pp.53-65).NewYork:OxfordUniversity.

2004Pisagjestransnacionalesenlareddepoderyiudadesconectadas:laestructur,lageografiayelgobiernodelciberespacio.InA.M.Celis&E.G.Romere(eds.).FronterasEnAmericaDelNorte(pp.475-496).Mexico:Sage.

2003Netscapesofpower:Convergence,networkdesign,walledgardensandotherstrategiesofcontrolintheinformationsociety.InD.Lyon(ed.).Surveillance,riskandsocialcategorization(pp.176-198).London:Routledge.

2002Telecommunications,newmediaandglobalgovernance.InL.Lievrow(ed.).Handbookofnewmedia(pp.393-409).London:Sage.

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2002Lostincyberspace:Convergence,consolidationandpowerintheCanadianmediascape.InP.Attallah&L.ReganShade(eds.).Mediascapes:NewpatternsinCanadiancommunication(pp.325-342).Toronto:Nelson.

2002Transnationalmediaspacesandwiredcities:Thepoliticaleconomyandgovernanceoftelecommunicationsandnewmedia.In.M.Raboy(ed.).Globalmediapolicy(pp.19-38).UniversityofLutonPress.

2002Mediasaurus.InB.Szuchewycz&J.Sloniowski(eds.).Canadiancommunications(pp.181-191).Scarborough,Ont.:PrenticeHall.

2001Illusionsofperfectinformationandfantasiesofcontrolintheinformationsociety.InM.Pendakur(ed.).Citizenshipintheinformationage(pp.33-55).Toronto:Garamond.

1999TelecommunicationsinCanada.InCanadianEncylopedia.Calgary:McClelland&StewartInc.

1999Computercommunications.InCanadianEncylopedia.Calgary:McClelland&StewartInc.

1997Winseck,D.,Boyd-Barrett,J.O.,McKenna,J.&Sreberny-Mohammadi,A.Introduction.InSreberny-Mohammadi,A.,Winseck,D.,McKenna,J.&Boyd-Barrett,J.O.(eds.).Mediainglobalcontext(pp.ix-xxx).London:EdwardArnold.

1997Winseck,D.&Cuthbert,M.Communicationanddemocraticnorms:Reflectionsonthenormativefoundationsofinternationalcommunicationpolicy.InSreberny-Mohammadi,A.,Winseck,D.,McKenna,J.&Boyd-Barrett,J.O.(eds.).Mediainglobalcontext(pp.162-176).London:EdwardArnold.

1997Bailie,M.&Winseck,D.,Publicspheres,communicationmarketsandthedemocratizationofcommunication.InBailie,M.&Winseck,D.(eds.).Democratizingcommunication?:Comparativeperspectivesoninformationandpower(pp.1-9).USA:Hampton.

1997Winseck,D.DemocraticpotentialsandinstrumentalgoalsinCanadiantelecommunications.InBailie,M.&Winseck,D.(eds.).Democratizingcommunication?:Comparativeperspectivesoninformationandpower(pp.105-134).USA:Hampton.

1997Winseck,D.Theshiftingcontextsofinternationalcommunication:Possibilitiesforanewworldinformationandcommunicationorder.InBailie,M.,&Winseck,D.(eds.).Democratizingcommunication?:Comparativeperspectivesoninformationandpower(pp.343-376).USA:Hampton.

1996Expandingthe“freeflowofcommunication”doctrine:NAFTAandGATTasinternationaltelecommunicationpolicy.InVincent,R.,Nordenstreng,K.&Traber,M.(eds.).Towardsequityinglobalcommunication(pp.298-315).HamptonPress.

1992Gulfwarintheglobalvillage:CNN,democracyandtheinformationage.InWasko,J.andMosco,V.(eds.).Democraticcommunicationintheinformationage(pp.60-74).Toronto:Garamond.

TECHNICALREPORTS

2017MediaandInternetConcentrationinCanada,1984-2016.CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Media_InternetConcentration1984-2014_for_web.pdf(55pp).

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2018Winseck,D.&Klass,B.WebsiteBlocking,CloggingthePipes,andCripplingCitizens’FundamentalCommunicationRights.CMCRPSubmissioninresponsetotheFairplayCoalition’sapplicationforwebsiteblocking.SubmittedbeforetheCanadianRadio-televisionandTelecommunicationsCommission,Application8663-A182-201800467todisableon-lineaccesstopiracysites(March29,2018)(76pp).

2017GrowthoftheNetworkMediaEconomyinCanada,1984-2016.CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Growth_of_theNetworkMediaEconomy_in_Canada1984-2014_Final_Report.pdf(52pp)


2016GrowthoftheNetworkMediaEconomyinCanada,1984-2015.CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Growth_of_theNetworkMediaEconomy_in_Canada1984-2014_Final_Report.pdf(61pp)

2016Klass,B.,Winseck,D.,Nanni,M.&Mckelvey,F.(2016).Thereain’tnosuchthingasafreelunch:HistoricalandinternationalperspectivesonwhycommoncarriageshouldbeacornerstoneofcommunicationspolicyintheInternetage.CMCRProject’ssubmissiontotheCRTC’sReviewofDifferentialPricing(CRTC2016-192).Availableat:https://services.crtc.gc.ca/pub/ListeInterventionList/Documents.aspx?ID=234586&en=2016-192&dt=i&lang=e&S=C&PA=T&PT=NC&PST=A(Plusresponsestointerrogatoriesandoralpresentation)(88pp)(authorsplit:45/45/5/5)

2016RethinkingUniversalServiceforthe21stCenturyandanAll-IPWorld(September2015)CMCR’sfirstsubmissiontotheCRTC’sReviewofBasicTelecommunicationsServices(CRTC2015-134).Availableat:https://services.crtc.gc.ca/pub/DocWebBroker/OpenDocument.aspx?DMID=2422175(Plusresponsestointerrogatoriesandoralpresentation)(57pp).

2016Klass,B.&Winseck,D.WhyBell’sBidtoBuyMTSisBadNewsReportSubmittedtotheCompetitionBureauassessingBellCanadaEnterprises’proposedbidtoacquireManitobaTelecommunicationsServices.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Final-CMCRP-Report-Bell-MTS-Bid-25May16-1.pdf(46pp)(authorsplit50/50)

2016FromtheBDU-ModelofTVtoRadicalUnbundling:CommonCarriage&CulturePolicyfortheInternetAge.ReportcommissionedbytheCanadianMediaFund(62pp).

2017ShatteredMirror,StuntedVisionandSquanderedOpportunities:AreplytothePublicPolicyForum’sTheShatteredMirror:News,DemocracyandTrustintheDigitalAge(February9,2017)(28pp).


2015GrowthoftheNetworkMediaEconomyinCanada,1984-2014.CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/wp-

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content/uploads/2015/11/Growth_of_theNetworkMediaEconomy_in_Canada1984-2014_Final_Report.pdf(33pp)

2015GrowthandConcentrationTrendsintheEnglish-languageNetworkMediaEconomyinCanada,2000-2014.CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/English_Media_Econ_Concentration_2000-2014.pdf(41pp).

2015DevelopmentandConcentrationTrendsintheFrenchlanguageNetworkMediaEconomyinCanada,1984-2012.CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Growth_Concentration_TrendsinFrLangMediaMarkets2015_fortheweb.pdf(35pp).

2014MediaandInternetConcentrationinCanada,1984-2013.CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Media-Internet-Concentration-1984-2013-Full-4.pdf(34pp).

2014GrowthoftheNetworkMediaEconomyinCanada,1984-2013.CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Growth-of-the-Network-Media-Economy-in-Canada-1984-20131.pdf(23pp)

2014MobileWirelessinCanada:RecognizingtheProblemsandApproachingSolutions.CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Mobile-Wireless-in-Canada-Final-Report.pdf(66pp).

2013MediaandInternetConcentrationinCanada,1984-2012.CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Media-and-Internet-Concentration-in-Canada-Report.pdf(25pp)

2013GrowthoftheNetworkMediaEconomyinCanada,1984-2012.CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/2013/10/15/the-growth-of-the-network-media-economy-in-canada-1984-2012/

2013GrowthandConcentrationTrendsintheEnglish-languageNetworkMediaEconomyinCanada,2000-2012.CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Growth-and-Concentration-Trends-in-the-English-language-Netowrk-Media-Economy-in-Canada-2000-2012-.pdf(15pp).

