This enactment amends the Telecommunications Act to require Canadian carriers to make easily available certain information in respect of the fixed broadband services that they offer.

It also requires the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to hold public hearings to inform its determinations on how Canadian carriers are to fulfill this obligation.

Preamble

Whereas transparency and accuracy of information are important to allow Canadians to make informed decisions when choosing a Canadian carrier for fixed broadband services and to increase competition within the telecommunications industry;

Now, therefore, His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Definition of fixed broadband service

24.‍2 (1) In this section, fixed broadband service means any high-speed data transmission service provided to a fixed location using cable, fibre optics, wireless access, satellite or any similar transmission system.

Information required

(2) A Canadian carrier that offers fixed broadband services shall make the following information available to the public, in the form and manner specified by the Commission:

• (a) service quality metrics during peak periods;

• (b) typical download and upload speeds during peak periods; and

• (c) any other information required by the Commission that is in the public’s interest.

Public hearings

(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), the Commission shall hold public hearings to determine the following:

• (a) the service quality metrics that are to be measured and the manner in which they will be measured, as well as the methodology that is to be used to ensure that those metrics are representative of the different fixed broadband services packages offered in different regions across Canada;

• (b) the methodology that is to be used to determine what constitutes typical download and upload speeds for different fixed broadband services packages offered in different regions across Canada;

• (c) the periods that are to be considered peak periods;

• (d) the types of Canadian carriers, if any, that should be excluded, in whole or in part, from the application of subsection (2);

• (e) the types of transmission systems in respect of which the information referred to in subsection (2) is to be provided;

• (f) the form and manner in which the information referred to in subsection (2) is to be provided to the public to ensure that it is easily available, accessible and simple to understand; and

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  (g) the measures that are to be taken, including in respect of compliance monitoring and enforcement, to ensure that the fixed broadband services provided by Canadian carriers reflect the information made available under subsection (2).

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