Rogers Wireless files Part VII over termination of long distance traffic by Telus

Rogers Wireless Inc. (RWI) and Telus Communications Inc. are locked in a battle over how Telus’ long distance calls are terminated on Rogers’ network in Alberta and British Columbia. The two companies have been working since July 2000 to settle the dispute, but negotiations proved fruitless and the matter has been referred to the CRTC. Earlier this month, Rogers filed a Part VII application with the commission seeking to change the way Telus Communications terminates long distance calls on Rogers’ network in the two westernmost Canadian provinces. At issue is Telus’ use of separate one-way trunks as opposed to two-way trunk-side groups currently used by the other ILECs, which Rogers states means Telus is in breach of a condition contained in an original CRTC order on the issue. The use of two-way trunk-side groups for long distance call termination between ILECs and wireless service providers (WSPs) was set out in Order 2000-395, released on May 12, 2000. In 2000-395, which approved Telus’ and the other ILECs’ trunk-side access tariffs for wireless operators, the CRTC determined the use of one-way trunks (also known as direct termination) to terminate Telus’ long distance traffic on WSPs’ networks was optional and discretionary. According to Rogers, however, Telus has insisted on using this method. "Telus’ insistence that RWI use this arrangement is contrary to the commission’s express determination in the order and is therefore in breach of a term or condition established by the commission for the provision of this service by Telus," Rogers Wireless writes in its March 18 Part VII application. "It also appears from Telus’ Alberta tariff that there is no approved charge for this direct toll termination service – yet Telus has consistently charged RWI for these inefficient and unwanted facilities." Rogers wants the CRTC to force Telus to use two-way trunk-side groups for long distance call termination and to pay Rogers for any charges incurred by using the direct termination method since the order came into effect in May 2000. "In the alternative, RWI is prepared to let Telus continue to use the one-way trunks for toll termination, if Telus pays for the associated facilities itself and rebates to RWI any amounts improperly charged to RWI in the past in relation to these facilities," it writes in its application. All of the other incumbent telephone service providers use two-way trunk-side groups to terminate their long distance traffic on wireless operators’ networks, and in fact, they use this method to terminate local calls as well, Rogers notes. Using a separate method for Telus has increased Rogers’ costs, the company adds. Rogers notes that it incurs more than $30,000 a month on access, link and network charges. If Telus were to use the same two-way trunk-side termination method as the other ILECs, Rogers estimates it could save approximately $8,400 on a monthly basis. In determining that direct termination facilities were discretionary, Rogers points out that Telus’ actions indeed run counter to terms and conditions set out in the May 2000 order. "(I)t is apparent that Telus has improperly applied condition 16 of its wireless access tariff to RWI," Rogers writes. "By insisting that RWI use this service, which the commission ruled was optional for WSPs to use, Telus has breached the terms of its tariff in contravention of section 25(1) of the Telecommunications Act." As relief, Rogers requests orders enforcing the conditions of service for the provision of WSPs’ network access service established in 2000-395; requiring Telus to terminate its long distance traffic using two-way trunk-side groups; and ordering Telus to account for and rebate to RWI all improperly collected charges levied since May 12, 2000.

Rogers Wireless files Part VII over termination of long distance traffic by Telus

News | 03/31/2003 5:00 am EST

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