Sasktel has announced that it is appealing parts of the CRTC’s Price Cap Decision (2007-27), dealing with mandated price increases in ‘high cost serving areas’:

We believe the part of the CRTC’s recent Price Cap Decision that systematically reduces the amount of subsidy SaskTel receives to support residential service in high cost serving areas was not within the original scope of the proceeding. This decision essentially forces SaskTel to raise rates in high cost serving areas. We want to continue providing our customers in high cost serving areas with affordable phone service but this decision ultimately ties our hands, therefore, we feel strongly that the CRTC should re-evaluate and conduct a separate hearing to deal with this issue.

The appeal is based on procedural grounds, with SaskTel asserting that the issue was not part of the original scope of the proceeding and therefore the CRTC did not solicit sufficient evidence upon which to base its determination.

SaskTel is a provincial crown corporation. A reduction in transfer payments to rural operators (such as SaskTel) from other carriers is a resultant effect of the Price Cap determination to raise rates in high cost serving areas.

Update [July 13, 12:35 pm]
The appeal is in the form of a Review and Vary application back to the CRTC, asking it to review its own decision.

CATA issued a press release on Wednesday, expressing concerns on the issue of Canadian companies protecting their intellectual property rights in the wake of a recent Federal Court case:

A recent Federal Court decision on new disclosure requirements for Patents will have an extremely negative impact on Canadian research and innovation if not overturned on appeal.

According to CATA, the Court’s decision is not consistent with existing Canadian law, nor U.S. and EU law as well as possibly violating international IP treaties.

Contrast that position with the video on Michael Geist‘s site:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TloG6qL3gg]
Michael’s tag line says

Canadian policy should prioritize Canadian interests, not those of foreign governments and lobby groups.

What is the relationship between creative (movie and music) intellectual property rights and those of technology innovators?

CATA is a Canadian industry lobby group, representing the advanced technology industry. Shouldn’t Canadian policy reflect the interests of Canadian innovators?

To what extent are these interests inconsistent with those of the majority of the population?

Technorati Tags:
CATA, intellectual property, Michael Geist

I wrote last week about the Bracebridge Business Improvement Area (BIA) wireless network plans. The RFP to cover WiFi for downtown has now been released on the town’s website.

The RFP calls for Downtown Bracebridge to offer complimentary WiFi services at narrowband rates, offer business members internet access, install wireless speakers and add webcams for security.

TheStreet.com has a video clip on why people are rushing to stores to buy the iPhone. According to their correspondent, Cliff Mason, it is a babe magnet. Cliff bought his at the 24-hour Apple Store in mid-town Manhattan, with no line up, at 9:00pm on the first day.

All the women on line, all the women around the register formed a circle around me, which does not happen very often…

it is a great reason to buy it. Forget about all this like it’s a 2.5G phone not a 3G phone, you’re not gonna be able to access the internet. Who cares about that stuff? It looks really cool…

Hmmmm. Is this what it all comes down to?

Who cares? Where can I get one?

Technorati Tags:
Cliff+Mason, iPhone