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IN THIS ISSUE:
** Telcos Appeal Local Forbearance Decision ** Policy Review Recommendations Gathering Steam? ** Bell to Pay $100 Million in Equity Dispute ** 64% of Households Have Cellular Access ** Aliant Shareholders Okay Income Trust ** ISP Wants Deferral Account Ruling Stayed ** CRTC Rules on WNP Issues ** Aliant Customers to Get Rebates ** Former Cygnal Exec Joins Multi-Vision ** World Telecom Day ** AT&T Offers Net Integration in Canada ** Orion Adds Backup Link to Ontario's North ** Telus Mike Intros Bluetooth Phone ** Minacs Founder Dies of Cancer ** Skype Offers Free Computer-to-Phone Calling ** CSI Wireless Founder Resigns============================================================
TELCOS APPEAL LOCAL FORBEARANCE DECISION: Aliant, Bell, SaskTel, and Telus have asked the federal Cabinet to refer CRTC Telecom Decision
2006-15 (the "local forbearance" decision) back to the Commission for reconsideration, in light of the recommendations of the Telecom Policy Review panel. (See Telecom Update #524)** The telcos have also asked the Federal Court for leave to appeal this decision, arguing that its restrictions on winback activities violate commercial freedom of speech guarantees under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The CRTC previously denied a similar application. (see Telecom Update #524)
POLICY REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS GATHERING STEAM? Industry Canada has reportedly begun consulting with provincial governments on the Telecom Policy Review report (see Telecom Update #522). Such consultation, among other steps, would be required if the federal government plans to change the Telecom Act or issue a policy directive to the CRTC, as recommended in the report.
BELL TO PAY $100 MILLION IN EQUITY DISPUTE: Bell Canada has agreed to pay $100 million to about 5,000 female operators to settle their claim that they received less pay than male colleagues. Bell's agreement with the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union ends a 14-year legal battle. (See Telecom Update #348, 389)
64% OF HOUSEHOLDS HAVE CELLULAR ACCESS: A new study conducted by Decima Research for the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association reports that 64% of Canadian households own or have access to a cellphone. 8% of those households (5% of all households) have eliminated wireline service entirely.** Wireless penetration is highest in Alberta (79%) and lowest in Quebec (51%).
ALIANT SHAREHOLDERS OKAY INCOME TRUST: Aliant says 97% of its shareholders have voted to approve creation of an income trust that will combine Aliant's wireline operations with Bell Nordiq and parts of Bell Canada. The deal is expected to close by September. BCE owns
53% of Aliant. (See Telecom Update #520)ISP WANTS DEFERRAL ACCOUNT RULING STAYED: New Brunswick-based Barrett Xplore has asked the federal Cabinet to stay implementation of the CRTC's recent deferral account decision. The broadband service provider says that allowing incumbent telcos to use deferral account money to extend broadband service will undermine the business of other providers that offer broadband in rural and remote areas. (See Telecom Update #517, 522)
WORLD TELECOM DAY: Did you celebrate? Wednesday was World Telecommunication Day, marking the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on May 17, 1865.
AT&T OFFERS NET INTEGRATION IN CANADA: As part of a global expansion of its Network Integration Services unit, AT&T Inc. has begun offering network and vendor consolidation, data center moves and consolidation, outsourced telecom management, and other services, to Canadian businesses.
ORION ADDS BACKUP LINK TO ONTARIO'S NORTH: Ontario's research network, ORION, has added a backup fibre link to northern Ontario, after several service outages on its existing route. CANARIE contributed $400,000 of the half-million-dollar cost.
MINACS FOUNDER DIES OF CANCER: Elaine Minacs, who founded the call centre service bureau Minacs Worldwide in 1981 and was CEO until last year, has died of cancer. The company's Board voted earlier this year to seek a buyer for the 5,000-employee organization. (See Telecom Update #516, 520)
SKYPE OFFERS FREE COMPUTER-TO-PHONE CALLING: Skype Technologies now allows users to make free "SkypeOut" calls from their computers to any wireline or cellular phone in Canada and the U.S. The offer expires at the end of 2006.
CSI WIRELESS FOUNDER RESIGNS: Stephen Verhoeff, founder of CSI Wireless, has resigned as CEO, President, and Board member. Chairman Michael Lang becomes interim CEO. The Calgary-based supplier of GPS products reports first-quarter income of $15.5 million, up 59%. (See Telecom Update #527)
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