ARCHIVED - Telecom Order CRTC 2009-387
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| Ottawa, 26 June 2009 | |||
Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians in the Broadcasting Notice of Public Hearing 2008-8/Telecom Public Notice 2008-8 proceeding |
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| File number: 8665-C12-200807943 and 4754-343 | |||
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1. |
In a letter received by the Commission on 17 February 2009, the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians (AEBC) applied for costs with respect to its participation in the proceeding initiated by Broadcasting Notice of Public Hearing 2008-8/Telecom Public Notice 2008-8 (the Public Notice 2008-8 proceeding). | ||
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2. |
On 27 March 2009, Bell Aliant Regional Communications, Limited Partnership, Bell Canada, and Télébec, Limited Partnership (collectively, the Companies); MTS Allstream Inc. (MTS Allstream); Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI); Saskatchewan Telecommunications (SaskTel); and TELUS Communications Company (TCC) filed joint comments in response to the AEBC's application. TCC separately filed additional comments on 27 March 2009. | ||
Application |
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3. |
The AEBC 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 represents a group of subscribers that had an interest in the outcome of the Public Notice 2008-8 proceeding, it had participated responsibly, and it had contributed to a better understanding of the issues by the Commission through its participation in the Public Notice 2008-8 proceeding. | ||
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4. |
In particular, the AEBC submitted that it is a national organization comprised of blind Canadians speaking on their own behalf, and that blind Canadians are deeply affected by the accessibility of telecommunications and broadcasting services. | ||
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5. |
The AEBC requested that the Commission fix its costs at $694.67, consisting of $189 for travel, $409.83 for lodging, and $95.84 for meals. The AEBC filed a bill of costs with its application. | ||
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6. |
The AEBC made no submission as to the appropriate costs respondents. | ||
Answer |
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7. |
The Companies, MTS Allstream, RCI, SaskTel, and TCC did not contest the AEBC's entitlement to costs or the amount claimed. The Companies, MTS Allstream, RCI, SaskTel, and TCC further indicated that they did not object to being sole costs respondents with respect to AEBC's application, due to the administrative burden likely to be incurred by the AEBC with respect to the amount claimed. | ||
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8. |
In separate comments, TCC submitted that wireless revenues should be included as part of the calculation of telecommunications operating revenues (TORs) to determine the allocation among costs respondents. | ||
Commission's analysis and determinations |
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9. |
The Commission finds that the AEBC has satisfied the criteria for an award of costs set out in subsection 44(1) of the Rules. Specifically, the Commission finds that the AEBC is representative of a group or class of subscribers that has an interest in the outcome of the Public Notice 2008-8 proceeding, it has participated in a responsible way, and it has contributed to a better understanding of the issues by the Commission. | ||
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10. |
The Commission notes that the amount claimed in respect of meals exceeds the allowances set out in the Legal Directorate's Guidelines for the Taxation of Costs, revised as of 24 April 2007. Accordingly, the Commission limits the allowable costs claimed in respect of meals to $88, reducing the AEBC's final allowable claim to $686.83. The Commission finds that this amount was necessarily and reasonably incurred and should be allowed. | ||
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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. | ||
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12. |
In determining the appropriate respondents to an award of costs, the Commission has generally looked at which parties are affected by the issues and have actively participated in the proceeding. The Commission further notes, however, that in allocating costs among respondents, it has also been sensitive to the fact that if too large a number of respondents are named, the applicant may have to collect small amounts from many respondents, resulting in a significant administrative burden to the applicant. In light of the above and given the small size of the costs award in this case, the large number of potential costs respondents, and the result that if all potential costs respondents were retained, the AEBC would be required to collect small amounts from certain respondents, the Commission considers that it is appropriate, in the present circumstances, to limit the respondents to the Companies, TCC, and RCI. | ||
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13. |
The Commission considers that in the present circumstances, it is appropriate to apportion costs among the respondents in proportion to their TORs, as reported in their most recent audited financial statements. In calculating TORs, the Commission considers it appropriate to include wireless revenues, as the Public Notice 2008-8 proceeding dealt extensively with wireless issues. Accordingly, the Commission finds that the responsibility for the payment of interim costs should be allocated as follows: | ||
| The Companies | 47% | ||
| TCC | 28% | ||
| RCI | 25% | ||
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14. |
The Commission notes that Bell Canada filed submissions in the Public Notice 2008-8 proceeding on behalf of the Companies. Consistent with its general approach articulated in Telecom Costs Order 2002-4, the Commission makes Bell Canada responsible for payment on behalf of the Companies and leaves it to the members of the Companies to determine the appropriate allocation of the costs among themselves. | ||
Direction as to costs |
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15. |
The Commission approves the application by the AEBC for costs with respect to its participation in the Public Notice 2008-8 proceeding. | ||
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16. |
Pursuant to subsection 56(1) of the Telecommunications Act, the Commission fixes the costs to be paid to the AEBC at $686.83. | ||
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17. |
The Commission directs that the award of costs to the AEBC be paid forthwith by Bell Canada on behalf of the Companies, TCC, and RCI, according to the proportions set out in paragraph 13. | ||
| Secretary General | |||
Related documents |
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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 | |||
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