The CRTC’s investigation into new fees introduced by Bell, Rogers and TELUS after Canada banned activation and plan-modification fees has now reached its final written stage.

This case has been developing for nearly three months, from the first carrier charges appearing immediately after the new rules took effect, through CRTC warnings, carrier responses, procedural challenges and a public consultation.

**📌 Catch up from the beginning:** [Canada banned activation fees. Rogers, Bell and TELUS are already testing new device charges](https://www.reddit.com/r/planhub/comments/1u7jne9/canada_banned_activation_fees_rogers_bell_and/)

The CRTC is examining whether several charges introduced by the Big Three effectively recreate fees that Parliament and the regulator intended to eliminate.

The fees under scrutiny include:

• **Bell:** $40 device-handling fee  
• **TELUS:** $15 SIM or eSIM fee  
• **Rogers:** $40 device setup fee, $25 shipping fee and certain SIM-related charges

The carriers have argued that these charges relate to optional products or services rather than activation or plan-modification fees, which would make them permissible under the new rules.

The CRTC has not yet determined that Bell, Rogers or TELUS violated the Telecommunications Act.

But the regulator has asked the companies to show why the fees comply with the law and why enforcement measures should not be imposed if they are ultimately found to be non-compliant.

Public interventions closed on August 31.

**📌 Previous update:** [Canadians had until August 31 to tell the CRTC what they think about the Bell, Rogers and TELUS fees](https://www.reddit.com/r/planhub/comments/1w0zfdd/followup_canadians_have_until_monday_to_tell_the/)

Now comes the reply stage, where Bell, Rogers, TELUS and other parties can respond to the arguments and evidence submitted to the public record.

There is, however, an unusual discrepancy in the CRTC’s own documentation.

The regulator’s main 2026 Notices of Consultation page currently lists:

**Revised deadline for replies: September 8, 2026**

But the actual amended decision, Telecom Notice of Consultation **CRTC 2026-155-2**, states at the top of the document and again in paragraph 31:

**Revised deadline for replies: September 10, 2026**

Because the formal decision itself specifies September 10 twice, that appears to be the more authoritative deadline unless the CRTC issues another procedural update.

Once the reply period closes, the written record should effectively be complete.

The next major development should therefore be the CRTC’s decision on whether these fees comply with Canada's new consumer protection rules and, if they do not, what enforcement action should follow.

Possible measures include mandatory compliance orders and administrative monetary penalties. Under the Telecommunications Act, penalties against a corporation can reach **$10 million for a first violation and $15 million for a subsequent violation**.

So after months of warnings, carrier arguments, procedural challenges and public submissions, this case is finally approaching the point where the CRTC will have to decide whether Canada's activation-fee ban actually has teeth.

**Sources & more:** [CRTC 2026-155-2](https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2026/2026-155-2.htm) | [CRTC 2026 Notices](https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/8045/n2026.htm) | [CRTC 2026-155](https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2026/2026-155.htm)

FOLLOW-UP: Bell, Rogers and TELUS enter the final stage of the CRTC’s “junk fee” case, but the regulator is displaying two different deadlines