Telecom - Secretary General Letter adressed to the Distribution List

Ottawa, 7 February 2023

Our reference: 1011-NOC2022-0147

BY EMAIL

To: Distribution list

Re: Telecommunications in the Far North, Phase II. Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2022-147 - Organization and conduct of the public hearing.

The Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing in connection with the above-noted proceeding commencing on Monday, 17 April 2023 at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, 1171 Front Street, Whitehorse, Yukon.

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

The public hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. MST (11:30 a.m. EST) on Monday, 17 April 2023 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.

An audio and video feed of the hearing will be made available on the Commission’s website (www.crtc.gc.ca) for the duration of the hearing. Throughout the hearing, simultaneous translation will also be available on the Commission’s website.

The hearing room is open to the public.

Information regarding your appearance before the Commission

Your allotted presentation time is indicated in the email accompanying this letter.

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 questions from the Commission members and legal counsel where appropriate.

Pursuant to section 41 of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedures, only evidence in support of statements already on the record is admissible at the public hearing. If you wish to file new evidence, you must request permission to do so from the Commission by filing a procedural request to that effect.

Guidelines for your appearance

Your appearance will take place either in person or remotely via the Zoom application. We ask that you please reconfirm with us, by return email, by no later than Friday, 17 February 2023, whether you still wish to appear at the hearing, and, if so, whether in-person in Whitehorse or remotely.

If you appear in-person

Your appearance will take place at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, 1171 Front Street, Whitehorse, Yukon.

You must provide the following information, by email to hearing@crtc.gc.ca, by no later than Friday, 17 February 2023:

If you appear remotely

Your appearance will take place remotely via the Zoom application. You will receive an email link to participate electronically at the public hearing the day before your appearance.

You must provide the following information, by email to hearing@crtc.gc.ca, by no later than Friday, 17 February 2023:

Important information about appearing remotely

Accessibility

Persons requiring communications support during their presentation at the hearing, such as assistive listening devices and sign language interpretation, or any other accessibility related measure relating to that person’s presentation at the hearing are requested to confirm with Jade Roy, Hearing Secretary, by e-mail at jade.roy@crtc.gc.ca (Telephone: 819-775-7576) by no later than Friday, 17 February 2023 so that the necessary arrangements can be made.

Participants receiving accessibility measures are not responsible for monitoring the progress of the hearing. The Hearing Secretary will inform such participants of the approximate time of their presentation and will ensure that their place on the Agenda does not change. The Hearing Secretary will also assist the participants as required and will make sure that the approved accessibility measures are in place to ensure their meaningful participation during their oral presentations.

In addition, should you have any questions pertaining to the accessibility of the hearing venue at the Kwanlin Dün Center, please contact Jennifer Logtenberg by email: events@kdcc.ca or by phone: 867-456-5322 x102.

Important information:

In the event that you experience any technical difficulties or problems on the day of the hearing, you may contact the Hearing Officer Alexanne Patry at 819-997-4657 or by email at Alexanne.patry@crtc.gc.ca

Participants are responsible for monitoring the progress of the hearing for any direction that the Commission may give regarding the conduct of the hearing. Participants should be prepared to make their presentations on the day scheduled or, if necessary, the day before or after their scheduled appearance date depending on the progress of the hearing.  As noted above, this does not apply to participants receiving accessibility measures.

As is the case for all our public hearings, please note that the media may cover the event.

If you have any concerns regarding the order of appearance, please contact Jade Roy, Hearing Secretary, by e-mail at jade.roy@crtc.gc.ca (Telephone: 819-775-7576).

Undertakings

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

Participants’ undertakings must be filed by 9 May 2023 unless otherwise determined by the Commission. 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.

Post-public hearing written submissions

As set out in the Notice of Consultation, parties may file final submissions in reply to submissions made by other parties on any matter within the scope of this proceeding by 9 June 2023.

Sincerely,

Original signed by

Claude Doucet
Secretary General

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