2013DevelopmentandConcentrationTrendsintheFrenchlanguageNetworkMediaEconomyinCanada,1984-2012.CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Development-and-Concentration-Trends-in-the-French-language-Network-Media-Economy-in-Canada-1984-2012.pdf(11pp).

2012MediaandInternetConcentrationinCanada,1984-2011.CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/2012/12/07/the-state-of-media-and-internet-concentration-in-canada-1984-2011/

2012GrowthoftheNetworkMediaEconomyinCanada,1984-2011.CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject.Availableat:http://www.cmcrp.org/2012/11/26/the-growth-of-the-network-media-economy-in-canada-1984-2011/

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BOOKREVIEWS/REVIEWESSAYS

2018BookReview:YuHong(2017).NetworkingChina:TheDigitalTransformationoftheChineseEconomy.Urbana,Illinois:UniversityofIllinois,225pp.

2013ContributiontoaroundtablediscussionofSimonPotter’s(2012).BroadcastingEmpire.London:OxfordUniversity.InMediaHistory.

2011ReviewEssayonRichardR.John’s(2010)NetworkNation:InventingAmericanTelecommunications.Cambridge,MA:HarvardUniversityPress.BusinessHistory,53.

2009TheEconomicsofAttention,byRichardA.Latham.InJournalofMediaEcology.

2008AlwaysAlreadyNew:MediaHistoryandtheDataofCulture,byLisaGitelman.InGlobalMediaJournal–theMediterraneanEdition,3(1).

2006Canadiannewspaperownershipintheeraofconvergence,editedbyW.C.SoderlundandK.Hildebrandt(2005).InCanadianJournalofPoliticalScience,39(3),703-706.

2006Asiancyberactivism:Freedomofexpressionandmediacensorship,editedbyS.Gan,J.Gomez&U.Johannen(2004).InJournalofInternationalCommunication,12(2),pp.95-97.

2006Theemergentglobalinformationpolicyregime,editedbyS.Braman(2004).InGlobalMediaandCommunication,2(1),108-111.

2005Towardsapoliticaleconomyofculture,editedbyA.CalabreseandC.Sparks(2004).InCanadianJournalofCommunication,30(3).

1999Thedeclineandfallofpublicservicebroadcasting,byM.Tracey(1998).Media,CultureandSociety,21(2),276-278.

1999Theglobalmedia:Thenewmissionariesofglobalcapitalism,byE.Herman&R.McChesney(1997).InternationalJournalofCommunication.

1997Convergence:Integratingmedia,informationandcommunicationbyT.Baldwin,D.McVoyandC.Steinfield(1996).TheJournalofInformation,LawandTechnology(JILT)(arefereedjournal),97(3),http://elj.warwick.ac.uk/jilt/issue/1997_3/hitchen.htm

1997CommunicationandthetransformationofeconomicsbyR.E.Babe(1995).JournalofCommunication,47(3),155-158.

CONFERENCEPRESENTATIONS/PAPERS/PUBLICLECTURES:

2018DoGiantInternetPlatformsRuletheWorld?:AViewfromCanada.PapertobepresentedattheInternationalAssociationofMediaandCommunicationResearchersConference,Eugene,Oregon,June21-25.

2018TheRiseandFalloftheAmericanInternet?:theGeopoliticalEconomyoftheGlobalInternetInfrastructure.PresentedattheGlobalMediaForum,ChineseMedia&itsGlobalDevelopment,YorkUniversity,March15.

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2017TheGeopoliticaleconomyoftheGlobalInternetInfrastructure.PresentedattheInternationalExploratoryWorkshop:TransnationalHistoriesofTelecommunication@ITU.CentreforContemporaryandDigitalHistory,UniversityofLuxembourg.October18-20.

2017TheGeopoliticaleconomyoftheGlobalInternetInfrastructure.Presented

attheInternationalAssociationofMediaandCommunicationResearchers,Cartegena,Columbia,July16-20.

2017OnMethod:StudyingConcentrationinanevermoreinternet-andmobilewireless-centricmediauniverse.PaperpresentedattheBlueSkyPolicyResearchWorkshop,InternationalCommunicationAssociationConference,SanDiego,USA,May29.

2016Winseck,D.FromtheEmpireofCapitalandCopperCablestotheGeopoliticalEconomyoftheGlobalInternet.PapertobepresentedattheInternationalStudiesAssociationConference,Atlanta,GA,March16-20,2016.

2015Winseck,D.FromCopperCableCapitalismtotheGeoPoliticalEconomyoftheGlobalInternetInfrastructure.PaperpresentedtotheWorkshoponTransnationalTelecommunicationsHistoryattheInternationalTelecommunicationsUnion,GenevaSwitzerland,December17-19.

2015.Winseck,D.MediaandInternetConcentrationinCanada,1984–2014:TheFutureofCommunityMediaintheAgeoftheInternetandInformationAbundance.PresentedatCommunityMediaConvergenceConference,CarletonUniversity,Ottawa,ON,November23,2015.

2015Winseck,D.MediaandInternetConcentrationinCanada,1984–2014.PaperpresentedattheMediaOwnershipAroundtheWorld,ColumbiaInstitutetoTele-Information,ColumbiaUniversity,NewYork,October20th,2015.

2015Winseck,D.ConcentrationTrendsandDevelopmentsintheContentMediaIndustriesinCanada,1984–2014.PaperpresentedatMediaOwnershipAroundtheWorld,ColumbiaInstitutetoTele-Information,ColumbiaUniversity,NewYork,October20th,2015.

2015Winseck,D.FromCopperCableCapitalismtotheGeopoliticalEconomyoftheGlobalInternetInfrastructureandInfoCapitalism.PaperpresentedtotheGeopoliticalEconomyResearchGroup,UniversityofManitoba,September24-25.

2015Winseck,D.UnbundlingVerticalintegration:TooBigtoFailorTooBigtoIgnoreandMollycoddle?RebootingCanada’sCommunicationsLegislationConference,ForumforPolicyResearchandCommunication,UniversityofOttawa,May23.

2014MorethanaMedium:InternetInfrastructureandJournalism.SSHRC-fundedworkshophostedatConcordiaUniversityjournalismprofessorLisaLynch,May2,2014,Montreal,QC.

2013TheNetworkMediaEconomyastheTriumphoftheMediaInfrastructureIndustries,ortheCrisisofMedia?PaperpresentedtotheInternationalAssociationofMediaandCommunicationResearchers,Dublin,Ireland,June25-28,2013.

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2013ReturnoftheState@theHeartof“NewInternet-centricMediaOrder”.PaperpresentedattheGlobalCommunicationandNationalPolicies:TheReturnoftheStatepreconferenceoftheInternationalCommunicationAssociationConference,June16,2013.

2012(co-authorwithPh.D.student,AdeelKhamisa)Rapporteurs’sReport:theOrbicom–IDRCWorkshoponDigitalTransformations,Montreal,Quebec,CanadaJanuary12–14,2012

2011TowardaCritiqueofthePoliticalEconomiesofNetworkMedia.PaperpresentedtothePoliticalEconomySectionoftheInternationalAssociationofMediaandCommunicationResearchers,Istanbul,Turkey,July13-17,2011

2011FromtheGeopoliticsofImperialismtotheEmpireofCapital:CommunicationMediaandtheGlobalFinancialCrisisof1873.InvitedpaperpresentedattheGlobalCommunicationElectricConference,JohnF.KennedyInstitute,FreieUniversitätBerlin,MuseumofCommunication,February18–19,2011.

2011TheInternationalMediaConcentrationResearchProject:IssuesandtheStateofMediaConcentrationinCanada,1984–2010.PaperpresentedattheMediaConcentrationAroundtheWorldConference,Paris,France,January21stand22nd,2011.

