There are three ways to appeal a CRTC decision.
The first and most common approach is to apply to the CRTC to review its decision and ask that the Commission varies all or some of the conclusions. To get the CRTC to even review the decision, you need to demonstrate that they made an error in law, made an error in fact, failed to consider something or that the circumstances have changed since the original evidence.
The second channel is to seek leave to appeal with the Federal Court of Appeal. The Court will deal with legal issues that arise from decisions, such as questions of CRTC jurisdiction.
The third option is to ask the Cabinet to review the decision and either overturn the decision, rewrite all or part of it or return the matter back to the CRTC for the Commission’s reconsideration with a direction based on policy.
In the case of Decision 2008-1, dealing with the use of deferral account funds for broadband expansion, all three courses of appeal were launched. Interestingly, the appeals came from consumer groups who wanted more of the money returned to subscribers and from incumbent phone companies who wanted more of the money to be used to pay for their rural broadband expansion.
Earlier this year, the Federal Court of Appeal upheld the original Decision. That would be strike one, except that the Supreme Court agreed in late September to hear an appeal of the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision. So the court challenge is still alive.
On Friday, the CRTC denied the review and vary application that had been submitted by TELUS, and supported by Bell.
the Commission’s determination in Telecom Decision 2008-1 to order a rebate of the remaining funds, rather than to allow for additional process for the submission of new communities, was consistent with ensuring efficient and effective regulation. In the Commission’s view, this negates the regulatory burden and industry uncertainty that would result by initiating another public process to consider new broadband expansion proposals from the ILECs.
The regulatory route for the appeal is now closed. The umpire’s call on the judicial route has gone to the video replay booth for review.
As to the political route, it remains to be seen if the federal cabinet has an appetite to play ball by overturning the CRTC.
Update [December 23, 3:20 pm]
Cabinet has rejected the appeal. The only channel remaining open at this point is the Supreme Court.