OTTAWA – In another chapter of the ongoing saga between Bell and Quebecor, the CRTC has directed Bell to continue providing roaming services to Vidéotron, at least for now.
A Part 1 application from Québecor Média on behalf of its Vidéotron subsidiary to the Commission earlier this month said that Vidéotron’s end-users have had access to Bell’s roaming service since May 2015, but that Bell had threatened to suspend that service after alleging that “[translation] a significant number of Vidéotron’s users …were using Bell Mobility’s roaming service …on an illegitimate, non-occasional and permanent basis” which it said contravened Bell Mobility’s tariff.
Vidéotron added that it was advised that the infraction be remedied within 30 days or that Bell would have the right to suspend the wholesale roaming service as of June 23, 2019.
In a June 17 letter to both Bell Media and Québecor Média, the CRTC replied that while it is appropriate to process the request for final relief on an expedited basis, it is not necessary to render interim relief before June 23.
“Accordingly, Bell and all interested parties have until 8 July 2019 to file their answer or comments to the final relief application, with a copy to Vidéotron,” reads the letter. “Reply comments from Vidéotron may be filed no later than 15 July 2019, with a copy to Bell and all interested parties. Documents are to be received, and not merely sent, by these dates.”
