ARCHIVED - Telecom Order CRTC 2011-253

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Route reference: Telecom Notice of Consultation 2010-247

Ottawa, 15 April 2011

Determination of costs award with respect to the participation of l’Union des consommateurs in the Telecom Notice of Consultation 2010-247 proceeding

File numbers: 8665-C12-201007229 and 4754-384

1. By letter dated 23 December 2010, l’Union des consommateurs (l’Union) applied for costs with respect to its participation in the proceeding initiated by Telecom Notice of Consultation 2010-247 (the proceeding).[1]

2. On 6 January 2011, Bell Canada, on behalf of itself, Bell Aliant Regional Communications, Limited Partnership, and their respective affiliates (collectively, Bell Canada et al.), filed comments in response to l’Union’s application. L’Union did not file any reply comments.

Application

3. L’Union 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) because it represented a group of subscribers that had an interest in the outcome of the proceeding, it had participated responsibly, and it had contributed to a better understanding of the issues by the Commission through its participation in the proceeding.

4. L’Union requested that the Commission fix its costs at $2,100, consisting entirely of in-house legal fees. L’Union filed a bill of costs with its application.

5. L’Union made no submission as to the appropriate costs respondents.

Answer

6. In response to the application, Bell Canada et al. did not object to l’Union’s entitlement to costs or to the amount claimed.

7. Bell Canada et al. submitted that all telecommunications service providers (TSPs) party to the proceeding should be named as costs respondents, with responsibility for costs allocated in proportion to their respective share of telecommunications operating revenues (TORs).[2]

Commission’s analysis and determinations

8. The Commission finds that l’Union has satisfied the criteria for an award of costs set out in subsection 44(1) of the Rules. Specifically, the Commission finds that l’Union represented a group or class of subscribers that had an interest in the outcome of the proceeding, it participated responsibly, and it contributed to a better understanding of the issues by the Commission.

9. The Commission notes that the rates claimed in respect of in-house legal fees are in accordance with the rates established in the Commission’s Guidelines for the Assessment of Costs (the Guidelines), as set out in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2010-963. The Commission finds that the total amount claimed by l’Union was necessarily and reasonably incurred and should be allowed.

10. 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.

11. In determining the appropriate respondents to an award of costs, the Commission has generally considered which parties are affected by the issues and have actively participated in the proceeding. The Commission notes, in this regard, that the following parties actively participated in the proceeding and had a significant interest it its outcome: Bell Canada et al.; Cogeco Cable Inc.; Distributel Communications Limited; MTS Allstream Inc. (MTS Allstream); Rogers Communications Inc. (RCI); Quebecor Media Inc., on behalf of its affiliate Videotron Ltd.; Saskatchewan Telecommunications; Shaw Communications; TELUS Communications Company (TCC); and Verizon Canada Ltd. The Commission further notes, however, that in allocating costs among respondents, it has also been sensitive to the fact that if numerous respondents are named, the applicant may have to collect small amounts from many respondents, resulting in a significant administrative burden to the applicant.

12. In light of the above, and given the relatively small size of the costs award and the large number of potential costs respondents in this case, the Commission considers that, consistent with section 48 of the Guidelines, it is appropriate to limit the respondents to Bell Canada et al., TCC, RCI, and MTS Allstream.

13. The Commission notes that it generally allocates the responsibility for payment of costs among respondents based on the respondents’ TORs, as an indicator of the relative size and interest of the parties involved in the proceeding. The Commission considers that, in the present circumstances, it is appropriate to apportion the costs among the respondents in proportion to their TORs, based on their most recent audited financial statements. With respect to Bell Canada et al. and RCI, the Commission notes that all TSPs that provide services within the scope of the CCTS’s mandate – including wireless services – are required to be Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services Inc.’s (CCTS) members. For this reason, the Commission has included Bell Mobility Inc.’s TORs in the TORs of Bell Canada et al., and Rogers Communications Partnership’s and Fido Solutions Inc.’s TORs in the TORs of RCI. Accordingly, the Commission finds that the responsibility for payment of costs should be allocated as follows:

Bell Canada et al.	44%
TCC	27%
RCI	24%
MTS Allstream	5%

14. The Commission notes that Bell Canada filed submissions in the proceeding on behalf of Bell Canada et al. Consistent with its general approach articulated in Telecom Costs Order 2002-4, the Commission makes Bell Canada responsible for payment on behalf of Bell Canada et al. and leaves it to the members of Bell Canada et al. to determine the appropriate allocation of the costs among themselves.

Directions regarding costs

15. The Commission approves the application by l’Union for costs with respect to its participation in the proceeding.

16. Pursuant to subsection 56(1) of the Telecommunications Act, the Commission fixes the costs to be paid to l’Union at $2,100.

17. The Commission directs that the award of costs to l’Union be paid forthwith by Bell Canada on behalf of Bell Canada et al., by TCC, by RCI, and by MTS Allstream, according to the proportions set out in paragraph 13.

Secretary General

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