There is a serious billing dispute in front of the CRTC right now, the likes of which some of us haven’t seen in more than a decade.

Look Communications has asked the CRTC to help stave off a disconnection by Bell Canada for non-payment of approximately $13M. The original disconnection notice was scheduled to take effect today (May 10).

The CRTC agreed to an expedited review process and final arguments were to have been submitted on Tuesday of this week.

It is somewhat voyeuristic to read through the materials filed by the two companies. Look provided transcripts of voice messages and emails from Bell personnel that acknowledge amounts that are in dispute. Bell’s response says that the disputed amounts are trivial compared to the massive outstanding balance.

While Look claimed that Bell was conferring an undue preference (contrary to Section 27(2) of the Telecom Act) by threatening disconnection, Bell replied

Contrary to Look’s contentions in this proceeding, it is not the suspension or termination of service to this customer that would be contrary to section 27(2) of the Act but potentially, instead, the continued delivery of services to Look on the terms set out by this Customer.

We’ll be looking for a determination on this file in the next few days. Watch this article for an update.

US cable executives have proudly unveiled DOCSIS 3.0 at The Cable Show in Las Vegas, demonstrating channel bonding to deliver up to 150 Mbps internet.

I can barely conceal my yawn.

Did they miss the news in Canada last January when Cisco and Videotron launched the same technology? At the time, Videotron indicated that they could achieve up to 320 Mbps.

Videotron will be participating in The 2007 Canadian Telecom Summit next month with a keynote address from CEO Robert Depatie and participation by SVP Manon Brouillette on the Consumer Services panel. Robert will also be speaking about Videotron’s mobile services intentions in our panel discussion looking at Wireless Competition.

The Associated Press carried a story about a survey on the use of technology conducted by Pew Internet / American Life Project. The study was designed to classify Americans into different groups of technology users.

In order to classify users, the group examined people’s relationship to information and communications technology. According to the report’s author, the results identified a wide variety of Web 2.0 users and non-users.

At one end of the spectrum, the survey

identifies the heaviest consumers, most active users, and happiest denizens of the information society. It also locates those who find great satisfaction in the use of ICT even though they have fewer network resources. In the middle range, the typology highlights some users who have invested a lot in services and hardware, but feel uncomfortable with the extra connectivity. And at the other end of the spectrum, it identifies those who get along – many of them just fine – with a relative scarcity of information goods and services.

Key findings of the study:

• 8% of Americans are deep users of the participatory Web and mobile applications
• Another 23% are heavy, pragmatic tech adopters – they use gadgets to keep up with social networks or be productive at work
• 10% rely on mobile devices for voice, texting, or entertainment
• 10% use information gadgets, but find it a hassle
• 49% of Americans only occasionally use modern gadgetry and many others bristle at electronic connectivity

There is an online quiz to help you discover what kind of technology user you are.

Do you cringe when your cell phone rings? Do you suffer from withdrawal when you can’t check your Blackberry? Do you rush to post your vacation video to your Web site?

I took the quiz and I ranked at the high end as an Omnivore. Not surprising.

What are your results?

As service providers and policy makers, is important to understand that most consumers aren’t the same – and generally aren’t like people who work in the industry. The study found nearly 60% of Americans fit into categories called Connected but Hassled (10%), Inexperienced Experimenters (8%), Light But Satisfied (15%), Indifferents (11%), Off the Network (15%).

How does the industry attract these users?

Looking back at the Economist e-readiness rankings, are there policy initiatives that can help migrate folks toward the more technophilic classes of Productivity Enhancers and Connectors?

On April 4, when Industry Minister Maxime Bernier discarded the prohibition on winback activities by the phone companies, it created an asymmetry in rules governing incumbent cable companies.

Rogers applied for the CRTC to review these restrictions on April 5 – one day after the Minister removed similar restrictions from the telcos). The CRTC says that Rogers expressed its firm belief that it is time for the regulatory framework to embrace competitive activity from cable distributors as something to be encouraged, not prohibited.

The major cable companies are currently subject to restrictions on their winback activities. In dealings with customers who live in multi-unit dwellings, for 90 days, the cablecos must refrain from:

• directly contacting customers who, through an agent, have notified their cable company of their intention to cancel basic cable service; and
• offering discounts or other inducements not generally offered to the public, in instances when customers personally initiate contact with the cable company for the purpose of cancelling basic cable service.

Today, the CRTC issued a public notice to call for comments on whether it is time to provide relief to the cable companies.

Views on this? Comments are due to the CRTC by June 6.