CRTC Says It Still Gets Final Say On Fate Of NRTS

CRTC Says It Still Gets Final Say On Fate Of NRTS

Tuesday, September 09, 2008 at 15:13

 

 

A director with the CRTC says users of the Northern Radio Telephone System have another few days to comment on proposed changes to the service.

 

On October 10th, Sasktel plans to discontinue the digital operator feature which allows radio users to make phone calls.

 

Users will still be allowed to transmit messages to one another — they just won’t be able to get onto the phone network.

 

SaskTel argues the current system is obsolete and running out of time because of a scarcity of replacement parts.

 

However, according to the CRTC’s Suzanne Bedard, the move still has to be authorized by her group.

 

She says they will look at the concerns of the radio users before that happens.

 

The CRTC will accept comments until September 12th.

 

Bedard says northern residents can mail, phone or e-mail their comments to the commission.

 

She says SaskTel will also get a chance to respond to the public feedback before the decision is made.

 

Meantime, SaskTel says it still plans to give NRTS users a $2,000 voucher towards the purchase of a satellite phone.