CRTC brings hammer down on Rogers, who pays $300K in fines for phone spam
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission today announced that it has reached a settlement with Rogers Communications over its use of "automated calling devices" - aka unsolicited marketing spam, which it used on prepaid mobile customers to sell them more minutes.
“This latest investigation reinforces our commitment to protecting the privacy of consumers and educating businesses about their responsibilities,” said Masood Qureshi, the CRTC’s senior manager of telemarketing regulation. “We are pleased that Rogers is working to address our concerns and changing its telemarketing practices.”
Rogers didn't admit fault for this, but instead "voluntarily" redeemed itself (upon hearing the CRTC's displeasure) by paying out $275,000 in fines, cease any further use of these spamming devices, and ensure "ongoing adherence with the CRTC's rules."
Over the past few months, the CRTC has been seen siding with consumers over these small issues, but still looming over the national media regulator like a dark cloud is its infamous usage-based billing decision that spurred an online riot across Canada for its anti-competitive, anti-innovation, and anti-consumer implications. Currently under self-review, the decision will single-handedly make or break the organization's reputation for the next decade, whether or not it lays on the hammer down on the telco titans over petty things like this.
