Montréal, October 6, 2020 – According to the article La CAQ ne respectera pas sa promesse pour Internet haute vitesse, published on Radio-Canada's website on October 5, the Government of Québec won’t keep its election promise to connect all Québec households to high-speed Internet by the end of its term in 2022. As a Québec company with state-of-the-art technology and outstanding customer service that is an active player in Québec's economic development, Videotron wants to be and can be part of the solution. Videotron management is calling on the government to make the necessary adjustments to address the problems that have appeared in the process launched several months ago.
Videotron wants to honour its commitments and is prepared to do everything possible to connect more Quebecers living in smaller communities. The Government of Québec can still keep its promises, provided that it act now and allocate the necessary resources to step up the pace.
Lack of transparency and delays
Since the start of the application process for the public projects, Videotron has noted some major irritants, including the postponement of submission deadlines, delayed grant announcements and a glaring lack of transparency in the management of the process. The situation is no better at the federal level, where delays in the programs are all too common.
It is clear that the programs are beset by uncommon administrative delays and that better linkage between the departments and the apparatus of government is needed. Fortunately, there is still time to turn things around – by shifting into overdrive and letting local businesses that Quebecers trust take the lead.
The government must force Bell's hand
Another lever Québec City could use with immediate effect would be to clamp down on Bell's stratagems to block access to its telephone poles (support structures). The practices Bell is using to block or slow down its competitors have been drawing widespread condemnation for months.
In May 2020, the government announced the creation of a coordinating table on the matter but did not see fit to include Videotron, Québec’s largest cable operator, or the other companies that are constantly suffering the consequences of Bell's unfair tactics.
About Videotron
Videotron (www.videotron.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Quebecor Media Inc., is an integrated communications company engaged in cable television, entertainment, Internet access, cable telephone and mobile telephone services. Videotron is a leader in new technologies with its Helix home entertainment and management platform. As of June 30, 2020, Videotron was serving 1,497,300 cable television customers, and 472,200 subscribers to its Club illico video streaming service. Videotron is also the Québec leader in high-speed Internet access, with 1,753,100 subscribers to its cable service as of June 30, 2020. As of the same date, Videotron had 1,404,900 subscriber connections to its mobile telephone service and was providing cable telephone service to 979,600 Québec households and organizations. Videotron has been recognized as one of Montréal’s top employers.
