Will Canada combat text message charges with regulations?

charge for incoming text messages. There has been plenty of fallout, which is to be expected. At least one class action suit has arisen. Now, Industry Minister Jim Prentice is talking about new regulations, according to The Vancouver Sun.

“At the end of the day, the cellular industry currently is an industry where we don’t have heavy regulation . . . That’s something that we’ve tried to maintain in Canada,” said Prentice. But he added: “Consumers do need to be protected. I’ve made these points publicly, and I’ve made these points privately with Mr. Cope as well.”

Would such regulation work? Maybe as a short-term solution. Long-term, though, the country might have to deal with being charged for incoming text messages. Of course, Bell and Telus have pulled a fast one on this, adding the fee before any of the new entrants to the Canadian landscape can come close to rolling out an alternative. The only place to flee now is Rogers. And is that any better?]]>