Telcos ask CRTC to consider traffic management in separate hearing

Canada’s largest telco providers have asked the CRTC to alter the scope of its review of access to basic telecommunications services, calling on the commission to consider wireless mobile services—including traffic management—in a separate review. In separate letters to the CRTC, Telus, Bell Canada, and the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) have questioned what wireless traffic management practices have to do with the basic obligation to serve customers without discrimination. These basic telecommunications service objectives and a local service subsidy to help serve remote, high-cost areas, are to be the focus of a commission proceeding scheduled to start Oct. 25. Last October, the CRTC said it would review at a later date how section 24 and sub-section 27(2) of the Telecommunications Act could be applied to Internet traffic management on mobile networks. In a letter the CRTC, David Farnes, vice-president of regulatory affairs at the CWTA, asked the commission to “clarify the intent and scope of the review of the forbearance framework for mobile wireless data services.” In another letter, Michael Hennessy, senior vice-president for regulatory and government affairs at Telus Communications Company, expressed concern about the CRTC’s notice of consultation and the review of mobile wireless data services. Telus, Bell, and the CWTA argue that the CRTC’s review of the commission’s review of wireless traffic management should be dealt with in a separate proceeding. One of the sections for review is 27(2), which says Canadian carriers cannot unjustly discriminate and give “an undue or unreasonable preference toward any person, including itself, or subject any person to an undue or unreasonable disadvantage.” The Public Interest Advocacy Centre argued in a letter to the commission that “technologically neutral” traffic management practices are at stake. The consumer rights group says the issue is appropriate for review at the Oct. 25 proceeding. According to report on Cartt.ca Thursday, officials from Rogers, Bell and Telus also agree that local service subsidies have become costly and should be reviewed. Established in 2000, local service subsidies require telecom service providers whose revenues exceed $10 million to subsidize smaller telecommunications companies serving high-cost rural areas. Telus argues that companies should receive the subsidies only if they are willing to meet an obligation to serve high-cost regions.

Telcos ask CRTC to consider traffic management in separate hearing

Briefs | 02/04/2010 6:49 pm EST

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