By Denis Carmel
GATINEAU – In a letter sent on Monday, December 7, CRTC staff has indicated that in its dispute against Cablevision, a Bell subsidiary, Quebecor has convinced them that the issue warrants an expedite process.
This process, the fourth in 16 months, features Quebecor’s Vidéotron, which is trying to launch high-speed Internet service in the Abitibi-Temiscamingue region on northwestern Quebec region as third party internet service provider riding on Cablevision du Nord’s network.
Previous requests related to Bell’s attempting to end its tariffs, then its reluctance to sign service agreements, in July 2019. Then Québecor argued Bell claimed it could not deal with the volume of customer transfer applications, in September 2020.
This time, Québecor contends Bell is trying to pass the cost of upgrading routers at points of interconnections (POIs) to them. At issue is whether the costs are unusual or are the cost of doing business. Québecor filed this complaint to the CRTC on November 3, 2020, also requesting that the CRTC expedite the process.
“Commission staff considers that Quebecor has provided a reasonable explanation for expedited processing being required, and that it would serve the public interest to grant its request. Accordingly, Cablevision and interested persons may file interventions regarding this application by 14 December 2020, and Vidéotron must file a response by 16 December 2020,” the Commission procedural letter reads.
Another competitor, EBOX is also offering TPIA service in this region.
