ARCHIVED - Telecom Commission letter addressed to Distribution List

Ottawa, 20 September 2016

BY EMAIL

Distribution

Re: Examination of differential pricing practices related to Internet data plans, Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2016-192^{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, 31 October 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, 31 October 2016 and is expected to last no more than 5 days.

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 also be available on the Commission’s website at the following link: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/Telecom/eng/HEARINGS/2016/ag31_10.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 with International Reporting Inc. to provide stenography services for the hearing. Please note that the transcript of each day will be posted on the Commission’s website the following business day.

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 Cindy Ventura, Hearing Secretary, by e-mail at cindy.ventura@crtc.gc.ca (tel: 819-997-4547) by no later than 29 September 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 bring with them all relevant documentation and knowledgeable personnel, including any relevant experts required to support their submissions and to be in a position to answer related questions. 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 wish to bring forward new evidence, including proposed exhibits or attachments to the oral presentation, the party must notify the Hearing Secretary of its intention in advance of the 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 30 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 documentation that may be requested to be filed as an undertaking during the hearing.

Participants are requested to provide an electronic version of their prepared remarks to the Hearing Secretary (cindy.ventura@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 29 September 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

Should a party be unable to respond to a question by the Commission panel or legal counsel at the hearing, the party may be asked to undertake to file the information requested at a later date.

Parties’ undertakings must be filed by 14 November 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

As set out in the Notice of Consultation, parties may file final written comments in reply to submissions made by other parties on any matter within the scope of this proceeding by 23 November 2016. Final comments, including an executive summary, are not to exceed 15 pages.

Yours 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:

2016-09-20