Telecom - Staff Letter addressed to Megan McHugh (Canadian National Society of the Deaf-Blind (CNSDB)) and Terri Nolt (Deaf-Blind Planning Committee (British Columbia))
Ottawa, 14 November 2023
Our reference: 1011-NOC2021-0102
By EMAIL
Megan McHugh, President
Canadian National Society of the Deaf-Blind (CNSDB)
mchugh.mm@gmail.com
Terri Nolt, Chair
Deaf-Blind Planning Committee (British Columbia)
dbpc2.0@gmail.com
Subject: Call for comments – Review of Video Relay Services, Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2021-102 (Ottawa, March 11, 2021) – Request for extension to file costs applications.
Dear Ms. McHugh and Ms. Nolt,
In a procedural letter dated 10 November 2023, The Canadian National Society of the Deaf-Blind (CNSDB) and the Deaf-Blind Planning Committee (DBPC) who participated in the above mentioned proceeding collectively as the “Canadian Deaf-Blind Collective,” or “CDBC.VRS” requested an extension to the timeline set out in section 65 of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure (Rules of Procedure) relating to the filing of applications for final costs.
CDBC.VRS requested that their costs recovery application deadline be extended to 15 January 2024.
CDBC.VRS has indicated that they have been waiting to complete timesheet calculation assistance from the CDBC.VRS contact person designated to lead and direct them to follow instructions for the cost application for its participation. This person was responsible for time tracking for the Deaf-Blind participants.
However, this CDBC.VRS lead person (from DBPC) who is guiding the entire CDBC.VRS team has had a death in their immediate family and is jointly responsible for the end-of-life arrangements. This situation is beyond the control of the other seven Deaf-Blind members of the DBPC and the CNSDB.
In addition, both Deaf-Blind teams need visual assistance to view the spreadsheets and forms for the critical timesheet calculation and application forms. The cost application tabulations, calculations, and paperwork process have been halted. The DWCC team has only been able to help to a certain extent and now cannot help further because the lead person holds all the remaining records for verification.
Finally, CDBC.VRS also indicated that holidays are a difficult time for people with recent losses in their immediate family.
Commission staff is satisfied that CDBC.VRS is experiencing challenges that will prevent them from filing the cost application by 4 December 2023. The additional time requested is reasonable and unlikely to prejudice interested parties. Therefore, Commission staff is of the view that it would be fair or otherwise in the public interest to extend the deadline to 15 January 2024 for CDBC.VRS to file their cost application.
In light of the new deadline to file the final cost application for this cost applicant, other parties may file an answer to this cost application with the Commission by 25 January 2024.
A copy of this letter and all related correspondence will be added to the public record of the proceeding.
Sincerely,
Original signed by
Véronique Lehoux
Legal Counsel, CRTC
Cc:
Suzanne Laforest, Canadian Administrator of VRS (CAV-ACS)
Jennifer Porteous, CRTC
Nanao Kachi, CRTC
Megan McHugh, CNSDB
Terri Nolt, DPBC
Richard Belzile, Canadian Association of the Deaf (CAD-ASC)
Jeffrey Beatty, Deaf Wireless Canada Consultative Committee (DWCC)
DHH Coalition - Donald Prong, Ontario Association of the Deaf (OAD)
Myles Murphy, Newfoundland and Labrador Association of the Deaf (NLAD)
Elliott Richman, Deafness Advocacy Association of Nova Scotia (DAANS)
Sarah Stadnicki, Ontario Video Relay Services Committee (OVRSC)
Kimberly Wood, Canada Deaf Grassroots Movement
Ursula Grant, Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA)
Andrew Stadnicki, Ontario Video Relay Services Committee (OVRSC)
Québecor Regulatory
Telus Regulatory
Rogers Regulatory
Bell Regulatory
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