CRTC rejects Bell appeal against sharing high-speed Internet infrastructure

OTTAWA – The CRTC has rejected Bell’s effort to overturn a rule requiring big Internet service providers to sell space on their high-speed infrastructure to smaller rivals at a reduced cost.

Bell appealed the CRTC’s decision last year, arguing that the regulator should modify its policy in part because it is too broad and interferes too much with market forces.

The CRTC upheld its decision Wednesday.

Bell said the company is studying the decision.

The federal cabinet also previously rejected Bell’s appeal of the CRTC decision.

At the time, Bell said it would comply with the decision.

Advocacy group Open Media applauded the decision and said the ruling is likely to bring affordable Internet access from independent providers within the next year.