Telecom Order CRTC 2025-119

Gatineau, 23 May 2025

File numbers: 1011-NOC2024-0318 and 4754-767

Determination of interim costs award with respect to the participation of the Deaf Wireless Canada Consultative Committee in the public hearing for Telecom Notice of Consultation 2024‑318

Summary

The Commission is an independent quasi-judicial tribunal responsible for regulating the Canadian communications sector. To make decisions in the public interest, the Commission encourages people with a diversity of perspectives to participate in its proceedings.

In this order, the Commission approves interim costs for the Deaf Wireless Canada Consultative Committee (DWCC) to support their participation in the public hearing for Telecom Notice of Consultation 2024-318. In that proceeding, the Commission is gathering views from Canadians on making shopping for home Internet services easier for Canadians, through both paper interventions and a public hearing. The DWCC has applied for interim costs in order to attend the hearing beginning 10 June 2025.

Awarding interim costs provides groups who represent the public interest with funding up front, which can help support their participation and encourage broader participation from those who might otherwise not participate.

Application

By letter dated 23 April 2025, the Deaf Wireless Canada Consultative Committee (DWCC) applied for interim costs with respect to its participation in the Telecom Notice of Consultation 2024-318 (the proceeding). In the proceeding, the Commission is gathering views on making shopping for home Internet services easier for Canadians through both paper interventions and a public hearing.
The DWCC submitted that it meets the criteria for an interim award of costs set out in section 63 of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure because (i) it will represent a group or class of subscribers that has an interest in the outcome of the proceeding, (ii) it can assist the Commission in developing a better understanding of the matters to be considered, (iii) it does not have sufficient financial resources to participate effectively in the proceeding, and (iv) it undertakes to participate in the proceeding in a responsible way.
The Commission did not receive any interventions in response to this interim application for costs.

Commission’s analysis

The criteria for an award of interim costs in this proceeding are as follows:
(a) whether the applicant has, or is the representative of a group or a class of subscribers that has, an interest in the outcome of the proceeding;

(b) the extent to which the applicant can assist the Commission in developing a better understanding of the matters to be considered;

(c) whether the applicant has sufficient financial resources to participate effectively in the proceeding; and,

(d) whether the applicant undertook to participate in the proceeding in a responsible way.
The DWCC requested a total of $3,262 in order to attend the hearing at Phase IV, 140 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau, Quebec beginning 10 June 2025. This includes one round-trip plane ticket and one round-trip train ticket to Ottawa, Ontario, as well as accommodation for two individuals for two nights, meals, and intercity transport. The DWCC considers it appropriate that the payment for the costs for its participation originate from the telecommunications service providers based on their telecommunications operating revenues (TORs).
The DWCC represents Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing (DDBHH) Canadians by advocating for accessible wireless communications. In particular, the DWCC has demonstrated that its application meets the requirements set out in Telecom Information Bulletin 2016-188 and Telecom Regulatory Policy 2010-963. Through its participation at the hearing, the DWCC intends to incorporate perspectives and experiences of DDBHH customers and provide a clearer understanding of DDBHH experiences. They also have no paid staff and do not receive financial support from any other source to enable its participation in Commission proceedings. The DWCC also undertook to participate in the proceeding in a responsible way. Therefore, the Commission finds that the DWCC has satisfied the criteria outlined above and that the total interim amount claimed by the applicant should be allowed.
The Commission considers that, consistent with its practice, it is appropriate to allocate the responsibility for payment of costs among costs respondents based on their TORs as an indicator of the relative size and interest of the parties involved in the proceeding.^{Footnote 1}
As set out in Telecom Order 2015-160, the Commission considers $1,000 to be the minimum amount that a costs respondent should be required to pay, due to the administrative burden that small costs awards impose on both the applicant and costs respondents.

Accordingly, the Commission finds that the responsibility for payment of costs should be allocated as follows, for each applicant:^{Footnote 2}

Company	Proportion	Amount
Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Rogers)^{Footnote 3}	50.53%	$1,648.32
TELUS Communications Inc.	49.47%	$1,613.68

The Commission reminds the DWCC that it will need to apply for final costs at the end of the proceeding. This means that the DWCC will be required to demonstrate how it assisted the Commission in developing a better understanding of the matters to be considered, provide an accounting for the amount claimed, and demonstrate that their group spent the funds provided responsibly.

Directions regarding costs

The Commission approves the application by the DWCC for interim costs with respect to its participation in the proceeding.
Pursuant to subsection 56(1) of the Telecommunications Act, the Commission fixes the costs to be paid to the DWCC at $3,262.
The Commission directs that the award of interim costs to the DWCC be paid forthwith by Rogers Communications Canada Inc. and TELUS Communications Inc. according to the proportions set out in paragraph 9 above.
The DWCC is directed to file an application for final costs no later than 30 days after the close of the record in this proceeding.

Secretary General

Language selection

Search and menus

Search