OTA’s Vision is to play a critical role in assisting its members to successfully provide state-of-the-art telecommunications services to the benefit of their customers and themselves.

OTA represents the interests of Ontario’s independent telephone companies and acts as a forum for the sharing of expertise and pertinent services.

1. Setting policies and direction in key areas as technology, regulation, settlement, utility,
2. Identifying industry issues, trends,
3. Setting compliance and governance guidelines,
4. Establishing communication process with Members and the Public.

    

    

In fulfilling its tasks, the Association acts as the Independents’ liaison with the CRTC and industry associates including Bell Canada, Telus, Bell Mobility, Industry Canada and others.

Today, the Ontario Telecommunications Association membership consists of twenty-one Independent local exchange carriers in Ontario.  Collectively, OTA members serve approximately 100,000 customers, employ highly skilled, highly technical rural and northern Ontarians and have invested over $200 million in telecommunications infrastructure. The member companies have various business structures - investor-owned companies, co-operative corporations, and public utility commissions.

The Ontario Independents are providers of basic local service, optional local services, and long distance service to both business and residential customers.  They provide their customers with a full range of local telecommunications services – from digital phone service, to Internet, wireless and advanced information systems services. 

Independent companies have a profound effect on communities throughout Ontario.  There is a tremendous socio-economic benefit to having healthy Independents, for they will ensure local economies grow and local, quality jobs are maintained.  The continued evolution of Ontario’s Independents, within the ever-changing telecommunications sector, will have a significant impact in the development of vibrant rural and northern communities.

As small business owners, the Independents’ owners and management continue to make timely and expensive investments to maintain the full range of quality telecommunications services to its customers.

In addition to the twenty-one Independent local exchange carriers in Ontario who are members, the Association boasts more than fifty Associate Members - those manufacturing and service organizations that provide telecommunications products and services to the independent industry