2010ConcentrationandtheNetworkMediaIndustriesinCanada:APresentationofFindingsfromtheInternationalMediaConcentrationResearchProject.TelecommunicationsPolicyResearchConference,Arlington,VA,October19-22.

2010FinancializationandtheCrisisoftheMedia:TheRiseandFallof(Some)MediaConglomeratesinCanada.PaperpresentedattheInternationalAssociationofMediaandCommunicationResearchers,Braga,Portugal,July19-24.

2010Double-EdgedSwords:CommunicationsMediaandtheGlobalFinancialCrisisof1873.PaperpresentedattheInternationalAssociationofMediaandCommunicationResearchers,Braga,Portugal,July19-24.

2009GlobalizingTelecomsandMediaHistories:BeyondMethodologicalNationalismandtheStruggleforControlModelofCommunicationHistory.InvitedPapertobepresentedtothe“TelecommunicationandGlobalization:InformationFlowsintheNineteenthandEarlyTwentiethCentury”Conference.UniversityofHeidelberg,HeidelbergGermany.September25-28,2009.

2009CommunicationandEmpire:ACritiqueof‘ConventionalKnowledge’andanOutlineofaNewTheoreticalApproachtoGlobalMediaHistory.PresentedtotheMediaHistorysectionoftheInternationalCommunicationAssociation,Chicago,USA,May21-25,2009.

2008CommunicationsMediaandGlobalOrders:Media,MarketsandEmpires–PastandPresent.KeynoteAddresstotheFirstGlobalMediaJournalSymposium,UniversityofOttawa,November14,2008.

2008InformationOperationsBlowback:RetoolingCommunicationNetworksandtheEntertainmentMediaforNationalSecurityand'GlobalWar'.PaperpresentedtothePoliticalEconomysectionoftheInternationalAssociationofMediaandCommunicationResearchers,Stockholm,Sweden,July20-24.

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2008CommunicationandEmpire:ACritiqueof‘ConventionalKnowledge’andanOutlineofaNewTheoreticalApproachtoGlobalMediaHistory.PaperpresentedtotheMediaHistorysectionoftheInternationalAssociationofMediaandCommunicationResearchers,Stockholm,Sweden,July20-24.

2007DeepeningtheTransformationoftheMexicanCommunicationsMediaLandscape.“MagisterialLecture”byspecialinvitationoftheProfeco,theConsumerProtectionBureau,GovernmentofMexico,MexicoCity,March15.

2007TheGlobalMediaandtheAgeofEmpire,1860-1910.PaperpresentedatthepresentedtotheMediaHistorysectionoftheInternationalAssociationofMediaandCommunicationResearchers,Paris,France,July23-25.

2005GlobalMediaMergersandtheEmpireofLiberalInternationalism.Invitedpaperpresentation(withProfessorRobertPike)fortheEuropeanBusinessHistorian’sAssociation,Copenhagen,Denmark,August15-19.

2004CommunicationandEmpire:MediaMarkets,PowerandGlobalisation,1860-1930.PaperpresentedpresentedtotheMediaHistorysectionoftheInternationalAssociationofMediaandCommunicationResearchers,PortoAllegre,Brazil,July26-30.

2004CommunicationandEmpire:RethinkingandRevisingtheHistoryoftheGlobalMedia.Invitedpaperpresentation(withProfessorRobertPike)forthePolicyHistoryConference,St.Louis,Missouri,May20-23,2004.

2003WildCompetition,ManagedChangeandNetscapesofPower:TheforcesshapingTelecommunicationsandNewMediainCanada.InvitedpaperpresentationtotheETICWorkingGrouponTelecommunications,UniversityofQuebecatMontreal,Montreal,April17,2003.

2002ThePoliticsofGlobalMediaReform,1907-1923(co-authoredwithRobertPike,ProfessorEmeritus,Queen’sUniversity)PaperpresentedtotheMediaHistorysectionoftheInternationalAssociationofMediaandCommunicationResearchers,Barcelona,Spain,July19-22.

2001WiredCities,TransnationalCommunicationandtheReconfigurationofGeographyandBorders.PaperpresentedattheBorderCrossingsConference,NationalAutonomousUniversity,MexicoCity,Mexico,July3-5.

2001Lostincyberspace:Convergence,ConsolidationandPowerintheCanadianMediascape.KeynoteAddresssattheAnnualConferenceoftheCommunication,EnergyandPaperworkersunion,Edmonton,Alberta,March30th.

2001Netscapesofpower:Convergence,networkdesign,walledgardensandotherstrategiesofcontrolintheinformationsociety.PaperpresentedtotheSurveillance,riskandsocialcategorizationconference,Queen’sUniversity,Kingston,May3-5,2001.

2001Cyberspaceredesign,2.0:RegulatingandshapingthefutureoftheNet.PaperpresentedattheUnionforDemocraticCommunication’sDemocraticCommunicationinaBrandedWorldconference,CarletonUniversity,Ottawa,May17-19,2001.

2001Cyberspaceredesign,2.0:RegulatingandshapingthefutureoftheNet.PaperpresentedattheCanadianCommunicationAssociationAnnualConference,QuebecCity,May27-30,2001.

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2000Telecommunications,newmediaandglobalgovernance.KeynoteAddresstotheBritishColumbiaLibraryAssociationConferenceonInformationPolicy,Globalization,mediaandculturaldiversity,April7-10.

2000Controllingdesigns:Mediaarchitectures,marketsandtheregulationofinformationabundance.PaperpresentedattheInternationalAssociationofMassCommunicationsResearchers,Singapore,July18-21st,2000.

1999Illusionsofperfectinformationandfantasiesofcontrolintheinformationsociety.PaperpresentedattheCitizensattheCross-roads:WhoseInformationSocietyConference,UniversityofWesternOntario,London,Ontario,October22,1999.

1999Illusionsofperfectinformationandfantasiesofcontrolintheinformationsociety.PaperpresentedattheUnionforDemocraticCommunication,UniversityofOregon,Eugene,Oregon,USA,October15,1999.

1999Thepoliticaleconomyofnewandoldmediainaninformationsociety.RoundtablepresentationattheUnionforDemocraticCommunication,UniversityofOregon,Eugene,Oregon,USA,October14,1999.

1999DiscussantfortheGlobalizationTeamRoundtable,AProjectonTrendsandaJointInitiativeofthePolicyResearchSecretariatandtheSocialScienceandHumanitiesResearchCouncil,Ottawa,September17,1999.

1999Communication,convergenceandthecrisisofdemocracy.InvitedPublicLecturegivenattheCanadianLibraryAssociationAnnualConference,Toronto,Ontario,June17.

1999Monopoly’sfirstmomentinglobalelectroniccommunication:Fromprivatemonopolytoglobalmediareform,circa1860-1920(co-authoredwithDr.RobertPike).PaperpresentedattheCanadianHistoricalAssociationConference,SherbrookeQuebec,June7.

1998Pursuingtheholygrail:InformationhighwaysandmediareconvergenceinBritainandCanada.PaperpresentedtotheCommunication,TechnologyandPolicysectionoftheInternationalAssociationofMassCommunicationResearchersinGlasgow,Scotland,July26-30.

1998Pursuingtheholygrail:InformationhighwaysandmediareconvergenceinCanada.PaperpresentedattheCanadianCommunicationAssociation’sAnnualConference,Communication,thePublicGoodandCivicCulture,May31toJune3.

1996Canadiantelecommunications:Ahistoryandpoliticaleconomyofmediareconvergence.PaperpresentedtoPoliticalEconomysectionoftheInternationalAssociationofMassCommunicationResearchers,Sydney,Australia,August18-22.

1994FromUNESCOandtheITUtoNAFTAandGATT:InternationaltradingregimesincommunicationasvalidationoftheU.S.,U.KandSingapore’sdecisionstowithdrawfromUNESCO.Paperpresentedtothe6thAnnualMacbrideRoundtableattheUniversityofHawaii,Monoa,January20-23.

1994Cuthbert,M.&Winseck,D.Normativeconsiderationsininternationalcommunicationpolicy.Paperpresentedtothe11thInterculturalandInternationalCommunicationConference.UniversityofMiami,SchoolofCommunication,February3-5.

