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Costs Order CRTC 2000-13 |
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Ottawa, 11 July 2000 |
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Subject: Final standards for
quality of service indicators for use in telephone company regulation and other related
matters |
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Reference: 4754-171 and 8660-C12-05/99 |
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Application for costs by Action Réseau
Consommateur, the Consumers' Association of Canada and the National Anti-Poverty
Organization (ARC et al.). |
1. |
By letter dated 17 May 2000, ARC et al.
applied for an award of costs associated with their participation in the proceeding that
resulted in Decision CRTC 2000-24, Final
standards for quality of service indicators for use in telephone company regulation and
other related matters, dated 20 January 2000. ARC et al. requested that the Commission
dispense with the taxation process and fix the amount of costs at $2,037.12. |
2. |
The Commission did not receive any answers in
response to ARC et al.'s application.
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Positions of parties
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3. |
ARC et al. submitted that they met the
criteria for an award of costs, in that they:
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a) represent a body of subscribers that has a clear interest in the
outcome of the proceeding;
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b) participated in a responsible manner in that proceeding; and
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c) contributed to the Commission's better understanding of the issues
through their comments on quality of service issues in the proceeding.
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4. |
ARC et al. submitted that, because their claim
was so small, for reasons of efficiency and practicality only Bell Canada et al. and TELUS
Communications Inc. (TCI) should be made respondents. |
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Commission determination |
5. |
In the Commission's view, ARC et al. have met
the three requirements of section 44(1) of the CRTC Telecommunications Rules of
Procedure. Accordingly, an award of costs is warranted in the circumstances. |
6. |
Given the size of ARC et al.'s claim and the
nature of this paper proceeding, the Commission considers that this is an appropriate case
in which to dispense with taxation and fix the costs in accordance with the streamlined
procedure set out in Telecom Public Notice CRTC 98-11. |
7. |
The Commission has examined the amounts
claimed by ARC et al. and considers them to be both reasonable and necessarily incurred. |
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Direction as to costs |
8. |
The application for an award of costs in
respect of the above-mentioned proceeding is approved. Pursuant to section 56(1) of the Telecommunications
Act, the Commission fixes the costs to be paid to ARC et al. at $2,037.12.
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9. |
The Commission considers that, in light of the
relatively small amount of costs awarded, it would be appropriate and administratively
convenient to name Bell Canada and TCI as respondents.
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10. |
Accordingly, costs shall be paid by Bell
Canada and TCI forthwith. Each company shall pay 50 % of the costs fixed herein.
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Secretary General
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This document is available in alternative
format upon request and may also be examined at the following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca |
