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TELECOM UPDATE
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published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group
http://www.angustel.ca
Number 530: May 19, 2006
Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by generous
financial support from:
** AVAYA: www.avaya.ca/
** BELL CANADA: www.bell.ca
** CISCO SYSTEMS CANADA: www.cisco.com/ca/
** ERICSSON: www.ericsson.ca
** MICROSOFT CANADA: www.microsoft.com/canada/telecom/
** MITEL NETWORKS: www.mitel.com/
** NEC UNIFIED SOLUTIONS: www.necunifiedsolutions.com
** ROGERS TELECOM: www.rogers.com/solutions
** VONAGE CANADA: www.vonage.ca
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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
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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%).
www.cwta.ca/CWTASite/english/pdf/DecimaStudy%202006.pdf
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)
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2006/dt2006-9.htm
CRTC RULES ON WNP ISSUES: The CRTC has ruled on a number of issues
relating to implementing wireless number portability in March
2007. Among others: there will be no winback restrictions, and
customers with unpaid bills cannot be prevented from moving their
number to another carrier unless their service has been suspended or
terminated.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2006/dt2006-28.htm
ALIANT CUSTOMERS TO GET REBATES: CRTC Telecom Decision 2006-27 orders
Aliant to issue credits to customers by June 16, compensating them for
the telco's failure to meet several quality of service standards
during 2004 and 2005. Aliant received a 50% exemption for the periods
affected by the 2004 strike.
** Commissioner Andree Noel dissented, saying Aliant should
be 100% exempted from quality standards during the strike
period.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2006/dt2006-27.htm
FORMER CYGNAL EXEC JOINS MULTI-VISION: Todd Rutherford, who resigned
from Cygnal Technologies last month, has been named President of
Multi-Vision Communications, a Toronto-based developer of contact
centre, collaboration, and messaging software. (See Telecom Update
#524)
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.
http://www.orion.on.ca
TELUS MIKE INTROS BLUETOOTH PHONE: Telus has introduced a Mike
push-to-talk phone from Motorola that can exchange data with Bluetooth
devices located within 10 metres.
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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The information and data included has been obtained from sources which
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Angus TeleManagement Group (jriddell@angustel.ca)