OTTAWA – The CRTC on Thursday denied a request by Videotron to bring the two Montreal companies before it to deliberate on a final offer for access to Bell’s wireless network.
“The Commission believes that Videotron and Bell did not make a good-faith effort to initiate and conduct negotiations sessions,” the CRTC said in a letter. “In this regard, the Commission notes that many of the communications exchanged between the companies—communications that were reproduced in Videotron’s application—were addressed to the CEOs of these companies and not to the personnel responsible for the relations between suppliers.”
The regulator said the parties must engage in good faith negotiations for a minimum period of 30 days and that they meet twice a week just for this purpose. It is also asking the parties to report to the commission on March 6 and March 20 on meetings and their contents. Only then, can either party request final offer arbitration if neither side budges on a deal.
Videotron’s application was first brought to the commission on January 26. Bell responded on January 31 saying no negotiations have taken place between the two companies.
CRTC chair Vicky Eatrides had by this time requested that the large providers, who must negotiate terms for network access with certain regional providers, give the regulator updates on the status of those talks.
In October, the regulator set the terms and conditions by which the carriers follow during negotiations for MVNO access, which was itself granted in a CRTC decision in April 2021. Regional carriers that have that mandated privilege are ones with spectrum and infrastructure.
