NL Regulatory Briefs

Call-Net application for IX routes competitor tariff deniedCall-Net Enterprises Inc. has had an application it filed with the CRTC seeking a competitor tariff for inter-exchange (IX) digital transport services between Halifax and St. John’s denied. Call-Net had argued that it wasn’t economically feasible to build a network between the two cities and that Aliant Telecom, the incumbent provider, is in a dominant position. In Telecom Decision 2005-16, the commission disagreed with the view that building facilities wasn’t technically and economically feasible. "As such, the commission considers that there is no need to order the creation of a competitor tariff for IX digital transport facilities at OC-3 and OC-12 rates between Halifax and St. John’s," reads the decision. CRTC approves Northwestel’s Extended Area Service in the NorthThe CRTC has approved a proposal from Northwestel Inc. to introduce extended area service (EAS) between Marsh Lake and Whitehorse. In the application filed in February 2004, the company has proposed rate increases of $6.50 for each local line, business and residential, in Marsh Lake and $0.48 per local line in Whitehorse to recover the lost revenue from the elimination of long distance rates between the two communities. The commission noted in its ruling that allowing for the rate increases is a special situation and the decision is not intended to set any precedent regarding future EAS applications. ILECs file R&V over QoSBell Canada, TELUS Communications and Aliant Telecom have filed a Part VII seeking to review and vary portions of Telecom Decision 2003-72, a decision that set rules on competition-related quality of service (QoS indicators and standards). In the March 24 application, the companies want the CRTC to vary more specifically the definition, business rules and measurement method for unbundled Type A and B loop order late completions. They want certain provision relating to these changed so as to minimize orders that are not completed by the due dates. "The companies and TELUS submit that such modifications are required because, where the companies and TELUS fail, due to a lack of facilities, to meet standards for indicators relating to the provisioning, migration or processing of unbundled local loops, Indicator 1.13, together with other indicators, inevitably and inappropriately penalizes the companies and TELUS four times for the same error. In addition, under the existing structure of the indicator, the companies’ and TELUS’ performance with respect to the measurement for Indicator 1.13 actually worsens, potentially resulting in greater penalties, as the companies and TELUS’ performance respecting Indicator 1.12 improves," reads the Part VII. Network Letter will have more in this application in an upcoming issue. CRTC forbears from regulating high-capacity IXPLThe CRTC has forborne from regulating in Telecom Decision 2005-18 high-capacity/digital data services interexchange private line services (IXPL) on routes where competitors of the incumbent telephone companies now offer or provide such services at DS-3 or greater bandwidth speeds. The commission required competitors, including out of territory ILEC affiliates, broadcasting distribution undertakings and their affiliates to file information all IXPL routes that met forbearance criteria. In its March 29 ruling, the CRTC ordered a number of ILECs to file tariff pages removing tariffs for specific routes identified in the decision. Commission approves several access agreementsThe CRTC has approved several access agreements covering interconnection and wireless access services. Among the agreements approved in an interim basis are: 2034156 Ontario Inc./MTS Allstream Inc., 2034156 Ontario Inc./Fido Solutions Inc., TELUS Communications Inc./Shaw Telecom Inc., and Fido Solutions Inc./Rogers Wireless Inc. CRTC approves VTL’s 911 ERSThe CRTC has approved an application filed by Vidéotron Télécom ltée relating to the 911 emergency reporting service. The commission requested only a minor change.

NL Regulatory Briefs

News | March 31, 2005

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us