NL Special Update

CRTC finds Aliant violated Telecom Act, orders full inquiry into ILEC regulatory compliance The CRTC continues its defence of competition through a public notice and a decision released today. It noted in Telecom Public Notice 2003-4 that it has released several rulings lately that focused on ILEC compliance with commission directives. Accordingly, it will now use inspectors to ensure that incumbent telcos obey the rules, rather than waiting for Part VII and similar complaints. "The commission considers that the designation of inspectors would permit the commission to verify compliance and reduce its dependence on the complaints of competitors, whose ability to provide proof of non-compliance is…noted," the public notice states. Most recently, the CRTC asserted its right to prosecute violators of the Telecommunications Act. It need not wait for third-party initiatives. The public notice came following a ruling on a Part VII application. In Telecom Decision 2003-23, the commission found that Aliant Telecom Inc. had violated sections 25(1), 27 (1) and 27(2) of the Telecom Act by charging Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) the 10-year minimum contract period (MCP) monthly rate for Centrex service rather than the three-year rate plus the month-to-month on what was a 42-month contract; transferring customers with 10-year MCPs to the five-year MCP rate without charging the early termination rates; and assessing Memorial residential rates rather than business rates for modem pool lines. The issue arose from a Part VII application filed by GT Group Telecom Services Corp. last year (NL, May 7/02). The commission sifted through the evidence and found Group Telecom’s data convincing. It ordered Aliant to charge MUN the approved tariff rate for the MCP; to migrate customers of 10-year MCPs to the old rates, terms and conditions; and to charge MUN the proper business rates for modem pool lines.

NL Special Update

News | 04/10/2003 4:00 am EDT

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