ARCHIVED -  Taxation Order CRTC 98-15

Taxation Order

Ottawa, 28 July 1998

Taxation Order CRTC 98-15

In re: Rates for Unlisted Number Service and Related Issues - Telecom Public Notice CRTC 97-31

Reference: 8665-C12-01/97

1.Philippa Lawson for the Consumers' Association of Canada, the Fédération nationale des associations de consommateurs du Québec and the National Anti-Poverty Organization (hereinafter CAC et al.).

TAXATION OF COSTS OF CAC et al.

2.Taxing Officer: Karen Moore

3.This Order constitutes the taxation of costs awarded to CAC et al. in the proceeding initiated by Telecom Public Notice CRTC 97-31, Rates for Unlisted Number Service and Related Issues, 27 August 1997.

4.In Telecom Costs Order CRTC 98-13, 26 May 1998 (Costs Order 98-13), costs were awarded to CAC et al. in accordance with subsection 44(1) of the CRTC Telecommunications Rules of Procedure, payable by Stentor Resource Centre Inc. (Stentor) on behalf of BC TEL, Bell Canada, The Island Telephone Company Limited, Maritime Tel & Tel Limited, MTS NetCom Inc., The New Brunswick Telephone Company, Limited, NewTel Communications Inc. and TELUS Communications Inc. and by Northwestel Inc. (Northwestel). Pursuant to Costs Order 98-13, Stentor is to bear 95% of the costs and Northwestel is to bear 5%.

5.On 12 June 1998, CAC et al. submitted its Bill of Costs in the amount of $3,662.74, consisting of $22.13 in disbursements and $3,640.61 in fees.

6.No comments were received from Stentor or Northwestel with respect to CAC et al.'s Bill of Costs.

Fees

7.CAC et al. claimed a total of $3,640.61 in fees for its legal counsel, Ms. Lawson, consisting of 19.3 hours of preparation time and 0.8 hours of procedural time, all at an hourly rate of $175. The rate claimed is in accordance with the rates specified in the CRTC Legal Directorate Guidelines for the Taxation of Costs. I consider this rate to be appropriate in the circumstances and will allow the rate as claimed.

Preparation and Procedural Time

8.I find the claim for 20.1 hours of preparation and procedural time to be reasonable and necessary in the circumstances. The proceeding consisted of Commission interrogatories, requests for public disclosure of information for which confidentiality had been claimed, a comment round and a reply comment round. CAC et al. filed comments and reply comments on issues relating to unlisted number service, including the importance of this service to citizens, the existence of essential corollary services (e.g., Call Display Blocking), the appropriate pricing of this service, the appropriate treatment of unlisted number service under the price cap regime, appropriate options for customer listings, and the need for clear consumer information on this service. Accordingly, I will allow the 20.1 hours of preparation and procedural time claimed by CAC et al.

Disbursements

9.In its Bill of Costs, CAC et al. has claimed disbursements of $22.13 for postage/courier and for long distance (telephone/fax). I have reviewed the receipts submitted in support of these claims. I am of the view that the amounts claimed were reasonably and necessarily incurred, and should be allowed.

Costs as Taxed

10.I hereby tax the fees and disbursements of CAC et al., inclusive of applicable taxes, as follows:

Legal Counsel Fees

Ms. Lawson $3,640.61

Total Fees $3,640.61

Disbursements

Postage/courier $7.49
Long distance (telephone/fax) $15.35
Less 50% GST rebate $0.71

Total Disbursements $22.13

Total Fees and
Disbursements Owing $3,662.74

11.As noted above, pursuant to Costs Order 98-13, 95% of this amount is to be paid forthwith by Stentor and 5% is to be paid forthwith by Northwestel.

Karen Moore
Legal Counsel
Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission

Laura M Talbot Allan
Secretary General

This document is available in alternative format upon request.

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