James Reitzes Testifies in Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s Review of Wholesale Mobile Wireless Services
Brattle principal James Reitzes recently testified on competition in Canadian wireless mobile telecommunications before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The CRTC hearing is taking place from September 29 through October 3 in Gatineau, QC.
Dr. Reitzes provided testimony alongside members of the Canadian Competition Bureau regarding two expert reports that Brattle completed for the Bureau. The original report, “Canadian Wireless Market Performance and the Potential Effect of an Additional Nationwide Carrier,” which was released in May 2014, provided evidence of market power among the Canadian wireless mobile carriers. The report also quantified the economic benefits provided by additional nationwide entry into the wireless market.
Brattle economists recently prepared a supplemental filing for the CRTC titled “Vertical Foreclosure in Canadian Wholesale Services Markets.” That report assesses the incentives for vertical foreclosure by large, incumbent, vertically integrated wireless service providers in supplying roaming and other services to new or existing small carriers. The foreclosure incentives potentially inhibit those carriers from reaching the size and scope necessary to provide more effective competition in the wireless market.
A video recording of the proceedings is available here and the filings are available for download below.
