The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Decima Reports.

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The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is telling the CRTC that the VoIP ruling (Telecom Decision 2005-28) of May 12, 2005 is just another step toward the goal of letting market forces dictate the competitive environment as was suggested by the Telecommunications Policy Review Panel. In PIAC’s June 5 response to Cabinet Order PC 2006-305, the group urges the commission to "consider the possibility that the key elements of Decision 2005-28 accord with this viewpoint."

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Michael Hennessy has joined Telus Corp. as VP of broadband and video. Most recently, he served as the president and CEO of the now-defunct Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association. Hennessy is a long-time veteran of telecommunications policy and regulation having also served at Bell Mobility in the past.

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CRTC releases cost of telecom regulation
The CRTC has announced that it will collect more than $26 million in fees to regulate the telecommunications industry in Canada for the fiscal year 2006-2007. Estimated regulatory costs are expected be $25.435 million, but an adjustment of $1.196 million for last fiscal year brings the total telecom regulatory costs to $26.631 million.

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Last month Internet communications company Skype Ltd. announced that all SkypeOut calls within Canada and the United States will be free for the remainder of the year. However, free long-distance calling is apparently no longer enough to strike fear in the hearts of telecommunications industry competitors.

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The convergence of communications on a single IP-based network presents a number of challenges for service providers, a conference in Montreal heard last month.

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Satellite and fixed wireless Internet provider Barrett Xplore Inc. is turning up the heat on the CRTC to address what it considers to be a fundamental misunderstanding of the rural broadband market. The Woodstock NB-based provider filed an application with the commission asking it to reconsider its ruling on deferral accounts (Telecom Decision 2006-9) only a couple of weeks after submitting a similar petition with the Governor-in-Council (NL, May 25/06).

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A spokesperson for Stockwell Day, the minister responsible for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC), says the government has yet to make a decision about re-introducing Bill C-74 – legislation that would modernize the country’s wiretapping laws. However, sources have told Network Letter that the federal government will re-introduce the bill in the House of Commons – it’s just a question of when (NL, May 25/06).

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