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1994ProspectsforglobalcommunicationequityafterGATT.InvitedpaperfortheInternationalLawandPolicysectionoftheInternationalAssociationofMassCommunicationResearchers,Seoul,Korea,July,1994.

WORKINPROGRESS

Director,theCanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject,SchoolofJournalismandCommunication,CarletonUniversity,Ottawa,Canada<cmcrp.org>

Wilkinson,S.&Winseck,D.WhitherJournalism?CrisisorWrenchingChangeinJournalisticWorkinCanada?PapersubmittedtoJournalismStudiesforreview(authorsplit70/30).

GRADUATESUPERVISIONS

Current:2MA,2Ph.D.MASupervisionscompletedsince2009:11

Ph.D.Supervisions:2Ph.D.Externalexaminer:9

PUBLIC/POPULARMEDIACONTRIBUTIONSVideo:

• BNN(November23,2017).WhyCanadiantelecomsmaypressureOttawaafterUSrepealsNetNeutrality.

• BNN(April20,2017).CRTCrulesinfavourofnet-neutrality.

• CBCNetworkNews(February15,2017).Telecomtakeover:regulatorsapproveBCE’s$3.1BtakeoverofMTS.

• CTVNews(December22,2016).CRTCdeclaresbroadbandinternetabasicservice.

• CMCROralPresentationtoCRTCHearingonWhetherAffordableBroadbandInternetshouldbeavailabletoallCanadians(April11,2016)

• BNNNews(January29,2015).ImplicationsofCRTCNewRules.

• CTVNews(October6,2014).$316MPostmediadeal:Canbothbrandssurvive?

• GlobalNews(September23,2014).ShawMediaannouncesproposalfor24-hourchannelGlobalNews1.

• Brownell,C.(September20,2014).It’sthehottestdramaonTV:theCRTCclasheswiththeonlinefuture.FinancialPost.

• CTVNationalNews(September10,2014).FutureofTelevision.

• GlobalTV(September9,2014).ImpactofCRTCLet’sTalkTVDiscussions.

• DebatebetweenJeffreyChurch,MartinMasseandDwayneWinseck-HowCompetitiveisCanada'sTelecomSector?InternationalInstituteofCommunicationAnnualConference,November18,2013,OttawaCongressCentre,Ottawa,Canada.http://www.cpac.ca/en/programs/public-record/episodes/28624782/

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• InterviewwithDwayneWinseckontheCBC’sLangandO’Learyshow,August17,2012.http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_V-XTHluIks

• UnlawfulAccess:CanadianExpertsontheStateofCyber-SurveillanceVideoco-producedbytheDigitallyMediatedSurveillance(DMS,QueensUniversity)researchprojectandtheNewTransparencyproject(UniversityofToronto)(2011).http://vimeo.com/29208533

Audio:

• CatherineTaitappointedasnewCEO/PresidentofCBC.CBCRadio–Saskatchewan(April4,2018).

• Netflixlosingcustomers.CBCbusinessreporterKateMacNamara(July19,2016).

• AmoreaccessibleinternetforCanadians?PolicyOptionsPodcast#10withAlexShadeed,InstituteforResearchandPublicPolicy.(May3,2016).

• WhitherjournalisminCanada?InterviewwithMarcMongomery,RCInet(March2,2016).

• ExperttestimonytoCanadianHeritageParliamentaryCommitteestudyofthemediaandlocalcommunities(@9hr9min30secs)(February25,2016).

• PostmediaCombineNewsRoomsinCitiesacrossCanada.CBCOttawaMorningwithRobynBresnahan(January20,2016).

• ImpactofcombiningPostmediaandSunNewspaperOperationsinOttawaandotherCitiesAcrossCanada.InterviewwithEdHandat1310AMOttawa(January20,2016).

• CorusAcquiresShawMedia.InterviewwithCBCRadioVancouver(January13,2016).

• AllinaDaywithPaulHaarvardsrud+AllanNeil.CBC(November10,2015).

• FederalElection2015:Scrutinizingnewspaperpoliticalendorsements.CBC’sTheCurrent(October9,2015).

• InterviewwithCBC’sAsitHappensonBellMediapresident’sinterventioninCTV,BNNnewscoverage(March25,2015).

• InterviewwithRadioCanadaInternational’sMarcMontgomery.MediaConcentrationinCanada:newstudyprovidesfacts(January6,2015).

• InterviewwithCBCMontreal’sShawnApelonNetflixvs.CRTCoverthequestionofconfidentialinformationandpossibleregulationofOTTTelevision(September24,2014).

• ProfessorDwayneWinseckdeliversablisteringindictmentofBell,Rogers,andTelus:it’sanattackthatmayhavegottenhimbrieflykickedoffTwitter.InterviewwithJesseBrownatCanadaLand(December2,2013).http://canadalandshow.com/wireless-wars/

• CanadianWirelessTelecommunicationsAssociation(CWTA)PresidentandCEOBernardLordDebatesStateofCanada'sMobileWirelessMarketwithCMCRProjectDirectorDwayneWinseck.1310NewsOttawa(Rogers).November27,2013.WaitingforAudioclip.

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• ThroneSpeechannouncescableunbundling/pick-and-paymodelforcabletv.CBCmorningradio(Halifax,Kitchener-Waterloo,Guelph,Cornerbrook,Yellowknife,Winnipeg,Saskatoon,Sudbury,Kamloops,Victoria).AudioclipfromCBCSaskatoonhttp://www.cbc.ca/player/News/ID/2412767986/

• WhatdoesBellCanada'sbidtotakeoverAstralMediameanforconsumers?TheCurrent,September12,2012.http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/episode/2012/09/12/what-does-bell-canadas-bid-to-take-over-astral-media-mean-for-consumers/

Press/OnlineNews

• Jackson,E.(April9,2018).Corusdefendsstrategydespitestockpricewoes.NationalPost.

• Cain,P.(April5,2018).CanadaflaggedFacebook’sthird-partyappprivacyproblemwaybackin2009.GlobalTV.

• Newton,C.(Dec.15,2017).Whatisnetneutralityandwhyitmatters,AlJazeera.

• Armiak,D.(July6,2017).NewStudyUndercutsTrumpFCCChair'sJustificationforRollingBackNetNeutrality.

• McCarthy,K.(July3,2017).America'snetneutralityragehitsacademia:Corporateshillallegationssparkfuriousresponse.TheRegister.

• Jackson,E.(June27,2017).RogersandTelusstepupwirelesspromotionstocounterseriousthreatfromFreedomMobile.NationalPost.

• KrashinskyRobertson,S.(June15,2017).ReportdetailsrecommendationsforsustainablefundingofCanadianmedia.GlobeandMail.

• Brousseau-Pouliot,V.(June14,201y7).LesdatesimportantesduRegnedeJean-PierreBlais:Unmandatpro-consommateur.LaPresse+

• Klym,N.(May18,2017).Jean-PierreBlaisatMIT.InternetPolicyResearchInitiativeattheMITBlog.

• InternetSocietyofCanada(May9,2017).Net-headsrejoice!:TheCanadianbranchoftheInternetSocietysalutestheCRTC’sInternetPolicyDecision.InternetSocietyCanadablog.

• Layton,R.(May1,2017).WhatCanadiansShouldKnowAboutTheCRTC'sInternetDecision.HuffingtonPost.

• Jackson,E.(April28,2017).WhyCanadaisdraggingitsfeetonthenextspectrumauctionwhiledemandkeepsgrowing.FinancialPost.

• McCarthy,K.(April25,2017).AveryCanadianapproach:hownetneutralityrulesreflectacountry'struenature.TheRegister.

• Marowitz,R.(April18,2017).TranscontinentalputsnewspapersinQuebecandOntarioupforsale.GlobeandMail(CanadianPress).

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• Watson,H.G.(March6,2017).TheCanadiannewspaperindustryisgettinganewjoltoflife.EditorandPublisher.

• Selley,C.(February26,2017).ConservativesatwarwithconservatismondisplayatManningCentreconference.NationalPost.

