{"id":9921,"date":"2022-02-04T21:02:08","date_gmt":"2022-02-04T21:02:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/02\/04\/isps-call-for-crtc-chair-ian-scott-to-be-recused-amid-ongoing-questions-about-personal-bias\/"},"modified":"2022-02-04T21:02:08","modified_gmt":"2022-02-04T21:02:08","slug":"isps-call-for-crtc-chair-ian-scott-to-be-recused-amid-ongoing-questions-about-personal-bias","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/02\/04\/isps-call-for-crtc-chair-ian-scott-to-be-recused-amid-ongoing-questions-about-personal-bias\/","title":{"rendered":"ISPs call for CRTC chair Ian Scott to be recused amid ongoing questions about personal bias"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Competitive Network Operators of Canada (CNOC) filed an application with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) asking chairperson Ian Scott to either remove himself or be removed from matters relating to ongoing decisions around internet competition.<\/p>\n

The matter is in connection with the CRTC reversing a 2019 decision<\/a> that internet rates were too high and had to be lowered after telecom companies filed appeals. The CRTC reversed its decision on May 27th, 2021.<\/p>\n

Small internet service providers (ISPs) pay larger companies like Bell, Rogers, and Telus to access their network and distribute it to their own markets.<\/p>\n

ISP TekSavvy filed a petition with the Federal Courts of Appeal in response. The case will be heard in the coming months.<\/a><\/p>\n

TekSavvy and CNOC have pointed out Scott\u2019s conduct and the fear of bias playing a role in his decisions.<\/p>\n

The recent CNOC application points to an article from the Toronto Star<\/a>.<\/em> It details how the reversal of the decision came before Scott met with Bell Media CEO Mirko Bibic<\/a> at an Ottawa pub in December 2019.<\/p>\n

Scott spoke with The Star<\/em> on the controversy for the first time in the article published February 2nd, more than two years after the meeting happened, stating \u201cnothing inappropriate was done.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI went for a beer with someone I have known for years\u2026.And it ended up he chose to address a broadcasting issue a little of what Bell might be doing in the future,\u201d he told the publication.<\/p>\n

All matters were recorded publicly, Scott said. Speaking on the CRTC\u2019s reversal, he said he was only one vote on a panel of nine, and he has no additional sway as chair.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe apprehension of bias and breach of procedural fairness persists, to the point where, \u2026Chairperson Scott felt the need to defend himself against these allegations in seeking an exclusive interview with The Toronto Star<\/em>,\u201d the CNOC application states.<\/p>\n

The application states Scott also made public statements for his preference of \u201cfacilities-based competition\u201d at the Canadian Club Toronto on May 20th, 2021.<\/p>\n

For these reasons, the CNOC is asking for the recusal of Scott from internet-based decisions pending TekSavvy\u2019s appeal.<\/p>\n

Image source: CRTC (screenshot)<\/em><\/p>\n

Source: CNOC application<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n