GATINEAU – Just before last Christmas, Iristel filed an application to the CRTC requesting both interim and final relief regarding alleged anti-competitive conduct by Bell Canada in relation to the rates for circuits associated with certain transport services.
The independent carrier complained Bell had increased it rates in a massive and unprecedented way and that it led them to suspect that Bell was re-monopolizing the transport services on some routes. Iristel submitted Bell “unilaterally and without proper warning increasing its rates for certain forborne circuits” from by 80% to 250% in some cases, and by over 125% in others, both of which it claimed would cause it to suffer irreparable harm.
Iristel was denied interim relief on March 21, 2019.
In its decision, the CRTC identified three issues to be dealt with: “Should the Commission reverse its determinations to forbear from the regulation of the services in question? Do Bell Canada’s rate increases result in unjust discrimination against Iristel? Is Bell Canada granting itself an undue preference regarding its 60 days’ notice of the rate increases?”
On July 10, the Commission found no evidence to warrant to Iristel requests and therefore denied it applications.