• Evelyn,C.(February25,2017).CBC‘dimmerstar’inmedialandscape,conservativeeventhears.TheWireReport(paywalled)

• O'Malley,K.(February24,2017).ManningManifests:CBCaprimetargetasconferencewindsdown.Macleans.

• Britneff,B.(February14,2017).LiberalMPsgrillCompetitionBureauoverPostmedia-Sundeal.iPolitics.

• Britneff,B.(February12,2017).PublicPolicyForumreportonmediacrisis'flawed':professor.iPolitics.

• Horgan,C.(February1,2017).Thecostofjournalism.ArticleMagazine.

• Watson,H.G.(January26,2017).SixkeytakeawaysfromthePublicPolicyForum’sreportonmedia.J-Source.

• Isreal,S.(January18,2017).BellCanadaraisingpricesonhomeinternet,TVinFebruary.CBC

• Kupfer,M.(December21,2016).CRTCdeclaresbroadbandinternetaccessabasicservice.CBC.

• Brousseau-Pouliot,V.(December22,2016)LeCRTCvisel'accèsàlahautevitessepourtous.LaPresse+

• Morrison,I.(December6,2016).Localmediaandthedemocracydeficit.PolicyOptions.

• Klass,B.(November29,2016).OnceManitobaTelecomServicessold,there'snohitting'redial'.WinnipegFreePress.

• Wood,E.(November22,2016).GoogleandFacebookreceivealmosttwo-thirdsofonlineadrevenue,studyfinds.Itbusiness.ca.

• Jackson,E.(October31,2016).Telecoms,consumeradvocatesfaceoffoverInternetdatapricinganddateusagecaps.FinancialPost.

• Dobby,C.(October30,2016).CRTCtoreviewdifferentialpricingpracticesonInternetservice.Globe&Mail.

• Jackson,E.(October25,2016).BroadcastingrevenuesdipasCanadiansmoveonlineforradioandtelevision:CRTC.FinancialPost.

• Nowak,P.(October14,2016).TrumphiresBell,Telusconsultantforadvice.Alphabeatic.

• Evelyn,C.(June23,2016).'Separatesilo'approachtoregulationwrong-footedininternetage:report.TheWireReport.

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• Chung,E.(June2,2016).Google,CanadianmediaoutletslaunchAMPwebsites.CBCNews.

• Nowak,P.(May20,2016).Facebookbiasscandal:Newmediagiantsdealwithtraditionalmediaproblem.CBCNews.

• Jackson,E.(May19,2016).They'rerightonourdoorstep:SaskTelordersriskreportafterBellbuysMTS.FinancialPost.

• Bell-MTSdealweakensRogers’abilitytocompete:academics.TheWireReport(May26,2015).

• Cash,M.(May18,2016).Wirelessratesalreadyrising.WinnipegFreePress.

• Libin,Kevin(April4,2016).Theuglysideofskinnycable:WhytheCRTCgotthisfilewrongagain.FinancialPost.

• Harris,S.(March3,2016).$25'skinny'TVpackagescalleda'ripoff'asindustry'staresdown'CRTC.CBC.

• Abma,S.(March1,2016).Will'skinnypackages'temptcablecustomerstostayconnected?CBC.

• White,A.(March1,2016).Canadatakesfirststepinnationalfightagainstcordcutting.PasteMagazine.

• Vlessing,E.(February29,2016).Canada'sGreatCableUnbundling.TheHollywoodReporter.

• Watson,H.G.(February29,2016).MediaconcentrationinCanadaclimbsasnewsroomsshrink.J-Source.

• Reynolds,C.(February29,2016).Bell'sTVstarterpackageisnowonly$25--butwillanyonewantit?TorontoStar.

• DemocracywarningasCanadianmediamergeandnewspapersclose(February24,2016).TheGuardian.

• Shufelt,T.&Dobby,C.(January25,2016).GuelphMercurynewspapertocloseamidfinancialpressures.GlobeandMail.

• Postmedia-Sunmerger'foolishly'acceptedbyCompetitionBureau,profsays(January20,2016).CBCNewsOttawa.

• Bjornson,L.(December5,2015).Nicheethnicmediastruggletocompete.NewCanadianMedia.

• Livesey,B.(November27,2017).PostmediaempirefalterswhileCEOPaulGodfreyearnsmillions.TorontoStar.

• Livesey,Bruce(November24,2015).ThetawdryfallofthePostmedianewspaperempire.NationalObserver.

• Shaw,G.(November24,2015).Netflix,shomi,CraveTV:Choosingthestreamingservicethatbestforyou.FinancialPost.

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• Harris,M.(November12,2015).CitizenShame:Politics,PaulGodfreyandPostmedia’shumiliation.iPolitics.

• Tencer,D.(November10,2015).Canada'sNewspapersWereInTheTankForHarper,MediaAnalysisFinds.HuffingtonPost.

• Barber,J.(November1,2015).ElectiondealsblowtoCanada'sdominantpressgroup.TheGuardian.

• McGee,C.(October21,2015).Doeditorialendorsementsmatter?RyersonReviewofJournalism.

• Buckler,G.(July8,2015).DoesMediaOwnershipMatter.CanadianJournalistsforFreedomofExpression.

• Desjardins,L.(March25,2015).Corporationexecutiveinterferesinnewscoverage.Radio-CanadaInternational.

• Gallant,J.(March25,2015).BellMediapresidentapologizesforinterveninginCTVnewscoverage.TorontoStar.

• Nowak,P.(February11,2015).Canada’sloomingstreamingvideoshowdown.CanadianBusiness.

• Myers,C.(2014-2015).TheBusinessofMedia.CanadianMediaDirectorsCouncil.Toronto:Rogers.

• LevinsonKing,R.(February2,2015).CanadianviewerswillgettoseeU.S.adsduring2017SuperBowl:Inboldspeech,CRTCcomesoutinfavourofnetworkneutrality,SuperBowladsandfreeTV.TorontoStar.

• Montgomery,M.(January6,2015).MediaconcentrationinCanada:newstudyprovidesfacts.Radio-CanadaInternational.

• Mills,C.(November17,2014).TCMediasells15consumermagazinestoTVA,includingCanadianLivingandTheHockeyNews.J-Source.ca.

• Karadeglija,A.(October15,2014).EUcountriescouldbenextforregulator-Netflixconflict(subscribersonly).

• Abma,D.(October9,2014).Rogers-Shawmergerseenasmakingcompletesense(subscribersonly).

• Bradshaw,J.(October6,2014).Postmedia-Quebecordealraisesquestionsonfutureofnewspapers.

• HuffingtonPost(October6,2014).Postmedia-QuebecorDeal:MediaOwnershipWorriesareBesidethePoint:Expert.

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• CanadianPress(October6,2014).ExpertsweighinonconcentrationofCanadianmediaownership.CTVNews

• CanadianPress(October6,2014).ExpertsweighinonconcentrationofCanadianmediaownership.Macleans.

• CBC(September23,2014).NetflixrefusesCRTCdemandtohandoversubscriberdata.

• Pedwell,T.(September22,2014).InterferencebyPMOemboldenedNeflixagainstbroadcaster,expertssay.CTVNews.

• Pedwell,T.(September19,2014).NetflixtellsCRTCconsumersshouldvotewiththeirdollars.CBCNews.

• CBC(September11,2014).CRTChearings:Howtheoutcomecouldaffectyourcableandinternetbill.

• Dobby,C.(May6,2014).WhyOttawakeepsfailingatitsquesttogiveCanadiansmoretelecomchoices.NationalPost.

• Cheadle,B.(March11,2014).SomemayorsconcernedoverseparatistownershipofEnglishcommunitynewspapers.WinnipegFreePress

• Raj,A.(Dec.17,2013).Jean-PierreBlaisIsOnAMissionAsCRTCChief–ButWhoseMissionIsIt?HuffingtonPost.

• Austen,I.(Dec.11.2013).Canadatostopdeliveringmailtocityhomesoverfiveyears.NewYorkTimes.

• Schick,S.(Dec.11,2013).Canadacan'tresearchitswayoutofthewirelesswars.Yahoo!FinanceCanada.

• Fontaine,P.(November29,2013).DiversityofMediaOwnershipLiterallyNon-ExistentinCanada.J-Source:TheCanadianJournalismProject.

• Pilieci,V.(November22,2013).Canadawouldbewellservedbywelcomingwirelesscompetition:researcher.OttawaCitizen.http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Canada+would+well+served+welcoming+wireless+competition/9202639/story.html

• CarletonUniversitypaperarguesformorewirelesscompetition.TheWireReport,November25,2013.

• CarletonStudyChallengesClaimsofBigMobileWirelessPlayersandPromotesNeedforMaverickBrands.MorningPostExchange.November25,2013.

• Tencer,D.(Nov.22,2013).WirelessCompetitionInCanada:TheGood,TheBadAndTheUgly.TheHuffingtonPost.

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• Tencer,D.(Nov.22,2013).3RadicalProposalsForReformingCanada'sWirelessIndustry.TheHuffingtonPost.

• Plokhi,O.(Nov.18,2013).Ottawa’smovesintelecomgetwiderangingreactionsatindustryconference.iPolitics.

• Canada'sEmperorsWearingNoClothes!TheTyee,November4,2013.

• Whatdoesmediaconcentrationlooklike?TheTyee(undated)

• Lu,Vanessa.WhathappensifTVunbundles?TorontoStar,October15,2013.

• Dobby,C.(May5,2013).BCE-Astraldealwillhurtconsumers’levelofchoice,interestgroupwarns.NationalPost.

• Campion-Smith,Bruce.ConsumersthefocusinCRTC’srejectionofBelltake-overofAstralMedia,expertssays.TorontoStar,October19,2012.

• Winseck,Dwayne.TheCRTCandtheBellAstralDeal:WhatHappenedandWhy.HuffingtonPost.October22,2012.

• Roseman,Ellen.Bell'sAstraltakeovercouldmeanTVstranglehold.TorontoStar,September11,2012.

• Hayley,AndreaandMiller,Reuben.Astral/BCEmergermayrequireTVdivestitures,industrysourcessay.DealReporter,September7,2012.

• Wallace,Kenyon.CompetitorstrytoblockBellCanadafrombuyingAstralMedia.TheTorontoStar,September9,2012.

• Houpt,S.&S.Ladurantaye.IsBelltoobig?GlobeandMail,September1,2012.

• CRTCshouldnixBell'sAstraltakeover,profargues.CBC,August17

• MoreConsumerandIndustryVoicesSayNotoBellCanada,WallStreetJournal,August10,2012.

• Freeman,S.(March16,2012).BCEtakesoveroneoffewremainingindependents,shrinksmedialandscape.

Columns

• Winseck,D.(March3,2017).TheCBC’sroleinthe‘InternetAge’.PoicyOptions.

• Winseck,D.(July1,2016).Modularmedia:AradicalcommunicationandculturalpolicyforCanada.CanadianCentreforPolicyAlternatives:TheMonitor.https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/monitor/modular-media.

• Winseck,D.&Klass,M.(May18,2016).MTSdealwouldsetaharmfulprecedentforwirelesscompetition.GlobeandMail.

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• Winseck,D.(May17,2016).WhyBell'sbidtobuyMTSisbadnews.PolicyOptions.

• Winseck,D.(April19,2016).Guiltypleasuresandproperneeds:WhogetswhatkindofInternet,andwhodecides?PolicyOptions.

• Winseck,D.(February12,2016).TheclashovertheInternetinfrastructureofthe21stcentury.PolicyOptions.

• Winseck,D.(November3,2015).Canadiannewspapereditorialelectionendorsements:eliteandoutofsync.PolicyOptions.

• Winseck,D.(March28,2015).AtBellMedia,editorialmeddlingbyexecsappearstobearecurringproblem.PolicyOptions.

• Winseck,D.(March16,2015).TheCRTC’slatestTalkTVdecisions:Sweepingchangeorplusçachange?PolicyOptions.

• Winseck,Dwayne.OnBellAstralMerger,theCRTCshouldtakeitstime.Globe&Mail,February4,2013.

• Winseck,D.(Oct.22,2012).TheCRTCandtheBellAstralDeal:WhatHappenedandWhy.HuffingtonPost.http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/dwayne-winseck/bell-astral-deal-crtc_b_2001529.html.

• Winseck,Dwayne.Who'sWatchingYouontheInternet.HuffingtonPost,October15,2012.

• Winseck,D.(May17,2012).Twitter-WikiLeakscaseatestofpressandprivacyrightsonlineIcelandicMPandWikiLeakerBirgittaJonsdottir'sbattlewiththeU.S.governmentliesatthenexusofsecuritylaws,pressfreedomandthefutureofdemocracy.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/twitter-wikileaks-case-a-test-of-press-and-privacy-rights-online/article4184669/

• Winseck,D.(Apr27,2012).GooglerSergeyBrincriescrocodiletearsonthreatsto'openInternet'.OpendataisgoodforGoogle'sbusiness,butwhatabouttheprivacycaseforreasonablelimitsonwhatsearchenginescanindex?http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/googler-sergey-brin-cries-crocodile-tears-on-threats-to-open-internet/article4107355/

• Winseck,D.(Apr09,2012).Canawireless'codeofconduct'cureCRTC'spoorrecordoncompetition?Agencybeginstowonderifrefusaltoregulatethesectormightbemisguidedinlightofstubbornlylowlevelsofcompetition.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/can-a-wireless-code-of-conduct-cure-crtcs-poor-record-on-competition/article4099050/

• Winseck,D.(March12,2012).Bell-Astraldealshouldbestoppedinitstracks:Unlesstheconceptofmonopolyreallyis'antiquated',theCRTCandtheCompetitioncannotletthismassivemediamergerhappen.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/bell-astral-deal-should-be-stopped-in-its-tracks/article536024/

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• Winseck,D.(Mar14,2012).LastchanceforcopyrightextremiststowarpBillC-11.Digitallocksremainaproblemforconsumers,butthemaximalistlobbystillwantsmore.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/last-chance-for-copyright-extremists-to-warp-bill-c-11/article535872.

• Winseck,D.(Nov08,2011).NZfeelsthethrottlingeffectsofnewmaximalistcopyrightlaws.Isita'win'ifcircumvention,Internettrafficshrinkageandsledgehammer-subtlepunishmentsarethenetresultofharshthree-strikesinfringementlaws?

• http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/nz-feels-the-throttling-effects-of-new-maximalist-copyright-laws/article4183070/

• Winseck,D.(Sep22,2011).Winners,losersandopportunitieslostintheCRTCvertical-integrationruling.Protectionformobilevideoaccessaqualifiedwinforconsumers,butfailingtoaddress'Netflixchokehold'bandwidthcapsmaycomebacktohaunthttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/winners-losers-and-opportunities-lost-in-the-crtc-vertical-integration-ruling/article627416/

• Winseck,D.(Sep06,2011).Part2:MediaandInternetconcentrationinCanada,1984-2010.Besidesneedingbetterdataandagoodairingoftheissues,weneedtogetovertheideathatweliveinadigitalnirvanawherethelawsofcapitalismnolongerapplyhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/part-2-media-and-internet-concentration-in-canada-1984-2010/article627100/

• Winseck,D.(Aug23,2011).PartI:Thegrowthofthenetworkmediaeconomy,1984-2010.Amidstalltheinterest-drivenmediaandInternetpolicydiscussionsnowboilingawaysomethingismissing:evidence.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/part-i-the-growth-of-the-network-media-economy-1984-2010/article626447/

• Winseck,D.(Aug09,2011).Turkey'stelecompast,digitalfutureanswersakeyUBBquestion.JustasTurkeylookstobeenteringadigitalgoldenage,lawsrestrictingfreedomofexpressionanddemocracymayrollbacktheclock.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/turkeys-telecom-past-digital-future-answers-a-key-ubb-question/article626210/

• Winseck,D.(Jul13,2011).Dreambig:somemodestreformsforCanada'smedialandscape.Canadiansareamongstthemostwiredcitizensoftheworld,butthearrangementoftelecom-media-Internetfacilitiesinthiscountryaresubstandardhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/dream-big-some-modest-reforms-for-canadas-media-landscape/article625810/

