So they are not om-NI-po-tent after all

Ernestine just suffered a setback. She will be huffy.

The CRTC has granted the request of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) for compensation for the cost of preparing a submission to a public hearing on lifting regulatory constraints on telephone companies' basic rates. From Michael Lithgow at Canadians for Democratic Media:

The public hearing (Telecom Public Notice CRTC 2006-10) was instigated in response to a letter from Bell Canada requesting deregulation of basic phone service fees. PIAC was strongly opposed to such a move, and included with its submission a request under s.44 of the CRTC Telecommunications Rules of Procedure for compensation for the costs of preparing its submission. Under s.44, the CRTC can award costs against a regulated company to an intervener who represents a class of subscribers with an interest in the outcome, who has participated in a responsible way, and who has contributed to a better understanding of the issues. The CRTC has ordered that PIAC be compensated in the amount of $20,182.74.

Bell Canada (on behalf of itself, Bell Aliant Regional Communications, and Saskatchewan Telecommunications) argued against the application for compensation, suggesting that PIAC had not been responsible, that they had unnecessarily delayed the proceedings and had made unsubstantiated allegations during the hearing. The CRTC found unequivocally that PIAC had participated in a responsible way and had contributed to a better understanding of the issues.

"Unnecessarily delayed the proceedings" -- that sort of thing seems to be distressing our wee corporate Masters of the Universe a lot these days, doesn't it. Damn democracy. So time consuming. Everyone wants ... a voice.

Heh heh heh. Snerk. I mean snort. I can hardly wait to tell Mr Veedle.

Gee: if we were in the U.S., just for writing this rude post I could be in danger of losing my access. But that couldn't happen here. Could it.