NL Short Takes

TWU launches ad campaign as Telus service complaints riseThe Telecommunications Workers Union is launching an advertising campaign in newspapers in Alberta and British Columbia urging people dissatisfied with Telus Communications Inc. service not to take their frustration out on the employees. The CRTC reports it received 2,445 complaints about Telus quality of service from January 2002 until last September, compared with only 763 for Bell Canada. CCTA responds to bundling applications from Shaw, Call-NetThe Canadian Cable Television Association has filed a statement supporting Shaw Cablesystems in its Part VII application over Telus Communications Inc. bundling of Internet products (NL, Sept. 29/03). The CCTA is also backing Call-Net Enterprises Inc. in its dispute with Bell Canada and Telus over non-compliance with Telecom Decision 2003-49, regarding DSL access to residential customers (NL, Oct. 15/03). Telus and Bell Canada prepare for visits from phone copsThe CRTC will be dispatching inspectors in the next few weeks to crack down on ILEC violations of commission regulations. Commission spokesperson Philippe Tousignant tells Network Letter Bell Canada and Telus Communications Inc. will be investigated for policy infractions, not quality of service complaints, as was set out in the initial policy on inspections (NL, Apr. 22/03). Call-Net, Primus endorse FCI application on DSL accessCall-Net Enterprises Inc. and Primus Telecommunications Canada Inc. have filed comments backing FCI Broadband in its Part VII over DSL services. FCI wants the provisions of Telecom Decision 2003-49 applied to businesses as well as residential customers. RCMP complaints committee to study Maher Arar caseThe Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP has initiated a complaint against the Mounties over their handling of the Maher Arar case (NL, Oct. 15/03). If chair Shirley Heafey is not satisfied with the answers she receives from the force, she may begin a formal investigation. Internet and wireless revenues up at Aliant as local and LD fallAliant Inc. announced local revenues fell by $5.1 million in Q3 2003 compared to Q3 2002, while LD revenues declined by $1.75 million in the same period. Internet revenues increased by $3.7 million and wireless revenues grew by $13.7 million. ExpressVu preserves telephony monopoly, Quebecor chargesQuebecor Media Inc. president/CEO Pierre-Karl Péladeau claims Bell ExpressVu’s business practices are designed to weaken the finances of cablecos. The cable firms would thus be unable to enter the telephony market, he added at ExpressVu’s licence renewal hearing. Shaw to roll out advanced cable modems in two western citiesShaw Communications Inc. says it will begin deployment of advanced cable modems using the DOCSIS 2.0 standard. In releasing its Q4 results, the western cableco adds it will roll out the modems in Calgary and Vancouver this fall. Bell Canada seeks leave to appeal CSA rulingBell Canada is asking the Federal Court of Appeal for leave to appeal Telecom Decision 2003-63. The CRTC said that the telco’s customer-specific arrangements (CSAs) did not meet the requirements of rates, terms and conditions that should be publicly available. Blueline gives way to Freezone at OnlinetelOnlinetel has retired its Blueline promotion in favour of another advertising-sponsored LD campaign (NL, Sept. 2/03). Freezone will allow customers to make LD calls by listening to ads and paying an annual $20 administration fee. Grant helps extend connectivity to women in rural B.C.The BC Rural Women’s Network has received a $35,140 grant from Status of Women Canada to promote access to communications technology for women in remote areas. The Vernon-based group will host meetings, conferences and a web site over the course of the 13-month project. Phone phreaks fracture food firm’s fibresThe Hard Disk Café found itself with a $5,000 LD bill after someone made calls to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and India. Telus Communications Inc. believes phone "phreakers", or hackers, managed to get the remote access code for the Calgary restaurant. Bell Canada agrees to DA changes for blind subscribersBell Canada has agreed to initiate changes to the automatic directory assistance call completion charge for customers with special needs. This brings the company in line with Telecom Decision 2003-61, which resolved a dispute between Telus Communications Inc. and the Advocates for Sight Impaired Consumers (NL, Sept. 16/03). Toronto-area reseller uses Datex billing softwareLong Distance 4 Less, an LD reseller in Kettleby ON, has chosen Datex to supply its billing and customer care services. Long Distance 4 Less concentrates on the small- and medium-sized enterprise market. Cable VDN joins International Institute of TelecomMontreal fibre company Cable VDN Inc. is the latest company to sign on with the International Institute of Telecommunications. VDN operates a cable and Internet network on the Island of Montreal and the South Shore. FCC requirements for IP providers approved The Office of Management and Budget in Washington has approved a reporting regime instituted by the Federal Communications Commission for Internet Protocol relay providers. The approval is good for a three-year term. High-speed connections in Europe double in one yearErkki Liikanen, telecommunications commissioner at the European Union, says broadband connections in the EU have doubled in the last year. A new report by Forrester Research predicts VoIP penetration in western Europe will hit 100% by 2020. Dutch regulator to gain new powers after legislative voteDutch telecom regulator OPTA will win sweeping new powers and responsibilities under a new telecom bill. Under the provisions, OPTA may raid telcos without prior announcement and fine offenders up to 10% of the company’s turnover. Bad Q3s for American telcos AT&T and SBCAT&T Corp. said profits for the third quarter of 2003 fell 13% from a year earlier while revenue dropped for the 15th straight quarter. SBC Communications Inc. said its Q3 net income fell by 29% with revenue down for the 12th consecutive quarter. Getting off Do Not Call registry proving difficult in U.S.Entering the Do Not Call registry in the United States is a lot easier than getting off it, the Washington Post has learned. The newspaper inadvertently added the phone numbers of two federal judges. When a reporter tried to delete the listings, she was told it could only be done from the phone number itself. Victoria’s Secret agrees to keep customer info covered upLingerie company Victoria’s Secret has settled a dispute with the State of New York over Internet privacy rules. The firm will pay a US$50,000 penalty for making customer data accessible on its web site from August to November of last year. Irish convent goes online to promote principlesThe Poor Clares of Galway, a convent of nuns on the west coast of Ireland, have set up a web site to share their values with the world. The web site features pictures of the nuns in their daily life and gives information on joining the community. Early numbers bode well for Toronto mayor candidatesThe major candidates running for mayor of Toronto have been quick to latch onto vanity phone numbers for their campaign offices. Former mayor Barbara Hall is using 416-BARBARA; ex-MP John Nunziata has laid claim to VOTE-JOHN; former Rogers Cable Inc. president/CEO John Tory has adopted 416-935-TORY; while ex-city councillor Tom Jakobek reminds voters what year it is with 416-755-2003. ClarificationIn the Sept. 29/03 edition of Network Letter we reported that Group Telecom is using the name of its LondonConnect Inc. subsidiary in filings with the CRTC. Both companies now inform us that LondonConnect, despite being listed as "formerly GT Group Telecom Services Corp." on the commission web site, is a separate firm and not an affiliate of Group Telecom. The two firms have separate representation before the regulator.

NL Short Takes

News | October 28, 2003

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