The telco also wants penalties charged against the cableco if it doesn’t pay
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – Bell has filed a Part 1 application with the CRTC today accusing Quebecor’s Videotron of failing to pay it fees related to the implementation of next-generation 9-1-1 networks.
Bell, as the legacy telephone company, provides to the cable company next-generation 9-1-1 services, which is intended to allow distressed callers to send texts, photos, streamed videos and medical information to first responders over the new internet protocol-based 9-1-1 network.
According to Bell, users of its 9-1-1 network must pay two bills – the existing 9-1-1 tariff and the NG9-1-1 tariff on a monthly basis until March 2025, when the transition to the new network – which began in March 2022 – will be complete and the old network will be decommissioned.
The CRTC decided in 2021 to maintain the existing charges for the current generation of 9-1-1 services while adding the cost of transitioning to the new generation, in part to incent the high-cost move to the latter.
But Videotron has disputed being charged for the two network tariffs at the same time, despite the CRTC approving an interim NG9-1-1 tariff, argued Bell, which further claimed that Videotron has refused to pay an outstanding amount it is owed.
“In addition to not fully paying for our [existing] 9-1-1 services, Videotron has yet to fully pay any bill pursuant to the terms of our NG9-1-1 tariff which was approved on an interim basis by the Commission with an effective date of 1 March 2022,” Bell alleges in its application.
“Videotron’s actions amount to a clear cut example of non-compliance with specific Commission directions,” Bell further alleges.
Videotron did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.
Bell is asking for an order against Videotron on an expedited basis to pay the full amounts it allegedly owes the company, and if it fails to adhere to an order against it, an order for it to pay an administrative monetary penalty.
