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Telecom - Commission Letter addressed to the Distribution List

Ottawa, 12 December 2022

Our reference: 1011-NOC2020-0367, 4754-706

BY EMAIL

Distribution List

RE: Application for costs award with respect to the participation of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in the proceeding initiated by Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2020-367, Review of the Commission’s regulatory framework for Northwestel Inc. and the state of telecommunications services in Canada’s North

Overview of the proceeding

On 2 November 2020, the Commission launched a proceeding to review certain elements of its regulatory framework for Northwestel Inc. and the state of telecommunications services in Canada’s North.Footnote1 In this proceeding, the Commission indicated its intention to conduct its review in two phases. The first phase would set out the broad scope of issues that the Commission would consider in its review and the second phase would identify a more targeted scope of issues to be considered.

On 8 June 2022, the Commission initiated Phase II of its review, which is seeking comments on a more targeted list of issues.Footnote2 As part of the Phase II Notice of Consultation, the Commission indicated that parties could file applications for final costs in relation to their participation in Phase I of the review by 8 July 2022.

PIAC’s costs award application

On 8 August 2022, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) filed a costs application in relation to its participation in Phase I of the review. In its application, PIAC acknowledged that it was filing its costs application after the deadline set by the Commission, but requested that the Commission exercise its discretion and accept its costs application.

In support of its request, PIAC submitted that it had missed the deadline because its staff working on the file in question was on summer vacation. PIAC noted that it participated in all stages of Phase I within the deadlines set by the Commission and that it devoted considerable time and effort to providing a public interest perspective on the issues raised in Phase I. PIAC further noted that any prejudice to Phase I parties caused by its late filing is outweighed by the public interest in encouraging the participation of groups like PIAC.

Additional process

To ensure that parties to Phase I have an opportunity to comment on PIAC’s late costs application, as well as on whether the Commission should exercise its discretion to accept PIAC’s costs application, Commission staff is establishing the following additional process:

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

Sincerely,

Originally signed by
Michel Hogan 
Legal Counsel

Distribution List:

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