• Winseck,D.(Jun29,2011).DowntherabbitholeattheCRTChearing.TheongoingverticalintegrationhearinghasadefiniteAliceinWonderlandfeel.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/down-the-rabbit-hole-at-the-crtc-hearing/article625767/

• Winseck,D.(Jun24,2011).Slimandskewed:C.D.Howereportonmediaownershipmissesbigpicture.Reportadvocatesregulatoryshockandawewithnodistinctionsbetweentelecomsandbroadcasting,networksandcontentandbetweenincumbentsandnewcomers

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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/slim-and-skewed-cd-howe-report-on-media-ownership-misses-big-picture/article625537/

• Winseck,D.(Jun20,2011).BigmediainthehotseatatCRTChearings.ThesizeandmarketpowerofCanada'sBigFourtelecomsmeansmoreisatstakethananti-competitivebehaviourhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/big-media-in-the-hot-seat-at-crtc-hearings/article1360189/

• Winseck,D.(Jun14,2011).BillC-51willturnISPsintoInternetgatekeepers.TheproposedInvestigativePowersforthe21stCenturyActmayerodeprivacyinthenameofsecurityhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/bill-c-51-will-turn-isps-into-internet-gatekeepers/article625294/

• Winseck,D.(May31,2011).AreGoogle,FacebookandApplethesavioursofoldmedia?Thethreebehemothsdon'tcreatemuchcontent,buttheywanttoorganizeit,makeitavailableanywhereandtheywantyoutoshareit.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/are-google-facebook-and-apple-the-saviours-of-old-media/article625033/

• Winseck,D.(May20,2011).Britishreporttakesaimatcopyright'lobbynomics'.AuthorscriticizepoorqualityofevidenceuponwhichBritain'scopyrightlawisbasedhttp://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/british-report-takes-aim-at-copyright-lobbynomics/article624801/

• Winseck,D.(May17,2011).Restrictivecopyrightplaysintomusicindustrymyths.Contrarytopopularbelief,themusicindustryisnotdying,butwillCanadagetcopyrightreformfitforthedigitalage?http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/restrictive-copyright-plays-into-music-industry-myths/article624736/

• Winseck,D.(May6,2011).In-depth:Newspaperpoliticalendorsement.J-Source–TheCanadianJournalismProject.www.j-source.ca/english_new/detail.php?id=6485

• Winseck,D.(May04,2011).Myriadquestionssurroundpotentialtelecomchanges,evenwithHarpermajority.Thisisnottherah-rahdaysofglobalizationbutonewhenforeigninvestmentintelecomsisatalowebb.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/myriad-questions-surround-potential-telecom-changes-even-with-harper-majority/article624687/

• Winseck,D.(May02,2011).Canadaintheminorityonverticalintegration,UBB.Itistimetothinkaboutbreaking-upmediacompaniesintotwoseparateparts:networkinfrastructureandcontentservices.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/canada-in-the-minority-on-vertical-integration-ubb/article624462/

• Winseck,D.(Apr18,2011).ThestruggleforthefutureofmediainCanada.InCanada,thebattleovertheessentialresourcesofthemediaeconomyisconcealedbyafogofsanctimoniousrhetoricaboutculturalpolicyledbyvestedinterests.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/the-struggle-for-the-future-of-media-in-canada/article4351164/

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• Winseck,D.(Apr08,2011).Politics,electionsandfour'traditionalmedia'issues.Inthecontextofthefederalelection,issuesaroundtheBroadcastConsortium,CBC,newbiasandnewsconsumptionstandout.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/politics-elections-and-four-traditional-mediaissues/article624148/

• Winseck,D.(Apr01,2011).ImportantthingstobearinmindasthepoliticsoftheInternetunfold.Bandwidthcaps,bankersandtheCanadianpay-perInternetmodel.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/digital-culture/important-things-to-bear-in-mind-as-the-politics-of-the-internet-unfold/article624151/

• Winseck,D.(March11).Arerunforverticalintegration.TorontoStar(onlineversion)http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/952168--a-rerun-for-vertical-integration.Winseck,D.(Jan.18,2011).Wikileaks:Unleashingthedogsofwar.TheMark.http://www.themarknews.com/articles/3607-wikileaks-unleashing-the-dogs-of-war.

• Winseck,D.(Jan.11,2011).Creatingadigitalhavenforfreeexpression.TheMark.http://www.themarknews.com/articles/3754-creating-a-digital-haven-for-free-expression.

• Winseck,D.(Jan/Feb,2008).MediaMergerMania.CanadianDimension,January/February,42(1),pp.30-32.

• Winseck,D.(Aug.17,2001).Thewiredworld.Mail&Guardian(SouthAfrica),August17,p.2.

• Winseck,D.(Sept.27,2000).Takecover,herecomesMediasaurus.GlobeandMail,Sept.27,p.A8.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/take-cover-here-comes-mediasaurus/article770066/

• Winseck,D.&Meng,Xiaoping(June8,1989).UnleashingtheDragon(co-authoredwithMengXiaoping).WindsorStar,p.A8.

PublicLecturesandWorkshops:

• MediaandInternetConcentrationinCanada,1984-2016.NationalUniversityofQuilmes,BuenosAires,Argentina,November28,2016.

• WorkshoponMediaIndustriesResearchMethods.NationalUniversityofQuilmes,BuenosAires,Argentina,November23,2016.

• CommonCarriageandCulturalPolicyforanInternet-andMobileWireless-CentricWorld.PublictalktotheFacultaddeCienciasSociales,UniversidaddelaRepublica,Uruguay.Constituyente1502Montevideo,November22,2016.

• APoliticalEconomyofCommunicationforanEvermoreInternet-andMobileWireless-CentricWorld.PresentationtotheSchoolofJournalismandCommunication,FudanUniversity,Shanghai,China,November10,2016.

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• APoliticalEconomyofCommunicationforanEvermoreInternet-andMobileWireless-CentricWorld.PresentationtotheAcademyforInternationalCommunicationofChineseCulture,BeijingNormalUniversity,Beijing,China,October27,2016.

• CommunicationandEmpire:Media,Markets,PowerandGlobalization,circathelate-19thandearly-20thCenturies–ImplicationsforToday?PresentationtotheAcademyforInternationalCommunicationofChineseCulture,BeijingNormalUniversity,Beijing,China,October27,2016.

• StateofMediaandInternetConcentrationinCanada,1984-2014@UniversityofOttawa,DesmaraisBuilding,Room1140,November1,2015.HostedbyProfessorDanielParehttps://www.dropbox.com/s/6c4lvs5rgz9wfp1/Winseck%20UO%20Announcement.pdf

• MobileWirelessinCanada:RecognizingtheProblemsandApproachingSolutions.PPTSlidesforPresentationtoPanelonHowCompetitiveisCanada’sTelecomSectorattheInternationalInstituteofCommunicationAnnualConference,November18,2013,OttawaCongressCentre,Ottawa,Canada.

• StateofMediaandInternetConcentrationinCanada,1984-2011@UniversityofOttawa,DesmaraisBuilding,Room1140,February13,2013.HostedbyProfessorDanielParehttps://www.dropbox.com/s/6c4lvs5rgz9wfp1/Winseck%20UO%20Announcement.pdf

UNPUBLISHEDWORK:

1993:Astudyofthe(de)regulatoryprocessinCanadiantelecommunication:Labourstrugglesandthepublicinterest.Ph.D.Dissertation,UniversityofOregon,Eugene,Oregon.

1989Towardsanewsatelliteregulatoryregime:Isthereequityintheglobalvillage?MastersThesis,UniversityofWindsor,Ontario.

GRANTS

2012SocialSciencesandHumanitiesResearchCouncilInsightGrantfor“CanadianMediaConcentrationResearchProject”($234,523).

2006DeanofFacultyofPublicAffairsandVice-PresidentResearchandInternationalAwardinSupportofSSHRCCategory4AApplicantsfortheproject:CommunicationandtheCrisisofGlobalism,1860-1930($10,000).

2004FacultyofGraduateStudiesandResearchGrant,CarletonUniversity,forresearchprojectentitled,“CommunicationandEmpire”($4,500).

