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Telecom Public Notice
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Ottawa, 11 April 1985
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Telecom Public Notice CRTC 1985-29
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TERRA NOVA TELECOMMUNICATIONS INC. - GENERAL INCREASE IN RATES
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On 14 December 1984, Terra Nova Telecommunications Inc., (Terra Nova, the Company) filed an application with the Commission for a general increase in its rates to be effective 1 July 1985.
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Terra Nova subscribers, interested parties registered under section 7 of the CRTC Telecommunications Rules of Procedure and other persons identified in the Directions on Procedure issued by the Commission were notified of Terra Nova's application and a general notice was published in newspapers in the Company's service area. Six parties filed comments in response to these notices, of whom The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities (NLFM) and The Town of Glenwood (Glenwood) indicated their intention to participate at an oral public hearing which was tentatively scheduled to commence on 16 April 1985 in Gander, Newfoundland.
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On 15 March 1985, Terra Nova wrote to the Commission recommending that the hearing "be dispensed with and that a decision be rendered based on the merits of the current record".
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In support of its recommendation, Terra Nova noted that only NLFM and Glenwood (the interveners) had expressed an intention to participate at the hearing, that such a hearing is a costly exercise for the Commission, the interveners and itself, and that it would like to avoid these costs and the requirement for its senior operations officers to devote many hours of preparation for their appearances as witnesses.
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On 19 March 1985, the Commission invited NLFM and Glenwood to comment on Terra Nova's recommendation. In reply, both parties agreed to dispense with the hearing.
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The Commission has considered Terra Nova's proposal, the comments received from the interveners, as well as the record which is currently before it. In the Commission's view, the testimony of witnesses and their cross-examination at an oral public hearing would not likely add significantly to the current record. Rather, the Commission considers that any further information that may be required can be adequately obtained in the form of responses to supplementary interrogatories. Moreover, in the Commission's view, any additional benefits of having an oral public hearing would be outweighted by the costs to all parties of such a hearing. The Commission has therefore concluded that it is unnecessary to hold an oral public hearing.
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The Commission notes that neither NLFM nor Glenwood have indicated a need for further information from the Company. The Commission, however, has addressed supplementary interrogatories to Terra Nova and directs as follows:
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1. The Company shall respond to the supplementary interrogatories by 18 April 1985, with copies
to the interveners.
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2. Provided these responses are satisfactory to the Commission, Terra Nova shall file final
argument by 25 April 1985, with copies to the interveners.
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3. The interveners shall file final argument by 6 May 1985, with a copy to Terra Nova.
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4. Terra Nova shall file reply argument by 13 May 1985, with copies to the interveners.
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Fernand Bélisle
Secretary General
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