REGULATION & POLICY

Cellcos Say They Can’t Speed Two-Year WNP Plan CRTC likely to drop request for scenario clarificationInterrogatories from the CRTC regarding the Wireless Number Portability (WNP) plan of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) will go unanswered, and the CRTC will not press the point, according to Telemanagement sources. The Commission submitted the questions to the wireless industry association in late September, proposing five scenarios for an accelerated rollout of WNP and asking for a response on their feasibility. According to the CWTA plan, it will be September 2007 before Canadians who change cellular carriers are able to retain their phone numbers. The CRTC also said in its September 23 interrogatories that it "would like a phased implementation" for WNP. It added that in the wireline world, Local Number Portability (LNP) was phased in, and in fact LNP was "available in some exchanges within six months" of the order requiring the functionality. In response, the CWTA said it didn’t have the information requested on hand and that it would take an additional four to six weeks and more money to fully answer the Commission’s questions. The wireless association also warned the CRTC that if it did re-engage PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)—the author of the CWTA’s WNP implementation plan—to answer these questions, there could be delays in implementing PwC’s original plan. Opposition to CWTA’s PlanAlthough supported by all three national wireless operators, the CWTA plan is opposed by a couple of wireless service resellers. In its response to the CRTC proceeding asking for comment on the plan (Telecom Public Notice 2005-14), Virgin Mobile Canada—probably the most outspoken critic of the CWTA’s plan—detailed reasons why WNP could be available much quicker in Canada. The company said many lessons have been learned south of the border and in other jurisdictions and that systems required to make WNP a reality in Canada are commercially available. Virgin Mobile suggests looking to Syniverse Technologies for a potential solution based on a clearinghouse or service bureau. "A reliable service bureau model can keep costs in check and eliminate the need to make large capital investments in expensive new systems as well as minimize operational expense," reads Virgin Mobile’s October 6 comments in the CRTC proceeding. Bill on Do-Not-Call List Passes Second ReadingAt press time, the House of Commons seems ready to adopt Bill C-37, a bill that would create a national Do-Not-Call list to curb unwanted telemarketing calls. The bill passed second reading on October 20. Key amendments include exemptions for charities, political parties and candidates, and polling firms. The DNC legislation will also be subject to review every three years. However, a proposal for a special carve-out for newspapers wasn’t accepted. Ottawa Preparing Wiretap Law More details have emerged about proposed federal government legislation that would require telecommunications carriers to track their customers’ communications use and transmit that information to police when requested. According to media reports, the police want to be able to conduct more than 8,000 wiretaps simultaneously 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The bill is expected to be introduced in the House of Commons this fall. Carriers, both wireless and wireline, have raised concerns about the cost of building this capability into their networks. Privacy advocates are also worried about such sweeping legislation and the ability it gives police to track Canadians’ communications. Since the bill had not yet been introduced into the House at press time, its exact provisions are still unknown. Certainly Canada’s two-decades-old wiretapping laws need an update in recognition of how technology has changed the way Canadians communicate, but how this should be done is another question. Bell Wins VoIP Differential PricingBell Canada can now price its Digital Voice VoIP service differently in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The CRTC approved the Bell application on an interim basis in Telecom Decision 2005-62 on October 20. Coalition Backs Bell CSA ApplicationThe Coalition for Competitive Tele-communications has lent its support to an application from Bell Canada requesting that the CRTC change the way it treats Type 2 Customer Specific Agreements (CSAs). The coalition notes that large enterprises need greater certainty and flexibility when it comes to negotiating contracts with telecom service suppliers. "The current regulatory regime for CSAs severely constrains many of the largest telecommunications suppliers who customarily respond to major RFPs," writes the coalition. By contrast, Rogers Telecom, formerly Sprint Canada, makes a harsh assessment of the application, contending that it is nothing more than a veiled attempt to revisit price floor safeguards—a proceeding the CRTC ruled on earlier this year in Telecom Decision 2005-27—under the guise of Type 2 CSAs. In BriefCustomers in Barrie and six other Ontario exchanges are going to have to wait a little bit longer to get residential service from Rogers Telecom as the company continues to battle Bell Canada over access to unbundled loops. The CRTC will continue to monitor the status of competition in telecommunications, and will therefore require carriers to continue to file information with the Commission. Operators are required to file their data by the end of March each year. Bell Canada won’t be forced to sign an agreement with YP Corp. giving the upstart telephone directory company access to Bell’s billing and collection service. The CRTC ruled that billing and collection for directory advertising is not a telecommunications service.

REGULATION & POLICY

News | October 26, 2005

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