CRTC wants tighter rules for taking payphones out of communities

The CRTC says despite a study showing that only 32% of people used a payphone in the last year, they are still important for people in remote communities, those unable to afford a cell phone, and people in abusive relationships that may need to call someone without a call showing up on records.

Spokesperson Patricia Valladao says the CRTC wants tighter regulations for when companies want to take the last payphone out of a community.

“We want the community members to be aware when the removal of that payphone is about to happen. So we want the notification system to be improved, that people have a say and be aware that that’s going to happen, so that they have a voice.”

Valladao says right now all a company has to do is provide 60 days notice in a newspaper.