A comparative analysis of residential telephone service

The following figure illustrates the change in basic service prices for the larger locations in each of the ILECs. [...] In light of the competitive pressures on the ILECs in non-high-cost areas, which tends to slow down the roll-out of the SIP, the CRTC monitors the ILECs adherence to the approved SIPs. [...] With the introduction of competition and the movement from rate of return regulation to price regulation, ILEC quality of service appears to have deteriorated.19 During its review of the initial price cap regime, the CRTC found that the over much of the 1998 – 2000 period, ILEC quality of service had suffered. [...] The light user profile is based on the 20th-25th percentile range of LD callers as reported by the telcos; the medium user profile is based on the 50th percentile, and the heavy user profile is based on the 75th-80th percentile range. [...] The table illustrates the increase in the cost of local and optional services, as well as the decreases in long distance calling costs between 1992 and 2002.