NL Short Takes

Final 2001 percentages for distribution of contribution revenueChanges to the contribution regime (Decision 2000-745) saw the CRTC replace the previous per-minute mechanism collected only from LECs with a system based on revenues from all telecom service providers (NL, Dec. 4/00). The new plan took effect on Jan. 1 of this year. The commission has now released the final percentages that each province will be able to draw on. Look Communications moves to creditor protectionLook Communications Inc has received protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act. The firm hopes the 30-day window will permit it to secure needed financing. Telus deal on PSINet faces oppositionA plan by Telus Corp to buy the Canadian assets of bankrupt ISP PSINet Inc is being opposed by Cisco Systems Capital Corp. Cisco says the proposed US$77 million deal violates American bankruptcy laws because PSINet has yet to pay the money needed to cure defaults on leases and has not provided assurances that Telus can perform lease obligations. Bell to provide electronic access for Ontario governmentA Bell Canada-led consortium has won a contract to provide Ontario government services online, through telephones and over self-serve terminals. The service, offered by Bell, BCE Emergis, CGI and KPMG Consulting, will begin next year. Shaw not worried by @Home woes, plans own gridShaw Communications Inc says it expects to shift its high-speed Internet customers from the troubled @Home Corp to its own network over the next three months. Over the past two years, the Calgary firm has spent $274 million to develop a fibre backbone and $56 million upgrading its cable modem network. CRTC to examine municipal rights-of-way issueThe CRTC has issued Public Notice 2001-99 to consider the matter of changing existing agreements for carrier access to municipal property. The issue arose in a dispute between AT&T Canada Corp and the City of Toronto (NL, June 18/01). The commission has also ruled on forbearance from regulation of ILECs’ out-of-territory services (Decision 2001-534); alternative formats for the blind (Order 2001-690); LECs and in-building wiring interim rules (Decision 2001-572); co-location space restriction (Order 2001-695); and American Samoa’s entry into the North American Numbering Plan (Decision 2001-525). Telus inks service provider deal with HP CanadaTelus Enterprise Solutions has signed a three-year service provider contract with Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Ltd. Telus will provide hosting services and expand its support of the HP-UX operating system. SaskTel rolls out high-speed Internet to 27 communitiesProvincial telco SaskTel is adding 27 communities to its high-speed Internet network. Among the areas that will have high-speed by the end of the year are Esterhazy, La Ronge, Maple Creek and SaskTel CEO Donald Ching’s hometown, Oxbow. Sprint Canada introduces new flat rate LD plansSprint Canada has launched two new flat rate long distance plans that permit customers to buy blocks of time for calls to Canada and the United States. Anytime 500 provides 500 minutes, regardless of time and day, for $30, while the Anytime 1000 plan gives 1000 minutes for $50. Northwestel reduces rates on prepaid calling cardsNorthern ILEC Northwestel has slashed rates on its domestic and international prepaid calling cards. The Bell Canada subsidiary is now charging 32 cents per minute for calls originating in Canada or the U.S., down from the previous rate of 50 cents. Telehealth pilot project begins in HalifaxA new telehealth pilot project that will allow remote nursing visits and vital sign monitoring is being rolled out in Halifax. Partners for the venture include Aliant Telecom, March Networks, CANARIE Inc, We Care Health Services Inc and the Health Telematics Unit of the University of Calgary. Onlinetel introduces VoIP gateway productOnlinetel Inc of Toronto, a division of Eiger Technology Inc, is launching a VoIP gateway solution on Sept. 24. The product will create a virtual private voice network using the client’s existing bandwidth. Aliant sells poles to Newfoundland PowerNewfoundland Power Inc has been granted regulatory approval to purchase 70,000 joint use poles from Aliant Telecom Inc. The utility will buy the poles and related infrastructure from Aliant’s NewTel division over a five-year period. Vancouver company wins $3M for ’Net solutionsMarineTalk Ltd of Vancouver has been awarded $3.3 million from CANARIE Inc. The firm will use the funds to develop an Internet-based software solution for ships and oilrigs. IDC buys Ontario ISP, California satellite businessStorm Internet Services, a subsidiary of International Datacasting Corp, has purchased Superaje Communications, an ISP serving the Ontario communities of Perth and Brockville. Ottawa-based IDC has also acquired the Satellite Express division of BroadLogic Network Technologies of Milpitas CA. Research agency relocates Canadian officesThe Yankee Group has moved its Canadian operations from Brockville ON to the Ottawa suburb of Kanata. The parent company has its headquarters in Boston. Kingston phone books dumped by roadsideSome Bell Canada customers in Kingston ON now know where their missing directories ended up. A cache of 100 new 2001-2002 phone books, still in their original plastic wrapping, was found dumped by the side of a road, near a highway. Bell officials are investigating. BCE chair puts Chrétien in the Tiger’s lairBCE chair Jean Monty played host to an illustrious foursome at the Canadian Open pro-am tournament in Montreal. Joining the telecom boss were Tiger Woods, prime minister Jean Chrétien and RBC Dominion Securities vice-chair Jean-Pierre Ouellet. Woods shot a 64, the PM’s score was reported at anywhere from 95 to 101; no word on how Monty and Ouellet fared.

NL Short Takes

News | September 11, 2001

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NL Short Takes

News | September 11, 2001

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CRTC considers requiring service providers make customers aware of complaints body more quickly

UPDATED: Bell looking at ‘streamlining’ its brands, with focus on internet & mobility bundling under Bell name

Telecoms want CRTC to adjust service outage reporting, notification requirements

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