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ARCHIVED - Telecom Commission Letter Addressed to Lisa Anderson-Kellett (Deaf Wireless Canada Committee)

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Ottawa, 23 September 2016

Our reference: 8663-C12-201503186 and 4754-532

DELIVERED BY EMAIL

Ms. Lisa Anderson-Kellett
Chair  
Deaf Wireless Canada Committee
c/o Canadian Association of the Deaf
251 Bank Street, Suite 606
Ottawa, ON
K2P 1X3
Email: lisa@deafwireless.ca

RE: Application for costs award with respect to the participation of the Deaf Wireless Canada Committee in Telecom Notice of Consultation 2015-134, Review of basic telecommunications services

Dear Ms. Anderson-Kellett,

On 11 July 2016, the Commission received an application for costs from the Deaf Wireless Canada Committee (DWCC) with respect to its participation in Telecom Notice of Consultation 2015-134, Review of basic telecommunications services (the hearing).  Answers were filed on 29 July 2016 by Bell Canada and TELUS, to which the DWCC replied on 31 August 2016.

The purpose of this letter is to request additional information from the DWCC regarding its application for costs.

1. Telecom Information Bulletin 2016-188

On 17 May 2016, the Commission issued Telecom Information Bulletin 2016-188, Guidance for costs award applicants regarding representation of a group or a class of subscribers. In this information bulletin, the Commission provided guidance on the type of information that will generally assist it in its consideration of the eligibility criterion applicable to costs applicants who submit that they represent a group or a class of subscribers with an interest in the outcome of the proceeding. This is set out as one of the three criteria for an award of final costs in section 68 of the Rules of Procedure.

In light of the general guidance set out within this information bulletin, Commission staff requests that the DWCC make submissions that clearly and specifically identify and describe the group it purports to represent. The DWCC should also explain the methods by which it represents the group or class of subscribers and how it determined that the positions put forward in the hearing reflect the interests of that group or class.

2. HST Calculation and Fee Rebate

The Commission’s Guidelines for the Assessment of Costs (the Guidelines) explain that a costs applicant shall indicate in the required Forms whether or not it is entitled to a rebate in connection with the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST), a provincial sales tax (PST), a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), or any other applicable tax, as well as the extent of the rebate and the basis of its eligibility.

Please confirm whether the DWCC is entitled to a tax rebate and if so, describe the extent of the rebate and the basis for its eligibility.

3. Hours Claimed by Richard Newmiller

Commission staff notes that in its response to Bell Canada of 31 August 2016, the DWCC confirmed that the revised summary of costs, which is provided in Figure 1 of Bell Canada’s Answer, is correct.  Please confirm whether the hourly rate claimed by Richard Newmiller, which appears in Figure 1 of Bell Canada’s Answer as $119, should in fact be $110.

Filing Information with the Commission

The requested information is to be filed with the Commission by 5 October 2016.Any other interested party may file a response by 12 October 2016. The DWCC may reply to any comments no later than 18 October 2016. All filings are to be provided to all persons copied within this letter.

A copy of this letter and all related correspondence will be added to the public record of the proceeding.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at (819) 994-0195 or amy.hanley@crtc.gc.ca.

In the meantime, the Commission is currently continuing its review of this costs application.

Yours Sincerely,

originally signed by

Amy Hanley
Legal Counsel

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