ARCHIVED - Telecom Commission letter addressed to Distribution List

Ottawa, 8 March 2016

BY EMAIL

Distribution

Re: Review of basic telecommunications services, Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2015-134^{Footnote 1} – 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, 11 April 2016 at the Conference Centre, Phase IV, Outaouais Room, 140 Promenade du Portage, in Gatineau, Quebec.

The purpose of this letter is to provide parties with information on the organization and conduct of the public hearing.

Sitting Schedule

The hearing will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, 11 April 2016. The hearing is expected to last no more than 3 weeks.

The order and estimated date of appearance of parties making an oral presentation at the hearing are set out in the attached document (Agenda). The Commission will not amend the order of appearance, barring exceptional circumstances.

Please note that the order of appearance of the public hearing will be available on the Commission’s website at the following link: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/Telecom/eng/HEARINGS/2016/ag11_04.htm and will be updated, if necessary, prior to the hearing.
All other persons interested in the proceeding and members of the public are invited 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 an audio link will be available throughout the hearing on the Commission’s website at www.crtc.gc.ca.

Transcripts

The Commission has made arrangements to provide stenography services for the hearing. Those who wish to obtain same-day or other services are to contact Justin Ladelpha of International Reporting as soon as possible prior to the hearing to make arrangements. The person requesting the service is responsible for the transaction and payment of such services. Justin Ladelpha from International Reporting Inc. may be contacted at 613-748-6043 ext. 25 or info@irri.net. The transcripts will be posted daily on the Commission’s website.

Presentations

Participants may use the time allotted to them in order to discuss any aspect of their submissions or respond to any aspect of the written submissions made by other parties to this proceeding.

Presentations may be followed by questioning from members of the Commission panel and by Commission legal counsel where appropriate.

Participants may make use of audio-visual aids in their presentations (the duration of which must be included in participants’ allocated presentation time). Participants who wish to employ an audio-visual aid are to contact Jade Roy, Hearing Secretary, by e-mail at jade.roy@crtc.gc.ca (tel: 819-953-7927) by no later than 15 March 2016, since those participants will be required to make arrangements to rent technical equipment as required. To facilitate the interpretation of these audio-visual presentations, the Commission requests that participants provide, prior to their presentations, a transcript (2 copies) for the interpreters at the hearing. Please note that this transcript will not be added to the public record as it is solely for the use of the interpreters.

Responsibility of the participants

Parties are required to bring with them all relevant documentation and knowledgeable personnel, including any relevant experts. An adverse inference may be drawn from the failure of a party to do so.

Participants are reminded that, in accordance with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Rules of Practice and Procedure, only evidence in support of statements already on the record is admissible at the public hearing. Should a party intend to bring forward new evidence, including proposed exhibits or attachments to the oral presentation, they must notify the Hearing Secretary of their intention in advance of their oral presentation and must request permission to do so from the Commission panel at the beginning of their oral presentation.

For ease of translation and transcription, and to assist the Commission panel members and Commission staff, participants are requested to bring 40 copies of:

• your oral presentation as well as any tables, etc., which you intend to use;
• the seating plan of your presentation panel (view from CRTC panel); and
• any undertakings that may be requested to file during the hearing.

Participants are requested to provide an electronic version of their prepared remarks to the Hearing Secretary (jade.roy@crtc.gc.ca) and the stenographer prior to their oral presentation.

Notification of attendance and further inquiries

In order to assist the Commission, participants must file the following via e-mail at hearing1@crtc.gc.ca , by 15 March 2016:

• Confirmation that you still wish to appear at the hearing, and, if so, whether in Gatineau, by SKYPE or by videoconference from a CRTC regional office (see list below);
• Your full name, mobile telephone number and email address (or your representative’s information) to be used to contact you immediately preceding and during the hearing, if necessary, to obtain information or to inform you of matters relating to the hearing;
• The names and titles of any representatives (if any) who will appear with you at the hearing. The Commission expects that representatives will only appear on behalf of one organization or on one panel. In the interest of an efficient oral hearing, the Commission will take appropriate steps to ensure this limitation is respected, unless other arrangements are made through the Hearing Secretary prior to the hearing. Upon arrival at the hearing, please confirm the names of any representatives with the Secretary of the hearing;
• The language in which you intend to make your presentation

Please note that this information will not be posted on the Commission’s website.

Undertakings

Parties’ undertakings must be filed by 5 May 2016 unless otherwise determined by the Commission panel. Undertakings will not be confirmed on the record at the end of the presentation. Any party who wishes to confirm the content of its undertakings may speak with Commission Legal Counsel.

Organization of the Hearing Room

Parties are advised that separate tables for each party will not be provided in the hearing room. Parties who wish to follow the hearing in person may sit in the audience or in the public examination room.

Post-public hearing written submissions

Parties may file final written comments in reply to submissions at the public hearing on any matter within the scope of this proceeding by 17 May 2016. Final comments, including an executive summary, are not to exceed 25 pages.

Sincerely,

Original signed by

Danielle May-Cuconato
Secretary General

CRTC Regional Offices:

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Metropolitan Place
99 Wyse Road, Suite 1410

Montréal, Quebec
505, De Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Bureau 205

Toronto, Ontario
55 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 624

Winnipeg, Manitoba
360 Main Street, Suite 970

Regina, Saskatchewan
403-1975 Scarth Street

Vancouver, British Columbia
858 Beatty Street, Suite 290

Attachment (1) – Agenda

Date modified:

2016-03-08