2000SocialSciencesandHumanitiesResearchCouncilfortheproject:

Electronicempiresandwiredworlds:Electronicmediaandthefoundationsofglobalization,circa1860-1920(Co-researcher:Dr.RobertPike)($78,500).

1999FacultyofGraduateStudiesandResearchGrant,CarletonUniversity,forresearchprojectentitled,“ElectronicMediaandtheFoundationsofGlobalization”($5,000).

1998FacultyofGraduateStudiesandResearchGrant,CarletonUniversity,forresearchprojectentitled,“ElectronicMediaandtheFoundationsofGlobalization”($5,000).

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1997FacultyofSocialSciencesGrant,UniversityofLeicester,forresearchonCanadiantelecommunications($4,800).

1996FacultyofSocialSciencesGrant,UniversityofLeicester,forresearchonCanadiantelecommunications($3,600).

1993SchoolofJournalismandCommunicationAwardfortheBestDoctoralDissertation,SchoolofJournalismandCommunication,UniversityofOregon,Eugene,Oregon.

1991UniversityofOregonMeritAward,GraduateStudies,UniversityofOregon,Eugene,Oregon.

1991-4GraduateTeachingFellow.UniversityofOregon.DepartmentofTelecommunicationandFilm,UniversityofOregon,Eugene,Oregon.

OTHERPROFESSIONALACCOMPLISHMENTS

2017TheStateoftheincreasinglyinternet-andmobilewireless-centricmediainCanada,1984–2014.Papertobepresentedtothe42ndAnnualCongressoftheAssociationofQuebecEconomists,Gatineau,QC,May18.

2017TheCBC’sPlaceandRoleintheNetworkedMediaUniverse.PresentedattheManningCentreConference,Ottawa,Canada,February25.

2016MediaandInternetConcentrationinCanada,1984–2014andtheInformation,CommunicationandMediaNeedsofCanadians.ExperttestimonytotheStandingParliamentaryCommitteeonCanadianHeritage,Ottawa,Canada,February25.

2015ExpertsPanelfortheEvaluationoftheCanadianPeriodicalFund,MinistryofCanadianHeritage.

2014GuestinstructoratCentreforCommunication,MediaandInformationTechnologies’SummerSchool,AalborgUniversity,Copenhagen,Denmark,August19-24.

2013ExpertWitness.WrittenbriefandtestimonyforthePublicInterestAdvocacyCentreinthematterofBellCanadaEnterprise’sSecondBidtoPurchaseAstralMediaHearingsbeforetheCanadianRadio-televisionandTelecommunicationsCommission,Montreal,Quebec,May2013.

2012ExpertWitness.WrittenbriefandtestimonyforthePublicInterestAdvocacyCentreinthematterofBellCanadaEnterprise’sBidtoPurchaseAstralMediaHearingsbeforetheCanadianRadio-televisionandTelecommunicationsCommission,Montreal,Quebec,September2012.

PROFESSIONALMEMBERSHIPS:

InternationalAssociationofMassCommunicationResearchers.CanadianCommunicationAssociationInternationalStudiesAssociation

SERVICE:

2018MemberoftheadvisorysearchcommitteefortheselectionofnewAssociateDean,StudentsandEnrolment.

2017-PresentFacultyBoard,KroegerCollegeRepresentative2017-PresentEditorialBoardMember,TheInformationSociety.2016-PresentFacultyofPublicAffairsPublicCommentaryAdjudication

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Committee.2016-PresentCCA/CRTCStudentPrizeAdjudicationCommittee

2016Speakers’SeriesCoordinator,SchoolofJournalismandCommunication.

2016HiringCommittee,SchoolofJournalismandCommunication,CarletonUniversity

2015FacultyofPublicAffairsPublicCommentaryAdjudicationCommittee.

2015UndergraduateCurriculumReviewCommittee.

2015AcademicoversightcommitteefortheSSHRCsupportedCommunityMediaConvergencePolicyWorkingGroup.

2015Speakers’SeriesC-coordinator(withMerlynaLim),SchoolofJournalismandCommunication.

2014TenureandPromotionsCommittee,SchoolofJournalismandCommunication

2013-PresentEditorialBoardMember.JournalofthePoliticalEconomyofCommunication.

2012-PresentEditorialBoardMember.CanadianJournalofCommunication

2011-2012ElectedmemberoftheBoardofDirectors,theNationalPressClubFoundationofCanada.

2011-PresentEditorialBoardMember,tripleC(cognition,communication,co-operation):JournalforaGlobalSustainableInformationSociety.


2007-PresentEditorialBoardMember,Compass(Sociology

2006-Present)EditorialBoardMember,GlobalMediaStudiesJournal


2006-PresentMemberoftheOntarioGraduateScholarshipSelectionCommittee

2005/6MemberoftheComputingandComputingServicesAdvisoryCommittee,PublicAffairsandManagement.

2005/6TenureandPromotionReviewCommittee(RepresentingInstituteofPoliticalEconomy).

2000toPresentResearchGrantApplicationReviewerforSocialSciencesandHumanitiesResearchCouncil(Canada).

1997toPresentReviewerforMedia,CultureandSociety,GlobalMediaandCommunication,GlobalMediaJournal,JournalofInformationTechnologyandLaw,JournalofInternationalCommunication,CanadianJournalofCommunication,MediaHistory,Gazette:InternationalJournalofCommunication;EuropeanJournalofCommunication.

1999to2002MemberoftheManorParkandHopewellPublicSchoolCouncilsandRepresentativetotheOttawaCarletonSchoolBoard

1998to2003JCASCommitteeMember,CarletonUniversity

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1998to1999HiringCommittee,SchoolofJournalismandCommunication,CarletonUniversity

1998to2003GraduateSchoolAdmittanceCommittee,SchoolofJournalismandCommunication,CarletonUniversity

1998to2000ConsultanttotheMAinMassCommunicationbyDistanceLearningofferedbytheCentreforMassCommunicationResearch,LeicesterUniversity.

1997to1998ExternalExaminerforMassCommunications,BathCollegeofHigherEducation,Bath,UK.

1994to1996ReviewerfortheJournalofBroadcastingandElectronicMedia.

1994/5AdvisortoStudentRadioatEasternMediterraneanUniversity.

08/1994-1995DepartmentHead,DepartmentofCommunicationandMediaStudies,EasternMediterraneanUniversity,GaziMagusa,TRNC,viaMersin10,TURKEY.

Responsibilitiesincluded:

Designandimplementcommunicationandmediastudiesprogram.

03/1991-06/1993Editorialadvisor,Studiesincommunicationandculture,UniversityofOregon,Eugene,Oregon.


Solicitarticlesforpublication,decidejournalformatandreviewandeditsubmissionsforthejournal.

06/1987-09/1988PublicLiaisonOfficer,Windsor’sOldeTowne,Windsor,Ontario


PreparingpromotionalandinformationbrochuresDirectpublicandgovernmentfund-raisingSurveyavailablefederal,provincialandmunicipalfundingopportunitiesPreparepresentationstocitycouncilandnewsreleases.

REFERENCES:

OliverBoyd-Barrett,Ph.D.Director,SchoolofCommunicationStudies,JointProfessor,JournalismandTelecommunications,BowlingGreenStateUniversity,101EastHall,BowlingGreen,OH43403-0001Phone:419-372-6018;email:[email protected]

PeterGolding,Ph.D.ProVice-Chancellor(ResearchandInnovation),NorthumbriaUniversityLipmanBuilding,SandyfordRoadNewcastleuponTyneNE18STPhone:+44(0)1912273015;email:[email protected]

EliNoam,Ph.D.Director,ColumbiaInstituteforTele-InformationProfessorofFinanceandEconomics,ColumbiaBusinessSchool,UrisHall,Suite1A,3022Broadway,ColumbiaUniversityNewYork,NY10027Phone:212-854-8332;email:[email protected]

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JanetWasko,Ph.D.Professor,KnightChairinCommunicationResearch,SchoolofJournalismandCommunication,UniversityofOregon,Eugene,OR97403-1275Phone:541-346-4174;email:[email protected]