Residential Telephone Service Survey May, 1999 [Canada] (Weight 91)

Bell Canada and other companies are from time to time negotiating local service pricing options for phone rates with the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunication Commission. Penetration rates are the most reliable indicator of affordability as there is no price range that can be identified as affordable or not affordable.

As a result, the importance of monitoring any changes in phone penetration rates and analysing the reasons for nonsubscribers is necessary to properly guide regulators in decisions about rate increases, decreases or subsidies.