By Ahmad Hathout
KITCHENER, On – Bell has filed this week an application to the CRTC requesting the regulator get involved in a dispute over disrupted access to a multi-dwelling unit (MDU) building in Kitchener.
The telecom alleges that on or around September 24, the owner or manager of the 12-unit legacy MDU at 203 Mausser Ave. had cut its in-building copper wiring, which caused an outage for some residents.
Bell alleges a letter from the owner/manager dated August 21 was circulated to tenants of the building, but not the telco, saying it was unilaterally removing all of Bell’s wiring and to instead serve the residents with “Internet-based communication methods” and a “wireless solution,” the provider of which Bell said it does not know.
Bell further alleges that the main terminal room that it occupied was converted into a bedroom for one of the buildings units, so it now doesn’t have access to it. It also said it knows that Rogers serves the residents.
The telecom has said it asked the owner/manager for urgent access to the building to “conduct a site visit and inspection, to assess the extent of the damages to our facilities and the feasibility of replacing and or relocating our facilities from the Bell MTR to another location in the MDU, including to a different MTR in the MDU which we believe is used to house Rogers’ network facilities.”
Bell alleges it was rebuffed and refused access. It is alleging this is a contravention of the 2021 MDU access rules, which set out to ensure carriers have the ongoing ability to access and enter the building to install, repair and maintain their facilities.
Bell is asking the CRTC to declare that the telecom is being denied reasonable access; to order that it be granted access; to order each telecom and party serving the building to confirm the communications services it provides and units it serves; and order the owner/manager to disclose the identities of all parties who serve the building.
If at 30 days after the CRTC’s decision Bell is still denied access, it is asking that the regulator prohibit providers from servicing new occupants and upgrading or modifying services on the grounds of fair competition.
If the denial of access gets to 45 days, Bell is requesting that it be able to inspect the extent of any alleged damage by the owner/manager to its equipment, the steps required to repair or replace it, and to relocate the equipment to another suitable location in the building, if required.
Bell says because this is an older building, there is no written building access licence between it and the owner or manager.
