Residential Telephone Service Survey November, 1996 [Canada]

The first quarter was conducted in November 1996 as a supplement to the Labour Force Survey. Currently, Bell Canada and other companies, through Stentor Resource Centre Inc, are negotiating local service pricing options for phone rates with the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunication Commission. Penetration rates are the most reliable indicator of affordability as there is no price range that can be identified as affordable or not affordable. As a result, the importance of monitoring any changes in phone penetration rates and analysing the reasons for non-subscribers is necessary to properly guide regulators in decisions about rate increases, decreases or subsidies.