The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has released a new document that will serve as a bill or rights for telecom consumers.

The bill of rights will serve to eliminate confusion about consumers` rights to choose a phone company, register complaints, and have their personal information kept confidential. It will be distributed in next year`s telephone directories, as well as on the websites of major telecom providers, and is currently available on the CRTC website.

“Ensuring that consumers understand their rights is important,” commented CRTC chairman, Charles Dalfen in a statement yesterday. “In the future, when some local markets are not regulated, it will be important that consumers continue to understand their rights and we are hopeful the entire industry will work together to ensure those rights are understood and respected.”

Public Interest Advocacy Center counsel, John Lawford, says that the document will likely be helpful to consumers hoping to lodge complaints, but that little is being done in terms of enforcement.

“To suggest that the six or seven people who are over there in that division could possible handle the number of complaints that could come out of this [bill of rights] is somewhat disingenuous,” Lawford stated.

The CRTC maintains that its enforcement measures are sufficient, but only time will tell whether it`s able to keep up with the anticipated volume of consumer complaints and inquiries.