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Telecom Costs Order CRTC 2008-16 |
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Ottawa, 15 August 2008 |
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Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre on behalf of the Consumers' Association of Canada and the National Anti-Poverty Organization in the proceeding initiated by the Part VII application by Bell Canada et al. to review and vary Telecom Decision 2007-130 |
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Reference: 8662-B54-200801911 and 4754-317 |
1. |
By letter dated 12 May 2008, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) applied for costs with respect to its participation on behalf of the Consumers' Association of Canada and the National Anti-Poverty Organization (the Consumer Groups) in the Part VII application to review and vary Telecom Decision 2007-130 submitted 4 February 2008 by Bell Aliant Regional Communications, Limited Partnership, Bell Canada, Northwestel Inc. and Télébec, Société en commandite (collectively, Bell Canada et al.). |
2. |
On 13 May 2008, Bell Aliant Regional Communications, Limited Partnership, Bell Canada and Saskatchewan Telecommunications (collectively, the Companies) filed comments in response to PIAC's application. |
3. |
PIAC did not file a reply to the comments submitted regarding its costs application. |
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Application |
4. |
PIAC submitted that it had met the criteria for an award of costs set out in subsection 44(1) of the CRTC Telecommunications Rules of Procedure (the Rules), as it represented a body of subscribers who had an interest in the outcome of the proceeding initiated by Bell Canada et al.'s Part VII application, it had participated responsibly, and it had contributed to a better understanding of the issues by the Commission through its answer in the proceeding. |
5. |
PIAC requested that the Commission fix its costs at $2,050, consisting entirely of legal fees for outside counsel. PIAC's claim included the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) on fees less the rebate to which PIAC is entitled in connection with the GST. PIAC filed a bill of costs with its application. |
6. |
PIAC submitted that the appropriate respondents in this case were Bell Canada et al. |
7. |
PIAC suggested that the responsibility for payment of costs should be shared by Bell Canada et al. in relative proportion to each company's telecommunications service revenues. |
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Answer |
8. |
In answer to the application, the Companies stated that they did not oppose PIAC's claim. |
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Commission's analysis and determinations |
9. |
The Commission finds that PIAC has satisfied the criteria for an award of costs set out in subsection 44(1) of the Rules. Specifically, the Commission finds that PIAC is representative of a group or class of subscribers that has an interest in the outcome of the proceeding, it has participated in a responsible way, and it has contributed to a better understanding of the issues by the Commission. |
10. |
The Commission notes that the rates claimed in respect of legal fees are in accordance with the rates set out in the Legal Directorate's Guidelines for the Taxation of Costs, revised as of 24 April 2007. The Commission also finds that the total amount claimed by PIAC was necessarily and reasonably incurred and should be allowed. |
11. |
The Commission considers that this is an appropriate case in which to fix the costs and dispense with taxation, in accordance with the streamlined procedure set out in Telecom Public Notice 2002-5. |
12. |
The Commission finds that the appropriate respondents to PIAC's costs application are Bell Canada et al. |
13. |
Consistent with its general approach articulated in Telecom Costs Order 2002-4, the Commission makes Bell Canada responsible for payment on behalf of the applicant telephone companies and leaves it to the members of this group to determine the appropriate allocation of the costs among themselves. |
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Direction as to costs |
14. |
The Commission approves the application by PIAC, on behalf of the Consumer Groups, for an award of costs with respect to their participation in the Part VII application by Bell Canada et al. to review and vary Telecom Decision 2007-130. |
15. |
Pursuant to subsection 56(1) of the Telecommunications Act, the Commission fixes the costs to be paid to PIAC at $2,050. |
16. |
The Commission directs that the award of costs to PIAC be paid forthwith by the costs respondents. |
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Secretary General |
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Related documents |
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- Establishment of an independent telecommunications consumer agency, Telecom Decision CRTC 2007-130, 20 December 2007
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- New procedure for Telecom costs awards, Telecom Public Notice CRTC 2002-5, 7 November 2002
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- Action Réseau Consommateur, the Consumers' Association of Canada, Fédération des associations coopératives d'économie familiale and the National Anti-Poverty Organization application for costs - Public Notice CRTC 2001-60, Telecom Costs Order CRTC 2002-4, 24 April 2002
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This document is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined in PDF format or in HTML at the following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca |