ARCHIVED -  Letter

Ottawa, 12 September 2013

By e-mail
To: Distribution list

Re : Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2013-155, Issues related to the feasibility of establishing a video relay service, as amended – Organization and conduct of the public hearing

Dear Madam/Sir:

The Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing in connection with the above-noted proceeding commencing on Monday, 21 October 2013 at the Conference Centre, Phase IV, Outaouais Room, 140 Promenade du Portage, in Gatineau, Quebec.

The purpose of this letter is to provide those parties who are participating in the public hearing phase of the consultation (“participants”) with information on the organization and conduct of the public hearing.

1. Sitting Schedule

The hearing will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, 21 October 2013. The hearing is expected to last five days.

The order and estimated date of appearance of parties who are invited to appear at the hearing is set out in the Schedule to this letter. Please note that the order of appearance at the hearing will be available on the Commission’s website at the following link http://www.crtc.gc.ca/broadcast/eng/hearings/2013/ag21_10.htm and will be updated, if necessary, prior to and during the hearing. Participants should note that there will be no oral reply phase as part of this hearing.

All members of the public are welcome to attend as audience members.

Participants are responsible for monitoring the progress of the hearing so that they are aware of any Commission directives and are ready to make their presentation on the day scheduled or, if necessary, the day before or after their scheduled date of appearance, depending on the progress of the hearing. Please be advised that links to both an audio feed and a video feed of the sign language interpreters will be available throughout the hearing on the Commission’s website at www.crtc.gc.ca.

2. Transcripts

The Commission has made arrangements to provide stenography services for the hearing. Those who wish to obtain same-day transcripts or other services are to contact Mr. Bill Curley from Steno Tran at 613-521-0703, extension 105 or at bill.curley@stenotran.com, as soon as possible. The person requesting these services is responsible for the transaction and payment of such services. The previous day’s transcript will be posted each business day on the Commission’s website at http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/transcripts/2013/.

3. Interpretation

Given that the exclusive focus of this proceeding is on a matter of particular significance to consumers who communicate primarily in sign language, simultaneous interpretation in American Sign Language (ASL) and Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) will be provided in the hearing room for the duration of the hearing. In response to requests for accommodation, CART services (real-time captioning) will be available in English only on Monday, 21 October.
Requests for ASL or LSQ interpretation services for participants appearing by videoconference from a CRTC regional office must be communicated to the Hearing Secretary, Jade Roy, by
19 September 2013 so that the necessary arrangements can be made.
Simultaneous English and French language interpretation will also be provided in the hearing room for the duration of the hearing.

4. Presentations

To facilitate the effectiveness of interpretation services provided at the hearing, all participants are asked to communicate clearly and at a speed that allows the interpreters to keep pace.

The amount of time allotted for each participant’s presentation at the public hearing is set out in the Schedule attached to this letter.

Presentations will be followed by a question period from members of the Commission panel.

The Commission must be advised in advance of any audio-visual presentation (the duration of which must be included in participants’ allocated presentation time), since those participants will be required to make their own arrangements to rent any technical equipment needed for the presentation. The Commission notes that a number of participants are Deaf or hearing impaired and therefore requests that any audio-visual presentation be accessible to all participants, whether by captioning, prior provision of a transcript, or other reasonable accommodation. Participants who wish to use an audio-visual aid are to contact Jade Roy, Hearing Secretary, by email at hearing1@crtc.gc.ca or by phone at 819-953-7927, by no later than Thursday, 19 September 2013.

5. Responsibility of the participants

Participants are required to bring with them all relevant documentation and knowledgeable personnel, including experts.

For ease of translation and transcription, and to assist the Commission panel members and Commission staff, participants are requested to provide 40 copies of their prepared remarks, any documents to be filed or used at the public hearing (such as exhibits, proposed exhibits, or responses to undertakings), as well as the seating plan of their presentation panel (viewed from the Commission panel) to the Hearing Secretary before their presentation.

The Commission would appreciate if participants would provide an electronic version of their prepared remarks to the Court Reporter prior to, or at the conclusion of, their oral presentation.

Participants are reminded that, in accordance with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Rules of Practice and Procedure (The Rules), only evidence in support of statements already on the record is admissible at the public hearing without the permission of the Commission. Should a participant intend to bring forward new evidence, including proposed exhibits or attachments to their hearing presentation, they must notify the Hearing Secretary before its presentation and must request permission to do so from the Commission at the beginning of their presentation.

6. Notification of attendance and further inquiries

In order to assist the Commission, participants must file the following by email to hearing1@crtc.gc.ca, or by fax to 819-994-0218, specifying “Notice of Consultation 2013-155” in the subject line, by Thursday, 19 September 2013:

• Confirmation that the participant still wishes to appear at the hearing, and, if so, whether in Gatineau or by videoconference from a CRTC regional office;

• Confirmation of prior requests for accommodation during the hearing for participants;

• Confirmation of requests for ASL or LSQ interpretation services for participants appearing by videoconference from a CRTC regional office;

• The name, telephone number, and email address of the participant (or the participant’s representative) to be used to contact the participant immediately preceding and during the hearing, if necessary, to obtain information or to inform them of matters relating to the hearing;

• The names and titles of any representatives who will appear on behalf of the participant at the hearing;

• The language(s) in which the participant intends to present (one or more of English, French, ASL, LSQ).

7. Organisation of the Hearing Room

Given that this hearing will not involve cross-examination or a rebuttal phase, participants are advised that separate tables for each participant will not be provided in the hearing room. Participants who wish to follow the hearing in person may sit in the audience or in the public examination room.

8. Post-public hearing written submissions

In accordance with the procedure established in Telecom Notice of Consultation 2013-155 (as amended), parties are reminded that they may file final comments in reply to submissions at the public hearing on any matter within the scope of this proceeding by 15 November 2013. Final written submissions, including an executive summary, are not to exceed 25 pages. Final ASL or LSQ video submissions are to be submitted through the Commission’s YouTube channel.

9. Applications for cost awards

Parties who wish to file an application for interim or final cost awards must do so according to the procedure set out in the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Rules of Practice and Procedure. The Rules are available at the following link: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2010-277/index.html.

In light of the significant number of interveners participating in this process, the Commission hereby modifies the application of Rules 61(2) and 66(3) for the current proceeding. Applications for cost awards must be served on all organisations and companies participating in this proceeding. Contact information for all corporate and organisational participants can be found within the interventions listed on the following hyperlink:
https://applications.crtc.gc.ca/ListeInterventionList/Default-Defaut.aspx?en=2013-155&dt=c&Lang=e

Sincerely,
Original signed by:
John Traversy
Secretary General
Attach.

Schedule: Order of Appearance
Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2013-155, as amended
Public Hearing Participants

Order and Dates of Appearance*

Monday, 21 October 2013
1. The Canadian Hearing Society (20 minutes)
2. Toronto Association of the Deaf (20 minutes)
3. Ontario Video Relay Services Committee (20 minutes)
4. Ontario Association of the Deaf (20 minutes)
5. Alberta Association of the Deaf (20 minutes)
6. Centre québécois pour la déficience auditive (20 minutes)

Tuesday, 22 October 2013
7. TELUS Communications Company (20 minutes)
8. Toronto International Deaf Film and Arts Festival (15 minutes)
9. Cinéall Production des sourds (15 minutes)
10. La Maison des Femmes Sourdes de Montréal et le Comité d'aide aux femmes Sourdes de Québec (15 minutes)
11. Sonny Access Consulting (15 minutes)
12. Rogers Communications, Cogeco Cable Inc., Quebecor Media Inc., on behalf of its affiliate Videotron G.P., and Bragg Communications Inc., carrying on business as Eastlink and Shaw Communications Inc. (20 minutes)

Wednesday, 23 October 2013
13. Noni Warner (15 minutes)
14. Kathern Lawrence (15 minutes)
15. MTS Allstream (20 minutes)
16. Tatiana Kamaeva (15 minutes)
17. Bell Aliant Regional Communications, Limited Partnership, on behalf of itself and DMTS, KMTS, NorthernTel, Limited Partnership and Télébec, Limited Partnership, Bell Canada, Bell Mobility and Northwestel Inc. (20 minutes)
18. Saskatchewan Telecommunications (20 minutes)

Thursday, 24 October 2013
19. Sorenson Canada (20 minutes)
20. nWise (20 minutes)
21. UQAM and SIVET (20 minutes)
22. Communication Disabilities Access Canada (20 minutes)
23. British Columbia Video Relay Services Committee (20 minutes)

Friday, 25 October 2013
24. Canadian Association of the Deaf (20 minutes)
25. Wayne Sinclair (15 minutes)
26. Lesley McMillan (15minutes)
27. Joe McLaughlin, Ed.D. (15 minutes)
28. Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (20 minutes)
29. Ava Hawkins (15 minutes)
30. Chris Kenopic (15 minutes)
*Note: The dates of appearance are estimates only, based on projected sitting times.

Date modified:

2013-09-12