NL Short Takes

CRTC establishes fast track procedure for dispute resolutionThe CRTC announced in Telecom Circular 2004-2 that it was setting up a series of panels to expedite resolution of competitive issues. The panels will handle disputes involving no more than two parties. First nations groups complain about MTS serviceA group of aboriginal organizations plan to file a complaint with the CRTC over Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.’s service in the province. It claims MTS is not providing adequate phone coverage in northern sections of the province, thus threatening the health and safety of residents. Cabletel considering sale of all or some assetsBroadband equipment maker Cabletel Communications Corp. says it is considering selling all or a portion of its assets in order to stay afloat (NL, Jan. 19/04). Offers will be accepted until February 17. CRTC settles PIAC complaint over Bell party line subscriptionsIn Telecom Decision 2004-8, the CRTC said it was satisfied that Bell Canada has properly compensated party line subscribers who had been overcharged (NL, Aug. 27/02). In dismissing a Part VII application filed by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, the commission noted the ILEC had provided refunds to 90% of the customers. Sabia predicts looser rules for IP servicesMichael Sabia believes the CRTC is apt to regulate telco services provided over the Internet more loosely than existing telephony. The BCE Inc. president/CEO told an RBC Dominion Securities Inc. conference that it would not make sense to apply old regulations on new technology. Government may introduce anti-spam law, Robillard hintsIndustry Canada Minister Lucienne Robillard says the government is considering anti-spam legislation, similar to laws recently passed in the United States. On February 9, Senator Don Oliver reintroduced his anti-spam bill after it previously died on the order paper. The new bill is designated S-2. Cybersurf replies to Shaw on third-party accessCybersurf Corp. has submitted its reply comments on Shaw Cablesystems’ remarks on enforcing Telecom Decision 2003-87. The Calgary ISP accuses Shaw of attempting to divert the CRTC’s attention from the real issues involved in third-party Internet access. Shaw settles contract dispute with union localShaw Cablesystems and Local 60 of the Telecommunications Workers Union have signed a tentative agreement renewing their existing contract. The employees, who work in Vancouver and Surrey BC, will hold a ratification vote later this month. Telus donates phone cards to victims of Edmonton disasterTelus Corp. is providing victims of a fire in Edmonton with $10 prepaid phone cards. A fire destroyed 68 condominiums in the Alberta capital in late January. The 100 phone cards may be used with any touchtone phone or payphone in Canada or the United States. Bell Canada swaps Yellow Pages units for income fund sharesBell Canada has exchanged 11.1 million units of YPG LP and 11.1 million shares in YPG General Partner Inc. for 11.1 million units of the Yellow Pages Income Fund. Bell now holds 3.24% of the fund. The fund now holds 70% in YPG LP and YPG GP. City of Ottawa launches new web portalThe City of Ottawa has unveiled SmartCapital.ca, a new web portal for the municipality. The portal is part of a program spearheaded by the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation. OCRI is promoting Ottawa as a high-tech leader. Geac Computer sells system to Philippines LD telcoThe Philippines Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) has deployed an HR system from Geac Computer Corp. Ltd. The Markham ON company has a three-year contract to expedite PLDT’s administration of its 10,000 workers. Ontario government targets identity theftThe Ontario government is unveiling a consumer education program over identity theft. The province will issue an Identity Theft Statement that will notify credit companies and financial institutions across the country when people have their personal information misused. Manitoba telemarketer pleads guilty to fraudNational Info-Tech of Winnipeg pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and will be handed a large fine during sentencing later this month. John Nguyen, the owner of the telemarketing company, committed suicide by jumping from a Winnipeg hotel room last December. Applications jump at Ontario’s first high-tech universityThe University of Ontario Institute of Technology reports applications for its next semester are up nearly 30%. The school began operations last September (NL, Oct. 8/02). Dubious prize for Telus’ customer serviceCNEWS technology writer Greg Michetti has handed out the grand prize in his contest for worst customer service (NL, Dec. 22/03). The winner was a person who moved into a new home in Calgary and had to wait 27 days for Telus to install their service. FCC takes cautious approach to VoIP regulationThe Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted a go-slow approach on regulating VoIP services, starting a series of meetings on March 18. American telecom analyst Jeff Kagan notes that the FCC decision "was not a home run for anyone other than pure play Internet telephony providers who don’t in any way touch the public networks." Global telecom spending to break $1-trillion barrierThe latest edition of the IDC Worldwide Telecommunication Black Book estimates that international telecom services spending will top US$1 trillion in 2004. That is an increase of 4.4% from last year. British regulator streamlines complaints processOfcom, the British telephony and broadcasting regulator, has issued proposals that would streamline its process for competition complaints and disputes. The regulator hopes to resolve arguments within four to six months of their filing. France Télécom reports improved FY 2003 resultsFrance Télécom says its net income for 2003 was EUR 3.2 billion (about $5.4 billion), up from a loss of EUR 20.7 billion (about $35 billion) a year earlier. The debt load for the French ILEC was reduced to EUR 44.2 billion (about $74 billion). AOL cancels Super Bowl streaming plans, seeks refundAmerica Online scrubbed plans to stream the Super Bowl halftime show on the Internet after the event because of Janet Jackson’s bare bosom. The ISP is demanding a refund on some or all of the US$7.5 million it paid to be the show’s sponsor. The Jackson flashing incident has become the most requested item on most Internet search engines. Gambino family in bed with Ma Bell, FBI chargesThe FBI has charged several associates of the Gambino crime family with "cramming"-larding phone bills with phoney charges for services that were never requested. American authorities estimate the mob stole US$200 million over five years through the scheme.

NL Short Takes

News | February 17, 2004

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