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“Minute regulation” diverting CRTC from big concerns, overburdening firms: Tory

The CRTC concerns itself with too many small things, resulting in important decisions taking too long to be released and broadcasting players getting bogged down in producing time-consuming reports, according to the president and CEO of Canada’s largest cableco. John Tory of Rogers Cable Inc. tells Canadian Communications Reports that red tape is stifling the industry and making it less able to compete in a more open market.

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More lawsuits expected against pirate satellite TV dealers as ExpressVu, three major broadcasters launch $100-million suit

Canada’s broadcast industry is stepping up legal pressure against black and grey market satellite TV dealers in the wake of a CRTC decision last week in which the commission washed its hands of the issue. Bell ExpressVu LP, CTV Inc., Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. and Astral Media Inc. filed a $100-million lawsuit in the Federal Court of Canada last week over the piracy of satellite television signals in Canada.

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CNM Update

SOCAN files its take on Tariff 22
The Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) filed its leave to cross appeal the Federal Court of Appeal’s Tariff 22 decision with the Supreme Court of Canada on October 14, as well as its opposition to the leave to appeal filed by the cable industry and ISPs (CNM Aug. 21/02). The copyright collective argues that the Tariff 22 decision, which deals with royalties on music available on the Internet, doesn’t raise any issues of national importance. It also disputes Bell Canada, the Canadian Association of Internet Providers, and the Canadian Cable Television Association’s take on caching, the standard of review in the Federal Court’s decision, and on cross-border issues. But, says SOCAN, if the Supreme Court does hear the case, it wants leave to cross appeal on the issues of whether or not ISPs communicate musical works in the legal sense. The matter is now in the court’s hands, and a decision on whether to hear the parties’ appeals won’t likely be made for months. Canadian NEW MEDIA will have full details in its next issue.

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RoW Update

Microcell files R&V application over expanded LCA framework
Microcell Telecommunications Inc. is concerned that it would have to contribute to a cross-subsidy program to compensate interexchange carriers (IXCs) over lost toll revenue from an expanded local calling area (LCA) when it wouldn’t be able to draw from the same pool as ILECs and other CLECs. In a Review and Vary application filed with the CRTC on October 10, the country’s only wireless CLEC wants the regulator to strike down provisions that mandate CLEC participation in the program.
Microcell says it’s unfair for the commission to presume that CLECs would follow ILECs’ rate increases to cover the cost of contributing to the subsidy pool. It also notes that as a wireless CLEC it would be nearly impossible to implement rate increases similar to those by ILECs or even wireline CLECs.
"How does Microcell translate an ILEC local rate increase of say $0.50 per month in a particular location into a per-minute rate increase? Would we be expected to sell pre-paid calling cards at difference prices in different locations?" the company asks in its filing.
The wireless operator wants the CRTC to implement an opt-in or opt-out model whereby a CLEC that wants to be able to draw from the pool to recoup lost toll revenue would have to first indicate its intent to participate in the program. Reply comments to Microcell’s R&V application are due November 9.

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NL Editorial

The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Decima Reports.

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Rural communities’ broadband needs ignored by regulator, Congressman says

The question of the digitial divide between rural and urban residents is a major concern in the United States as well as in Canada. Republican Congressman Lee Terry of Nebraska’s Second District has recently introduced HR 5602, a bill that would require the Federal Communications Commission to look at rural issues. Representative Terry explains his position in this column.

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NL People

As part of the restructuring that is taking place at AT&T Canada, five directors have left the board of the telco. Departing are Steve Chisholm, Alan Horn, Phil Ladouceur, David Miller and Craig Young. Joining the board are two representatives of Brascan Financial Corp., chair Robert Harding and George Myhal, CEO of financial operations for the company.

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NL Short Takes

Telus applies for conciliation after talks with union fail
After the Telecommunication Workers Union halted bargaining and sought a strike mandate from its members, Telus Corp. has asked the federal labour minister for the appointment of a conciliator. The strike vote will be held between Oct. 26 and Nov. 13 at various sites throughout the serving area. The TWU unveiled a billboard last week outside of Telus corporate headquarters, urging the telco to take better care of its workers.

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Developed and developing worlds gather in South Africa to discuss communications

The most recent conference of the International Institute of Communications (IIC) provided a great opportunity for developed and developing nations to learn from each other, the president of the global body reports. Bernard Courtois, executive counsel for BCE Inc. and Bell Canada, is serving a one-year term as head of the group.

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Telus and Aliant most recent incumbents to attack AT&T Canada price cap appeal

Two more ILECs have jumped into the fray to tell Cabinet why an appeal by AT&T Canada Inc. should be denied. One claims the competitor did not look at regional issues; the other dismisses the entire bedrock on which the appeal is based.

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