Cable / Telecom News

Federal government denies consumer group’s costs appeal

bigstock-OTTAWA-CANADA-JANUARY-----81456959.jpg

OTTAWA – Consumer groups DiversityCanada Foundation and the National Pensioners Federation has reached the end of the line in its appeal for costs after a long fight with the CRTC that started with the Commission’s release of the Wireless Code of Conduct in 2013.

DiversityCanada sought to have the Wireless Code (Telecom Regulatory Policy 2013-271) reviewed and varied over the expiry of prepaid wireless service cards (which we covered here).

The CRTC denied the R&V and then also denied the group’s subsequent claims for costs (of about $25,000) as well. DiversityCanada then applied for a review and vary of the costs claim denial, and that was denied by the Commission, too. The consumer groups then appealed to the Governor-in-council, essentially the last resort, and that, too, was rejected late last month.