OTTAWA – Wireless carriers have until December 4 to file their intervention regarding the upcoming CRTC hearings to create a mandatory code for mobile wireless services which begins February 11, 2013 and is expected to run all week. It has also added a two-phased online consultation process which begins this November 13.
The Commission notes that, as a result of this proceeding, it could impose additional obligations on some or all mobile wireless service providers, including resellers, whether or not they are parties to this proceeding.
Interveners must indicate on the first page any special requests regarding such appearance at the public hearing, as described below. Only those parties whose requests to appear have been granted will be contacted by the Commission and invited to appear at the hearing. Interventions will be posted on the Commission’s website shortly after they are filed.
Interveners are permitted to coordinate, organize and file, in a single submission, interventions of other interested persons who share their position but do not wish to appear at the hearing as a "Joint Supporting Intervention." More information on how to do so and a template for the covering letter to be filed by the parties can be found in Filing of joint supporting interventions, Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2011-693.
The Commission encourages this method rather than form letter campaigns and petitions, as it improves efficiency for the regulator and parties alike and ensures that all interveners filing jointly are aware that their personal information will appear on the Commission’s website. All parties who filed interventions may file reply comments with the Commission, by December 18, 2012. A reply must be limited to responding to interventions filed by other parties and must not introduce new proposals.
The Commission says it may request information in writing from mobile wireless service providers, the CWTA, the CCTS, or any other person during the course of this proceeding. It is encouraging interested persons or parties to monitor the record of this proceeding on the Commission’s website for additional information that they may find useful when preparing their submissions.
On-line consultation
To facilitate further engagement of Canadians, the Commission says it will also be conducting an online consultation on the issues discussed in this proceeding. The Commission will host a website that will allow the public to engage in discussion on issues and questions relating to this proceeding. The online consultation will consist of two phases. Phase 1 will begin on November 13, 2012 and end on December 4, 2012. Phase 2 will begin two weeks prior to the public proceeding, on January 28, 2013, and end on February 1, 2013. Further details of the online consultation will be announced shortly on the Commission’s website and transcripts from the online consultation period will also be posted after its completion.
Public Consultation
The Commission will hold a public hearing, beginning on February 11, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. at the Conference Centre, Phase IV, 140 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau, Quebec, to address the matters set out in this Notice of Consultation. The hearing is expected to last up to five business days. Parties may participate from the Commission’s regional offices via videoconference and are asked to indicate at the time they file their interventions where they wish to appear.
The Commission will consider requests by parties who cannot appear at one of the Commission’s regional offices to participate from another location, where circumstances may warrant, via telephone or videoconference. Parties must request to do so in their intervention, and provide reasons why telephone or videoconference from another location would be necessary.
Persons requiring communications support, such as assistive listening devices and sign language interpretation, who wish to participate in the public hearing, are requested to inform the Commission at least 20 days before the commencement of the public hearing so that the necessary arrangements can be made.
An organization and conduct letter providing directions on procedure with respect to the public hearing will be issued prior to the commencement of the public hearing. The Commission will also issue a “draft code” document prepared by Commission staff, based on the interventions and replies received, as a way to stimulate debate and focus submissions at the public hearing.
Following the public hearing, parties may file brief final written comments in reply to submissions at the public hearing on any matter within the scope of this proceeding by March 1, 2013. Final written comments, including an executive summary, are not to exceed 15 pages.
