Canada: Lawmakers ask for clarity on foreign telecom ownership

As pressure grows to free up Canada's market to allow outside ownership of the country's service providers, Canada's lawmakers want the government to "clarify" current regulations that limit how much outsiders can own.

A report issued today by The House of Commons Industry Committee pointed out that a "control in fact" rule that bars a foreign company from taking over Canadian service provider through debt is "open to interpretation and controversial." In addition, the committee believes that foreign investors should also be able to invest in Canada's satellite industry.

Canadian lawmakers will likely have a battle on their hands from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), which maintains that foreign investments in its telecommunications carriers should be limited.

For more:
- Bloomberg has this article

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