The Financial Post reports in its Wednesday edition that the CRTC has introduced the first phase of a new wholesale regime that will force major providers to give smaller competitors access to their ultrafast fibre networks. The Post's Emily Jackson writes that the broadcast regulator outlined the new rules Tuesday in a long-awaited decision that received a lukewarm reception from independent Internet service providers and consumer groups alike. The CRTC first introduced the policy mandating access to fibre-to-the-premises networks last summer in a bid to give Canadians more choice. Implementation was delayed after Bell Canada petitioned the federal government to quash the rules. The Liberal cabinet denied Bell's petition this spring. Internet advocacy group OpenMedia's Katy Anderson said in a statement that it was "disappointing that the CRTC didn't go further to ensure a truly level playing field for more affordable smaller providers." While Bell did not want the rules in the first place, the CRTC sided with it and cable companies Cogeco Cable, Rogers Communications and Quebecor's Videotron when it comes to technical configuration. Indie providers wanted greater control of the network configurations.