The CRTC, no longer content to decide what you can watch, has now decided how your money should be spent.

GATINEAU, QUE — The CRTC said yesterday that Canadian telephone customers have been overbilled to the tune of $652.7-million over the past few years, but the money will not be going back to them.

The federal regulator ruled instead that telecommunications companies such as Bell Canada and Telus Corp. should use most of the money -- equivalent to about $50 a customer -- to expand offerings in underserved markets, primarily rural and remote communities.

A great redistribution of income to benefit of all, except for those that actually paid the bulk of the money. A great subsidy to Bell & Telus, which they decided to collect without amny real authorization, except some sort of near authorization for the CRTC who don't think that you need that $50 anyway.