Two advocacy groups are asking the federal cabinet to overturn the telecom regulator’s approval of the transfer of Shaw Communications Inc.’sThe Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission last monthRogers’ acquisition of Shaw’s broadcasting distribution business with some conditions, clearing the first of three regulatory hurdles facing the Toronto-based telecom’s $26-billion takeover of Calgary-based Shaw.
However, a petition filed Wednesday by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and the National Pensioners Federation asks Ottawa to set the decision aside or send it back CRTC, arguing that the merger will result in higher prices for television services. PIAC is an Ottawa-based consumer advocacy group, while the National Pensioners Federation advocates for seniors and retirees.
Rogers has stated in various submissions that, if its merger succeeds, it plans to transition most of Shaw’s cable TV-only and satellite TV customers to its own IPTV service, the petition states. Shaw customers who currently pay only for TV service would therefore also be billed for the underlying Internet service used to deliver IPTV, the groups state: “It is, in essence, a ‘forced march’ to IPTV.
Captured regulators. Crooks in charge at all levels of government.