TELUS supports the goal of affordable, universal access to telecommunications services. We've worked hard to achieve this goal and we're proud of our success.

In most rural and remote areas, local residential telephone service is provided to customers at rates that are below cost. All telecommunications service providers (including TELUS) pay into a national subsidy program that helps to maintain affordable rates for residential service in high-cost rural and remote areas. TELUS receives a subsidy for the residential customers it serves in high-cost rural and remote areas.

In 2007, the CRTC approved annual rate increases for residential service in high-cost rural and remote areas based on the rate of inflation (up to a maximum of 5%) in order to move rates closer to costs. These rate increases will correspondingly reduce the subsidy received from the national subsidy program.