NL Short Takes

CRTC calls for comments on consumer bill of rightsFollowing up on a promise it made in Telecom Decision 2002-34, the CRTC is seeking comments on the establishment of a consumer bill of rights (CBOR). The CBOR will apply to regulated telecom services offered by ILECs. According to Telecom Public Notice 2003-6, all submissions should be sent by Jan. 21, 2004. Vidéotron wins access to Toronto buildingsVidéotron Télécom ltée has been granted interim access to buildings in Toronto owned by OPGI Management LP, following a lawsuit launched by the Quebec telco (NL, Feb. 24/03). It had previously negotiated an entry agreement with co-defendant Cadillac Fairview Corp. Persona names special committee on possible saleCableco Persona Inc. has named the three members of its special committee that will investigate the best options for the sale of the firm. Doug Kirk and Terry Lyons, independent directors of the company, and Thomas Pippy from Burns Fry, who has no connection to Persona, will try to get the best price for the firm. Kirk will serve as chair of the special committee. Telcos ordered to reveal names of email subscribersAliant Telecom Inc. has been told by the Court of Queen’s Bench in New Brunswick to reveal the name of its Internet subscriber who has been emailing salary information about senior executives of Loblaw Cos. Ltd. The Atlantic ILEC says it will comply with the court order. South of the border, the Washington D.C. Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has ordered Verizon Communications to turn over the name of an alleged music pirate to the Recording Industry Association of America. Aliant, Group Telecom reach temporary agreement on MUNAliant Telecom Inc. has agreed to lease in-building wire connections at the Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) for $1 per channel. The access dispute is currently subject to a Part VII application before the CRTC (NL Update, June 9/03). CANARIE issues RFP for MUN connectionCANARIE Inc. has issued a request for proposal to secure a connection from Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) to the CA*net 4 network. Companies wishing to respond have until June 20 to notify CANARIE and must have the detailed submission in by July 4. Bell Canada expands VDSL trials in TorontoBell Canada is adding more buildings to its VDSL trials in Toronto (NL, May 9/00). The telco will add 40 high-rises to the dozen it is currently deploying the technology in. Disney’s Movies.com moves into Canadian marketMovies.com, a division of Disney Online, is now offering its services in Canada. The web site provides film news and services, including show times and ticket sales. Cybersurf purchases Ottawa ISP for $1.2 millionCalgary’s Cybersurf Corp. has paid $1.2 million for Cyberus Online Inc., an Ottawa ISP. Cyberus has 18 staff, who are expected to keep their jobs despite the takeover. Ottawa broadband rollout suffers budget cutsThe City of Ottawa has cut $100,000 from the business development branch budget that had been earmarked for broadband rollout (NL, Feb. 24/03). The city still plans to roll out the broadband initiative, despite not having a staff member to coordinate it. Free phone service ends in Vancouver hospitalThe Vancouver General Hospital is now charging patients $3 a day for bedside telephones. Until the change in rules, seriously ill patients—such as palliative care patients or those awaiting transplants—received free phones. Manitoba town finally gets 911 emergency serviceThe Pas MB has finally been hooked up to the 911 emergency system. The service will cost the community about $20,000 a year and subscribers will pay an extra 18 cents a month on their phone bills. Telemarketing suspect returned to CanadaGuy Paul Beaupre was extradited from Mexico to Kingston ON to face charges arising from an alleged telemarketing scam. Police say the 40-year-old is the mastermind behind a scheme that promised investors huge returns on jewelry and vending machines if they invested at least $10,000. FCC releases local competition statistics for 2002The Federal Communications Commission has released its latest data on local telephony service competition in the United States. It said 163 million lines were delivered by ILECs in 2002, with CLECs holding 25 million switched access lines. For the entire year, CLEC lines grew by 26% from a year earlier. European Union to introduce tax on Internet salesA new value added tax will be imposed on all Internet companies by the European Union beginning July 1. Until now, European dot coms have been paying 15-25% levies on transactions, while companies in other countries were exempt. Many American firms, like Amazon.com and AOL, are reassessing their European strategies. FTC speeds up start of DNC list by three monthsThe Federal Trade Commission in the United States will launch its Do Not Call list for telemarketers in July. It had originally intended to implement the list in October (NL Update, Mar. 31/03). Subscriber happy with Qwest for firing telemarketerA Denver couple is glad that telco Qwest has terminated its contract with a telemarketing firm whose employee threatened them, but wonders why the police have not laid charges. When the pair, known only as Mike and Mindy, told the Teleperformance USA solicitor they didn’t want DSL service, he called back on his cell phone, screaming “I’m coming to your house, you . What the you gonna do? I’ll kill you.” Mr. Personality has been dismissed by the telemarketing company.

NL Short Takes

News | June 16, 2003

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