GATINEAU — Cablevision du Nord has until September 22 to respond to a Videotron complaint alleging Bell-owned Cablevision has been refusing to process some of Quebecor-owned Videotron’s third-party Internet access (TPIA) orders as well as interconnection capacity upgrades in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of northwestern Quebec, the CRTC informed both parties in a letter on Friday.
Videotron claims its service launch in the region is being stymied by Cablevision’s alleged actions, and on September 1 the Quebecor-owned company filed a Part 1 application (as we reported here), asking its complaint be expedited, and for Cablevision to file its response within five business days, with Videotron filing its reply within two business days after that.
In its complaint, Videotron claimed it has had to push back by several months the installation dates for its new customers in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region because of Cablevision’s alleged actions.
“Commission staff considers that Quebecor provided a reasonable explanation as to why an expedited treatment would be warranted in this instance, and considers that granting the request is in the public interest, although according to different timeframes,” writes Michel Murray, director of dispute resolution and regulatory implementation for the telecommunications sector at the CRTC, in the Commission’s procedural letter dated September 11.
Cablevision and other interested parties must file interventions by September 22, and Quebecor/Videotron’s reply is due by September 25.
