CRTC PICKS AWAY AT BELL MONOPOLY
By Adnews Staff
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has taken a swipe at Bell Canada's monopoly. The commission has ordered that the country's nine largest phone companies provide equivalent access to the swipe card readers found on the newest pay telephones. Under the old restrictions, which Bell wanted upheld, customers of alternative carriers and resellers had to dial more than 30 digits to use a calling cad. They must first dial an 11-digit toll-free number, then a 10-digit area code and number followed by an 11-digit security code. Bell customers have to dial zero plus the number they're calling. The CRTC has ordered the nine Bell companies to change their rules within 90 days. The commission also stated that it plans to start separate proceedings to develop rules allowing the operation of competing pay phones.