2006 news releases

SaskTel Commends Minister Bernier’s Leadership Role in Telecom Policy Reform

December 12, 2006

SaskTel would like to commend the Federal Government for taking a leadership role with today’s proposal to create a revised framework to determine when to deregulate retail local telephone services provided by the incumbent telephone companies (ILECs), including SaskTel.  The revised framework would rely more on market forces, rather than detailed day-to-day regulation, thus delivering the benefits of a fully competitive marketplace to consumers much more rapidly.

“If passed by Federal Cabinet the new framework will ultimately benefit Saskatchewan consumers by providing a greater selection of high quality products and services at even lower prices,” said Deb Higgins, Minister Responsible for SaskTel.

 “The proposed framework would continue the process of ensuring that Canada has a strong, internationally competitive telecommunications industry,” said Robert Watson, SaskTel President & CEO.  “SaskTel is particularly encouraged by the removal of the majority of the CRTC’s marketing restrictions which will result in the delivery of even more competitive and innovative products and services to our customers.”

Under the government’s proposed forbearance framework, the market share loss criteria established in the CRTC’s local forbearance decision would be replaced by a “competitive infrastructure test”.  The proposal also suggests the adoption of the ILEC’s local exchange as a more appropriate geographic area than that in the CRTC’s framework.  These are consistent with the federal government’s objective of relying to a greater extent on market forces than regulation in the telecommunications market.

The proposed change in the manner of regulating local telephone service comes at a critical time in the local services marketplace where competitive pressures are coming from all sides. Removing regulatory obstacles here is one further step in the development of a new modern and flexible regulatory framework.

About SaskTel
Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corporation (SaskTel) is the leading full service communications provider in Saskatchewan, offering competitive voice, data, dial-up and high speed internet, entertainment and multimedia services, security, web hosting, text and messaging services, and cellular and wireless data services over its digital networks.  The Corporation also provides security monitoring services through SecurTek, directory services through DirectWest, in-room communications services to the healthcare sector through Hospitality Network, telecommunications consulting service through SaskTel International and an out-of-province sales and service channel in Alberta and British Columbia. SaskTel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have a workforce of 5,200 full-time, part-time and temporary employees.  Visit SaskTel at www.sasktel.com.

For media inquiries only, please contact:
Michelle Englot, SaskTel Corporate Affairs
Phone: (306) 777-4476   Email: michelle.englot@sasktel.sk.ca