My letter to the CRTC

Here's what I sent to the CRTC - for whatever good it does.  I think we need to organize and get this message out in the media - and put some pressure on our politicians.  Telus needs to feel some heat to live up to their obligations, and we are just a few tiny voices calling in the woods.

I live on Lasqueti Island about 40 km west of Vancouver.
When we moved here 5 years ago, there was good land-line telephone service from Telus and plans for a locally-run high-speed internet system, which has since been completed.  Both these communication networks are essential to our businesses, which include a B&B and a software consulting practice.  Having these services was an essential element to our choice to move here.

Over the 5 years, we have not been thrilled with the service levels from Telus - they consistently delay repairs and offer an infuriating run-around when phone lines and public pay phones are down.  However, recent developments are raising alarm bells for us.

Our phone is presently working - thankfully, because without it we would be unable to operate our business.  But several of our neighbours have been without phone service for weeks and Telus has recently informed them that they have no intention of repairing those lines until a "review of the system" has been completed - with no timeframe given.  They have been told by Telus that it is unreasonable to expect land-line service in such a "remote area" (I remind you we are 40 km from Vancouver and Lasqueti has had land-line service for many decades).

I am writing to you on their behalf, but also as a pro-active measure on my own behalf, because if our phone service is interrupted, I assume we will also be told not to expect repairs, which would completely devastate our operations in the middle of our busiest season.

My father worked for BC Tel and so I recall when Telus took over operations, privatizing that public asset, that they were given a lot of infrastructure, a monopoly, and a client base.  In return, they took responsibility for BC Tel's mandate to provide telecommunications services to all BC residents at a reasonable cost.

They are clearly shirking that responsibility and trying to abandon us because we are higher cost service than their urban markets.  I object strenuously to this and hope the CRTC will take some action to encourage Telus to uphold their obligations to all BC residents, and to Lasqueti Island in particular.

Communications services are a cornerstone of both economic development and social cohesion.  The phone lines in particular are critical for our safety - to report fires and to call for help.  The phones represent an essential service, and we rely on the CRTC to help us ensure that we receive that service - Telus does not appear to be listening to us any longer.