Ottawa directs CRTC to rely on market forces

[CHIMO]

The federal Conservative government has served notice that it wants the CRTC to rely more on market forces and less on regulatory fiat when drafting policy for the phone industry.

On Tuesday, Industry Minister Maxime Bernier tabled a proposed policy direction aimed at the broadcast regulator to adopt a hands-off approach when possible.

"Tabling this document signals the government's intention to direct the CRTC to rely on market forces to the maximum extent feasible under the Telecommunications Act and regulate — where there is still a need to do so — in a manner that interferes with market forces to the minimum extent necessary," Bernier said in a statement.

It is the first time Ottawa has issued such a policy direction to the CRTC since the act was adopted.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/business/national/2006/06/13/crtc.html

http://calgary.cbc.ca/media/audio/biznet/20060613WED-INT.ram

http://www.cbc.ca/biznet/

[MrPrax]

1. That's nuts...

How do you rely on market forces when the industry is an oligopoly?

Oh I get it--the public interest is market impediment to full privatization and an end to public regulation of public goods.