Here’s the latest installment of government/policy vs. technology in the real world… as if Via needing to shut down their site/servers for 3 months to do ‘upgrades’, or politicians dictating the operation of nuclear reactors, overriding the safety authorities… How about watching a telco duke it out with a cable-co?
Shaw Communications has been serving communities across Canada since 1966. Serving over 3.3 million Canadians, we strive to deliver the best in entertainment and communications while supporting the communities in which we operate.
It’s out pleasure to serve you in Thunder Bay, without Television products and dependable High-Speed Internet. We’re committed to local community programming and recognize the importance it plays. We’re also pleased to support community events like the Fire Truck Pull, the Children’s Festival and this summer’s Dragon Boat Races.
This January, Shaw’s digital phone service is coming to Thunder Bay. For the first time in over 100 years, Shaw will give you a choice in who you use for your home phone provider.
Unfortunately your current telephone service provider is trying very hard to block us from offering choice.
> Immediately after we announced our phone service launch, TBay Tel refused Shaw access to the telephone infrastructure required; it took a court order to have them comply.
> Now they have filed a court challenge over what they call ‘commercial agreements’.
> In addition, TBay Tel has applied to the CRTC to stop providing Shaw with access to the equipment which Shaw has fully paid for to deliver our TV services to you.
If the CRTC approves TBay Tel’s request, Shaw would be forced to end cable and Internet service in Thunder Bay. We have file a vigorous challenge to these roadblocks as our response to their application.
The imminent thread of competition is already having a positive impact on consumers in the Bay area as the mere possibility for competition and of Shaw providing phone service has resulted in TBay Tel lowering some rates. TBay Tel is doing this to protect their monopoly. This is another example of why we believe you are better served when there’s choice and competition in the marketplace. Ask your Alderman why this is so.
Shaw’s home phone service offers great long distance rates and tons of features at no charge. There are no hidden fees and installation and 24/7/365 service is included. What’s more, switching is easy. We’ll wrap things up with your old phone company, and you can keep your same phone number. Over 400,000 customers have chosen Shaw’s phone service since it became available. It’s reliable and cost effective.
Our success as a company is based on serving our customers well and responding to their needs. We know we’re not the only game in town and we want to earn your business and have you choose us every day.
Apparently Tbay Tel is fighting back in the local newspaper… anyone got/seen it?
This is the kind of thing that 10-20 years from now, we’ll chuckle about how futile it was for telcos to try and fight the inevitable change… but they do have a business model to protect, and that’s what they’re doing – no matter how doomed it is (now).
I think Via are idiots; Harper is going to draw a lot of parallels to Chernobyl (and is an idiot) and TBay Tel are doing what they do best: Being a Behemoth of a Telco.
No I haven’t died in a blogging accident