In this, the first of five podcasts on where the CRTC has gone astray, PIAC speaks with Ted Woodhead, Woodhead Regulatory Consulting Inc., former Chief Regulatory Officer and Government Affairs at Rogers Communications, about the public's and the communications industry's need for speedier decisions, more predictable outcomes and transparency in process and results. Ted brings his experience with Rogers, and previously with not only TELUS but also his time at the Commission to provide keen insight and measured analysis of what ails the CRTC. At risk of agreeing too much, we turn the conversation to the Rogers-Shaw merger, where Ted gamely defends the the deal after some mild criticism, before we turn to whether prices for wireless are really coming down (they're not), but Ted argues they clearly are - a new take on a Canadian debate for the ages.
PIAC introduces a new series of podcasts on why the CRTC has gone all funny in the last few years and why no one is laughing.
Our first instalment sees Ted Woodhead, the regulatory 'face of the Rogers-Shaw merger', joining the podcast to give his very experienced take on the challenges faced by and perhaps poor choices and general inertia towards mediocrity at our national communications regulator.
Ted provides many possible options to fix the problems of slowness, inconsistency and opaqueness that presently plague the Commission.
PIAC could not resist asking about the Rogers-Shaw deal and Ted provides a fascinating view from the other side and a strong argument that the Competition Tribunal and Federal Court of Appeal got it right and the deal is benefitting Canadians. After that viewpoint, we turn to the issue of wireless and Internet pricing in Canada and argue about what a price increase is made of and why the Canadian market is unique, uneven, surely odd, and why ARPU is not a good competition yardstick . I guess we have the market we deserve?
Like all great interviews, this one makes you think.