Inquiry into Telecommunications Access Fees for Office Buildings Closed

The Competition Bureau received a complaint in October 2002 that real estate companies and their common counsel conspired to fix prices paid by telecommunications services providers for access to buildings which the real estate companies owned or managed.

The Bureau launched an inquiry after examining the complaint under the conspiracy provisions of the Competition Act. Under those provisions, it is a criminal offence for business competitors to agree on the prices they will charge their customers, if that agreement was to enhance unreasonably the price or to unduly prevent or lessen competiton.

However, after reviewing the information obtained through the inquiry, the Bureau determined that the conduct in question did not amount to a violation of the conspiracy provision of the Act.

As a result, the inquiry was discontinued on December 22, 2004.