NL Short Takes

Aliant Inc. reports better numbers in FY 2002Aliant Inc. reported a 1.1% increase in revenues in its 2002 annual report. Revenues were $2.63 billion, up from $2.6 billion in 2001. Common share dividends were $1.00, up a dime from 2001's $0.90. Earnings per common share was $1.21, up from $1.18 a year earlier. Nortel delivers voice, multimedia servicesNortel Networks Corp. has introduced several improvements to its Succession Interactive Multimedia Server. The changes will allow for the delivery of packet voice and multimedia services. Axia receives $18.8 million from Alberta governmentAxia NetMedia Corp. has received $18.8 million from the provincial government following the Alberta SuperNet reorganization involving the company, the government and Bell West. Axia got $11 million of the receivables owed by Bell West and had its bank indebtedness and payables reduced by $7.8 million. CRTC grants Call-Net Part VII per-loop requestThe CRTC has ordered the five major ILECs to apply the residential variable-rate per-loop service order charge to unbundled loop orders for residential customers in multiple unit dwellings. Telecom Decision 2003-31 came about as a result of a Part VII application filed by Call-Net Enterprises Inc. Alcatel sells off last of optronics business to Avanex Corp.Alcatel has sold its optical component business to Avanex Corp. of Fremont CA. The French equipment manufacturer once made optronic gear at a plant in Gatineau QC. Avanex also purchased the optical component section of Corning Inc. Vidéotron rehires workers transferred to contractorVidéotron ltée has rehired installation technicians of its cable division whose jobs were shifted to a contractor last year. The issue was a major plank of a 10-month strike that ended this year (NL Update, Mar. 31/03). YAK Communications reports improved third quarterToronto reseller YAK Communications Inc. announced sales of US$10.5 million in the third quarter of 2003, a 68% increase over the US$6.3 million posted a year earlier. Net income for the first three months of 2003 rose by $323,680 over the previous quarter, pegging at $1.06 million. Telecom sector leader in corporate reportingCanada NewsWire's earnings division reports that the Canadian telecom sector meets the best practices for disclosure. The company analysis found that 67% of the telecoms filed an income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, notes to financial statements, and management discussion and analysis in their news releases. CRTC introduces electronic application submission formThe CRTC has unveiled an electronic application submission form on its web site. Companies are now able to attach all application-related documents that need to be filed with the commission. CISC working groups release consensus reportsSeveral CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee (CISC) working groups have released consensus reports to the CISC steering committee. In Telecom Decision 2003-30, the commission approved reports on updating network management guidelines, changes to the Canadian local ordering guidelines, and temporary special CO code assignments for the 613 and 819 area codes. Teleglobe to provide high-speed Internet in AfricaTeleglobe Inc. has signed a deal with Gabon Telecom to provide DS-3 access to its high-speed Internet backbone. Gabon Telecom is the primary ILEC in the African country. OECD warns against lessening competition rulesThe Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development has released a study urging member states not to ease competition requirements or provide financial help to troubled telcos. The report, After the Telecommunications Bubble, says a shift in regulatory policy is not justified. MCI wins contract to rebuild Iraqi telecom networkAmerican telecom MCI has been awarded a contract to provide a phone network in Baghdad following the U.S. attack on Iraq. MCI hopes to have a network of 5,000 to 10,000 phones running by next month. FTC sues 'do not call' firm for charging for free serviceThe Federal Trade Commission in Washington D.C. is suing Novato CA resident Ken Chase for operating two web sites that charge customers from US$9.99 to US$17.99 to sign up for a 'do not call' registry. The FTC points out that the federal list, which begins in October, is a free service. Ex-Qwest chair settles charges for US$4.4 millionPhilip Anschutz, the former chair of Qwest Communications International Inc., will donate US$4.4 million to charity and law schools to settle charges he illegally profited for shares in IPOs provided by the telco's investment banker. Four other telecom executives still face charges, which were filed by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. Verizon and Microsoft launch DSL serviceVerizon Communications has joined with Microsoft Corp. to provide DSL service for US$34.95 per month. Subscribers to some Verizon voice plans can have that fee drop by US$5. Microsoft, by the way, seems to be having some problems with its iLoo project. On May 12, it said reports its British division had developed a portable toilet with a built-in Internet terminal were false. But the next day, the company claimed the iLoo was a legitimate project that had only been abandoned after the announcement was laughed at. Draft of American anti-spam bill said to be watered downThe draft of a bill to curb junk email has been watered down after committee chairs were lobbied by marketing and Internet companies, the Washington Post reports. The newspaper says aides to two House chairs met with representatives of groups like the Direct Marketing Association, America Online, and Microsoft Corp. Michigan lawyer won't be quartered over payphone anticsWashtenaw MI county prosecutor Brian Mackie will not be prosecuted for fishing for lost quarters in payphones. Ann Arbor police chief Dan Oates asked the Michigan Attorney General's office if the lawyer had violated any laws after he saw Mackie take a coin from a phone booth outside the local couthouse. Attorney General Mike Cox investigated all the existing legislation but determined that no breach occurred. "There's not a whole lot there to prosecute," Cox spokesman Sage Eastman told the Ann Arbor News.

NL Short Takes

News | May 20, 2003

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