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TELECOM UPDATE
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published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group
http://www.angustel.ca
Number 544: September 1, 2006
Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by generous
financial support from:
** AVAYA: www.avaya.ca/
** BELL CANADA: www.bell.ca/home/Home_Business.page
** BIG PIPE: www.bigpipeinc.com
** CISCO SYSTEMS CANADA: www.cisco.com/ca/
** ERICSSON: www.ericsson.ca
** MICROSOFT CANADA: www.microsoft.com/canada/telecom/
** NEC UNIFIED SOLUTIONS: www.necunifiedsolutions.com
** ROGERS TELECOM: www.rogers.com/solutions
** VONAGE CANADA: www.vonage.ca
IN THIS ISSUE:
** CRTC to Review Regulatory Thresholds
** CRTC Lists Phone Customer Rights
** Nortel to Sell UMTS Access Business
** CRTC Rejects Bid to Block Hate Sites
** BCE Backs Away from Telesat Sale
** Mitel Announces Round of Layoffs
** Globemedia Reorganization Closes
** CATA Names Telecom Associate
** Hackers Access Credit Card Info on AT&T Website
** Google to Offer Skype Calls
** ATB Financial Signs with Telus for VoIP
** Unionists Sign With Telus Quebec
** Videotron Wireless Expands to Gatineau
** Inter-Tel Rejects Buyout Offer
** Save $100 on Enterprise Networks Conference
CRTC TO REVIEW REGULATORY THRESHOLDS: Responding to the Federal
Government's request for a review of local service regulation (see
Telecom Update #529), the CRTC has reaffirmed its Voice over IP
regulatory regime while initiating a reassessment of two local service
regulatory thresholds.
** CRTC Telecom Decision 2006-53 declines to deregulate VoIP
service, as Canada's major telcos had requested, and=20
reaffirms that VoIP is a telephony service. (See Telecom
Update #481, 490)
** The Decision states that recent market share data warrant
a review of the 25% market-share threshold that incumbent
phone companies must lose in order to qualify for
regulatory forbearance. Also up for review is the 20%
threshold for removing the local service winback rule.
(See Telecom Update #524)
** Dissenting opinions were filed by Commissioners Barbara
Cram, Stuart Langford, and Andree Noel.
** Telecom Public Notice 2006-12 initiates a proceeding to
reassess the two thresholds. To take part, register by
September 11.
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2006/dt2006-53.htm
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Notices/2006/pt2006-12.htm
CRTC LISTS PHONE CUSTOMER RIGHTS: The CRTC has issued a "Statement of
Customer Rights" with respect to local phone service and directed the
telcos to publish it on their websites and in their White Pages
directories. Customer rights are listed under 16 headings including
local service, choice of provider, confidentiality, and refund for
billing errors.
** These rights are addressed in telco "terms of service,"
but the CRTC is concerned these documents "may be
difficult for consumers to comprehend."
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2006/dt2006-52.htm
NORTEL TO SELL UMTS ACCESS BUSINESS: Nortel Networks has agreed to sell
the access segment of its UMTS business to Alcatel for US$320 million.
UMTS is a "third generation" wireless technology developed as a
successor to GSM. Nortel is keeping its GSM, CDMA, and core UMTS
divisions.
CRTC REJECTS BID TO BLOCK HATE SITES: The CRTC has rejected a request by
Richard Warman, an Ottawa lawyer, that it permit carriers to block
access to two U.S.-based neo-Nazi websites. Warman said the sites call
for "violent action" against him and violate Canadian law against
"communicating hate" and "advocating genocide."
** In the Commission's view, permitting the sites to be blocked would be
inappropriate without a public process to "allow for consideration of
the broader policy and legal issues."
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Letters/2006/lt060824.htm
BCE BACKS AWAY FROM TELESAT SALE: According to published reports, BCE
has failed to reach agreement with potential buyers of its Telesat unit
and has decided instead to sell a minority stake in the satellite
company through an Initial Public Offering. (See Telecom Update #534)
MITEL ANNOUNCES ROUND OF LAYOFFS: Mitel Networks has eliminated an
unspecified number of jobs as part of its "transition to an IP
communications company." At the end of April, Mitel had 1,650
employees, 13% fewer than two years earlier.
** Mitel says its IP-based product revenues in fiscal 2006 were 48%
higher than in the previous year.
GLOBEMEDIA REORGANIZATION CLOSES: Bell Globemedia says its new
ownership structure is now in effect, following approval of the deal
by the Competition Bureau. The new Board is chaired by Geoffrey
Beattie of Woodbridge, now the largest shareholder. BCE has received
$1.3 billion from the reduction of its stake in the media company to
20%. (See Telecom Update #538)
CATA NAMES TELECOM ASSOCIATE: CATAAlliance has named Jean-Guy Rens, a
telecom writer and consultant, as Research Executive and member of its
Governing Council. Rens is President of ScienceTech Communications.
HACKERS ACCESS CREDIT CARD INFO ON AT&T WEBSITE: AT&T says that hackers
have obtained credit card and other personal data on approximately
19,000 customers who had purchased DSL equipment from the telco's online
store. AT&T has offered to pay for credit monitoring of affected
customers. (See Telecom Update #543)
GOOGLE TO OFFER SKYPE CALLS: Google has agreed to post click-to-call
buttons enabling users to make calls to its advertisers using EBay's
Skype service.
** Google says that it will sell a business version of its
email and calendar software by year-end.
ATB FINANCIAL SIGNS WITH TELUS FOR VoIP: ATB-Financial has signed a
three-year, $8.3 million contract with Telus for provision of IP-based
voice and data services.
UNIONISTS SIGN WITH TELUS QUEBEC: About 1,000 CUPE members in Quebec
have ratified a new contract with Telus. The contract introduces a
"variable pay component tied to the company's success," which will
provide up to 5% of basic salary by 2009.
VIDEOTRON WIRELESS EXPANDS TO GATINEAU: Videotron now offers its
cellular service to the 250,000 residents of the Gatineau valley in
Quebec. (See Telecom Update #541)
INTER-TEL REJECTS BUYOUT OFFER: Inter-Tel, a U.S.-based PBX and key
systems maker, has turned down an offer to purchase from a group
headed by its founder, Steven Mihaylo, and is continuing a "review of
the Company's strategic options." (See Telecom Update #543)
SAVE $100 ON ENTERPRISE NETWORKS CONFERENCE: September 8 is the last
day to obtain the $100 early-bird discount for registrants to the
October 24-25 Enterprise Networks conference in Toronto.
** The conference program, sponsored by Angus Dortmans
Associates, aims to enable telecom and IT professionals to
understand the chaotic enterprise networks landscape and
assemble the insights needed for better decisions.
** For more information, email Mona Polhill at
mona@enterprisenetworks.ca <mailto:mona@enterprisenetworks.ca> . To
register online, visit www.enterprisenetworks.ca.
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COPYRIGHT AND CONDITIONS OF USE: All contents copyright 2006 Angus
TeleManagement Group Inc. All rights reserved. For further
information, including permission to reprint or reproduce, please
e-mail jriddell@angustel.ca.
The information and data included has been obtained from
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TeleManagement makes no warranties or representations
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Opinions expressed are based on interpretation of available
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John Riddell (jriddell@angustel.ca)