The premise of your question is quite correct. As you stated, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, or CRTC, issued new rules on April 30, 2007. It is important to point out that these are not government rules. The CRTC brought in these new rules in order to regulate the rates being charged by large telephone companies for local telephone service.
That decision resulted in a system whereby prices are now capped. The CRTC has updated the former price cap system set up four years ago. The price cap method is a method of regulation designed to reproduce free market conditions. Finally, the CRTC has allowed telephone companies to increase their prices in rural areas, based on the Consumer Price Index and the annual inflation rate. So, the regulations have now been updated.
We want people living in remote areas, as well as those in large urban centres, to benefit from low cost telephone service. As a result of this ruling, costs remain very competitive in remote areas.
Having said that, I cannot make any further comment with respect to this CRTC ruling. As you know, under section 12 of the Telecommunications Act, the Governor in Council may amend or overturn a CRTC ruling. Groups have 90 days to appeal a decision to the Governor in Council. If there is an appeal, we will carry out the needed analysis and make a decision in this regard, at the appropriate time.