Telecommunications chapter summary
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Agreement fact sheets
Telecommunications services are vital to the function of national economies and in facilitating international trade. They connect businesses and citizens to each other, and countries and regions to the rest of the world. Information and communication technologies play an integral role in improving connectivity and quality of life by providing access to services such as online education, e-government and e-health.
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) will build upon the existing telecommunications chapter between Canada, the United States and Mexico, leading to economic development and stimulating innovation. CUSMA also recognizes the importance of the telecommunications sector to Canada’s economy, workers and families. Not only is telecommunications an ever-growing service sector, it is also one of the most important enablers in the modern economy, providing the means of delivering other services that Canadians depend on.
Technical summary of negotiated outcomes: Telecommunications chapter
- Builds on previous agreements by including strong commitments that will provide enhanced regulatory certainty for telecommunications service suppliers when operating or investing in CUSMA markets.
- Similar to the original NAFTA, includes key obligations regarding access to and use of telecommunications services, value-added services, and transparency.
- Ensures that Canadian service suppliers will be treated in a fair and objective manner when providing telecommunications services to other CUSMA markets.
- Also includes commitments on:
- competitive safeguards;
- interconnection of telecommunications networks;
- unbundling of network elements;
- the provision of private leased circuits;
- co-location of telecommunications equipment;
- approaches to regulation;
- universal services;
- telecommunications regulatory bodies;
- phone number portability;
- allocation and use of scarce resources;
- enforcement; and
- resolution of domestic telecommunications disputes.
- Does not apply to broadcasting services, except to ensure that broadcasters will have access to and use of telecommunications services.
- Date modified:
