Telecom - Secretary General Letter addressed to the Distribution List
Gatineau, 10 December 2025
Our reference: 8020-1/25
BY EMAIL
Distribution List
Subject: Recent HSA Dispute
In August 2024, the Commission took action to increase Canadians’ choice of Internet providers by allowing competitors to sell Internet plans using the existing fibre networks of Canada’s largest telephone companiesFootnote1. At present, more than a dozen providers are using this access to bring new, competing Internet plans to market across Canada. Thousands of households now subscribe to Internet service provided under the Commission’s framework.
A recent dispute arose where wholesale high-speed access (HSA) providers were alleged to be acting contrary to their Commission-approved tariffs. The Commission reminds all providers that they must comply with their obligations under the Telecommunications Act at all times. In situations of non-compliance, the Commission will not hesitate to use all of the tools at its disposal—including Administrative Monetary Penalties—as appropriate.
In the dispute, a HSA provider was alleged to have misled a buyer about the equipment that they would need to procure to serve customers. This led the buyer, who is also an HSA provider, to refuse to accept orders from the seller for a brief period. While the dispute has now been resolved, this situation raised significant concerns about compliance with the providers’ Commission-approved tariffs.
The Commission is deeply concerned by any situation where providers act contrary to their tariffs. In this circumstance, the dispute threatened to frustrate the wholesale HSA framework and cause significant disruption to Canadians’ ability to use the Internet service of their choice. Neither of those consequences are acceptable.
Instead, such disputes should be brought to the Commission’s attention, as early as possible, for dispute resolution.
If you have any questions regarding this letter, please do not hesitate to contact Noah Moser, Director General, at Noah.Moser@crtc.gc.ca
Sincerely,
Original signed by
Marc Morin
Secretary General and Executive Vice-President
CC:
Leila Wright, Vice-President, Telecommunications, CRTC, Leila.Wright@crtc.gc.ca
Noah Moser, Director General, CRTC, Noah.Moser@crtc.gc.ca
Suneil Kanjeekal, Director, Telecommunications, CRTC, Suneil.Kanjeekal@crtc.gc.ca
Attachment (1) - Distribution List
Distribution list
Bell Canada
Saskatchewan Telecommunications
TELUS Communications Inc. (TCI).
Bragg Communications Incorporated, carrying on business as Eastlink
Cogeco Communications Inc.
Videotron Ltd. (Videotron)
Rogers Communications Canada Inc.
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