NL Update

Telus seeks to overturn CIRB arbitration rulingTelus Corp. has filed an application with the Canada Industrial Relations Board asking it to reconsider its rulings that led to the western telco and the Telecommunications Workers Union submitting to binding arbitration on their contract negotiations. The company is also appealing to the Federal Court of Canada on the issues. Despite the legal moves, Telus and the TWU are still participating in the arbitration hearings.Nortel unveils triple play productNortel Networks Corp. has introduced a triple play product for telecom companies. The new portfolio will allow telcos to offer voice, data and HDTV. The equipment maker has also inked a deal with Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd. to provide a next gen network in the Caribbean country.Ciena and Cisco go on buying spreeCiena Corp. has paid US$487 million for Ottawa’s Catena Networks and US$150 million for Internet Photonics of the U.S. Ciena says Catena operations will remain unchanged. Cisco Systems has dished out US$750 million to snap up Andiamo Systems Inc.Cabletel receives default notice and demand for payment from CommScopeCommScope Inc. has filed a default notice and demand for payment with Cabletel Communications Corp. CommScope is owed US$1.2 million from the Markham ON company. Cabletel extended the date for bids on the assets to February 19.Group Telecom rolls out research grid in New BrunswickGT Group Telecom Services Corp. has signed a $3-million deal to roll out a research grid in New Brunswick. The backbone can carry 52 million voice lines, has linked 19 communities with full Gigabit Ethernet and can connect any point in the province to anywhere else in North America at 10 Gigs. GT joined with several educational groups to deploy the grid.CRTC grants Amtelecom R&V applicationIn Telecom Decision 2004-9, the CRTC granted a review and vary application filed by Amtelecom Inc. on regulatory structure for small ILECs. The ruling varies the pricing constraints that led to the commission denying a price increase by Amtelecom. The telco has been ordered to speed up implementation of its service improvement plan.Telus to migrate 911 service in AlbertaThe CRTC granted Telus the right to migrate its 911 service in Edmonton to the provincial service. Telecom Order 2004-49 permits amalgamated rates of $0.14 per access line and $0.07 for cell phones. The City of Edmonton had requested the migration.Yak reports increased sales and earningsYak Communications Inc. announced a jump of 118% in sales from Q2 2003 to Q2 2004. Earnings per diluted share were US$0.12, an increase of 100% over a year earlier. For the quarter, the company processed 235 million minutes of traffic with 20 million calls.Canada Payphone buys Global Access Communications assetsB.C.’s Canada Payphone Corp. has completed its purchase of the assets of Global Access Communications Inc. The final purchase price will be set on April 3. Payments will begin the following month.Virus attack blamed on Belinda Stronach web siteLois Brown, who is challenging Belinda Stronach for the Conservative Party nomination in Ontario’s Newmarket-Aurora riding, says two virus-laden emails were sent to a campaign worker from Belinda Stronach’s web site. The nomination meeting is March 9. Stronach is also running for the leadership of the federal party.AMERICAN NEWSCourt upholds American Do Not Call listThe Tenth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals has upheld the legality of the Do Not Call list established by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). A group of telemarketers challenged the jurisdiction of the FTC to set up such a list. The judges ruled that Congress had specifically given the commission the powers to implement the new regime.FCC offers rules for PLC to help underserved areas, boost competitionThe Federal Communications Commission has released proposals for broadband over powerline service. The rules will promote powerline communications while protecting against interference. The regulator hopes the new regime will lead to better service in underserved regions and will promote competition in the marketplace.FCC launches inquiry into IP servicesThe Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has set up an inquiry that will look at provision of voice services over Internet protocol. The proceeding will try to balance the desire for minimal regulation with the need for services such as 911 and wiretap access. The FCC also ruled that Pulver.com’s free world dialup service will remain unregulated.DSL providers unfairly treated in new Internet bill, USTA assertsThe United States Telecom Association says a grandfather clause in a new Senate bill unfairly penalizes DSL carriers. The bill, sponsored by Tennessee Republican Lamar Alexander and Delaware Democrat Thomas Carper, extends the moratorium on taxes for Internet access by cable modem and new DSL rollouts. But DSL providers who were taxed as of November 2003 will continue to face levies, the USTA complains.FCC receives nearly 10,000 complaints since Do Not Call list set upThe Federal Communications Commission has received 9,884 complaints about violations to the national Do Not Call list. The regulator has issued eight citations for violating the rules. On the bright side, the number of complaints has been falling since the regime was introduced last October.

NL Update

News | 02/23/2004 5:00 am EST

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