BC telecom seeks CRTC help in gaining access to MDUs

CIK Telecom Inc. has filed a Part 1 application with the CRTC seeking to gain access to four properties administered by a British Columbia landlord. In the filing, which has been redacted to protect confidential information, CIK says it has been denied entry since November 2021 to a quartet of units in Richmond B.C. run by BCS 2884. “It has now been more than 11 months since CIK Telecom originally requested access to the Premises,” the telecom wrote. “In these circumstances, CIK Telecom has been denied timely access to the Premises pursuant to reasonable terms and conditions. By extension, BCS 2884’s conduct has denied the occupants of the Premises of the competitive benefits that the MDU access framework is intended to foster.” The company said its most recent approach to BCS 2884 was in mid-September. The landlord is still denying access for the CLEC and competitive ISP. CIK is asking the commission to impose the usual restrictions on multi dwelling unit (MDU) owners who do not provide timely access. First, carriers already in the buildings will not be able to take on new clients. Then they will not be able to upgrade existing customers. Finally the commission can halt all telecommunication services to the properties, “CIK Telecom has successfully negotiated access agreements with hundreds of property owners in several provinces of Canada,” the application concludes. “We are committed to good faith negotiations with the objective of reaching collaborative outcomes. Unfortunately, we have exhausted all options for obtaining timely access to the Premises pursuant to reasonable terms and conditions.” Interventions in the CIK case may be made until Nov. 30. The dispute is similar to a fight currently underway in Toronto where Lixo Developments Ltd. has blocked Rogers Communications Inc. from a property in the downtown core. In September the CRTC issued a notice of consultation on whether telecom service should be cut to the housing builder. In an intervention submitted last week Rogers argued that the commission should impose enforcement actions to address Lixo’s refusal to grant it access to 70 Yorkville Avenue, however, the commission’s proposal to restrict all telecommunications service providers from offering any telecommunications services to the building occupants should only be implemented as a last resort. It added that the commission should file its order with the Federal Court because “Lixo has demonstrated throughout this process that it does not respect the commission’s authority.” In its reply filed Monday, Lixo reiterated its arguments from its Oct. 21 intervention in which it made the case that the commission should force Rogers to engage in a dispute resolution process. It also noted, in its reply, that it issued a formal invitation to Rogers to access 70 Yorkville Avenue on Oct. 17. – Reporting by Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca and editing by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca.

BC telecom seeks CRTC help in gaining access to MDUs

News | November 2, 2022

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BC telecom seeks CRTC help in gaining access to MDUs

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