| The nation's biggest wireless company, Rogers | | | | In apparent preparation for the competitive |
| Communications Inc, has eventually made a decision | | | | onslaught, Rogers ditched the system access fee at |
| to kill off its controversial $6.95 system access fee, | | | | its discount Fido brand last year. In a similar way, the |
| but subscribers shouldn't hold their breath waiting for | | | | discount types of Bell and Telus - Solo and Koodo, |
| a less expensive monthly bill. | | | | respectively - don't charge their customers system |
| As of Oct. Five, plans offered to new Rogers | | | | access costs.however [*COMMA] the carriers have |
| Wireless subscribers will replace the charge with a | | | | so far been disinclined to dump the costs for their |
| new central authority regulatory recovery fee that | | | | main brands. Telus currently charges customers $6.95 |
| ranges from $2.46 to $3.46 every month, depending | | | | each month while Bell charges between $6.95 and |
| on the province. | | | | $8.95. |
| At the same time, Rogers will raise the basic price of | | | | Such fees are the subject of a class-action legal |
| its plans by $5 and throw in three free-calling | | | | action that was certified by a Saskatchewan court |
| features, which the company claims is an $11 worth. | | | | last year. The suit disagrees the charge was |
| Liz Hamilton, a spokeswoman for Rogers, announced | | | | erroneously presented to subscribers as a state tax, |
| the new billing structure is a scheme to offer | | | | which hasn't been the argument for decades. |
| customers more clearness on their monthly bills. | | | | Carmi Levy, an independent technology analyst, |
| 'What we are going to be breaking out is what you'll | | | | expounded Rogers' decision to replace an opaque fee |
| be paying for your wireless services and what you | | | | with a more certain one is likely based totally on the |
| pay for government charges, which will vary by | | | | notion that it will be simpler for customers to |
| province.' | | | | swallow. |
| Hamilton said the carrier will spell out the new fee | | | | 'The more clear you can make it to customers what |
| breakdown on its internet site and clarify that it's not | | | | goes into a monthly fee, the bigger the chance they'll |
| a fee Rogers is mandated to gather on the | | | | accept the fee,' he claimed, noting that gas stations |
| government's's behalf. | | | | and airlines have broken out government charges in |
| Rogers' move comes as several new wireless | | | | their pricing for a long while. |
| corporations - Wind Mobile, Public Mobile and DAVE | | | | 'But let's not make any bones about it, you are not |
| Wireless - prepare to enter the market in the | | | | going to finish up paying less at the end of the day if |
| approaching months with promises of less expensive | | | | you're a Rogers customer.'. |
| rates and better customer service. | | | | |