NL Short Takes

Rock responds to foreign investment recommendationsIndustry Canada minister Allan Rock, in a letter to House of Commons industry, science and technology committee chair Walt Lastewka, says, "the government acknowledges the appropriateness of your conclusion that removing foreign investment restrictions would benefit the telecommunications industry." But in his response to the recommendations of the committee (NL, May 6/03), the minister calls for further study to harmonize the differing viewpoints of the industry committee and the committee on Canadian Heritage. The government plans to table an amendment to the Telecommunications Act, requiring its review every five years in response to technological change. Bell Canada International settles another disputeBell Canada International Inc. has reached a settlement with Vesper S.A. and Vesper Sao Paulo S.A. over BCI’s stake in the company. The Canadian firm will transfer its indirect equity to QUALCOMM Inc., the majority shareholder in Vespers. Bright picture ahead for equipment firms, S&P predictsTelecom equipment manufacturers like Nortel Networks Corp. and Alcatel have seen the worst of the telecom slump, Standard & Poor’s says. The rating agency predicts that spending will increase next year after three years of decline. It has upgraded its outlook on Nortel and Alcatel from "negative" to "stable." JDS Ottawa campus could become DND facilityThe Department of National Defence is considering purchasing the Ottawa campus of JDS Uniphase in order to move its employees to a more secure location. The high-tech company and the government are said to be far apart on the purchase price. Telus service improvement plan approved by CRTCIn Telecom Decision 2003-64, the CRTC has approved a service improvement plan of $21.4 million filed by Telus Communications Inc. The SIP, due to be completed by 2006, was a requirement of the price cap decision. Bell Canada does not meet CSA requirements, CRTC findsThe CRTC has ruled, in Telecom Decision 2003-63, that Bell Canada’s customer-specific arrangements (CSAs) do not meet the requirements with respect to the rates, terms and conditions that should be publicly available. The commission set out its criteria and is asking Bell and other ILECs to follow them when filing tariffs. FCI wants expansion of CRTC DSL ruling to include businessFCI Broadband has filed a Part VII application asking the CRTC to expand its Telecom Decision 2003-49 ruling on DSL service to local customers (NL Update, July 21/03). The company wants the provisions that apply to residential subscribers to be imposed on business clients as well. CRTC grants Bell application on Telus Québec ratesIn Telecom Order 2003-390, the CRTC has granted a Bell Canada request that tariffs for local pay telephone access lines from Telus Québec be given expeditious interim approval. Telus had argued against the move, saying its tariffs associated with Phase II costs had yet to be approved. Bell Canada to offer bundle for everything except wirelineBell Canada has unveiled The Bundle from Bell, a package permitting subscribers to combine high-speed Internet, wireless and satellite service on one bill. Wireline service is not part of the arrangement. Zarlink Semiconductor revises guidance for Q2Zarlink Semiconductor is predicting lower revenues and a higher net loss for the second quarter of FY 2004 than originally estimated. The Ottawa company is therefore revising its guidance for Q2. NorthernTel reduces rates of call management service featureNorthernTel Ltd. Partnership has been granted approval to cut the monthly rate residential subscribers pay for a single call management service feature. In Telecom Order 2003-393, the CRTC said the telco could drop the rate from $6 a month to $5. Telus wants delay in Shaw application on conduitsTelus Communications Inc. is asking the CRTC to delay consideration of a Shaw Communications Inc. Part VII on conduit tariffs until the western telco finishes its appeal to the courts. The Canadian Cable Television Association opposes the Telus request. Cognos only Canadian firm to make fastest-growing listCognos was the only Canadian company to appear on the list of the fastest-growing tech companies produced by American magazine Business 2.0. The Ottawa firm placed 88th on the B2 100 roster. YAK Communications beats earnings guidance for FY 2003YAK Communications Inc. reported sales of $40.4 million and earnings per diluted share of $0.59. This exceeds the previously predicted earnings guidance for FY2003. Better rural ambulance service coming to ManitobaThe Manitoba government is spending $2.25 million to create a call centre to provide air and ground ambulances in rural and northern parts of the province. The 911 system serves most parts of Manitoba but it requires technical upgrades. Tech university gets $100 million from telecomsThe University of Ontario Institute of Technology has received $100 million in equipment and services from Bell Canada, Nortel Networks Corp. and IBM Canada Ltd. UOIT is Ontario’s newest university, with an emphasis on high technology (NL, Oct. 8/02). Dial-up disparity taints Idol contest’s conclusionViewers of the recently concluded Canadian Idol TV series are complaining about the way the phone-in voting system worked. They say CTV left the impression that they had two hours to cast their ballots when in fact live broadcasts in eastern Canada followed by repeats in the west resulted in a four-hour window. The network denies the charge.

NL Short Takes

News | September 29, 2003

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