Small CLECs and resellers get regulatory parity

The CRTC has taken a small step in leveling the playing field between some small competitive local exchange carriers and resellers of local service. In a decision released late last week (Telecom Decision 2007-49), the commission ruled that competitive providers that rely on another exchange carrier for facilities to provide local service are no longer required to obtain their own CO code in each local exchange they want to provide service. "The commission considers that the CO code per exchange requirement or per LIR requirement puts the small CLECs, who have limited network reach and consequently rely on an underlying LEC for interconnection, at a competitive disadvantage with respect to the non-facilities based resellers of local service who do not have to satisfy this requirement," reads the CRTC's July 6 ruling. The decision stems from an April 2 Part VII application filed by the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance (CCSA) seeking the removal of the CLEC condition. The CRTC previously turned down a petition from the now-defunct Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association in September 2006. This time around there was little opposition to the application from the CCSA, which received supporting comments from Quebecor Media Inc., MTS Allstream Inc. and Cogeco Cable Inc. The CCSA argued that removing the provision would lower barriers to its members launching telephony services, which would result in greater competition in the smaller and rural communities they served. The commission also sent a stern warning to local exchange carriers thinking the decision might in some way apply to them. "This determination does not in any way alter the requirement established by the commission in Decision 97-8, and subsequent commission determination, that a LEC that establishes network interconnection arrangements and facilities with another LEC must obtain a CO code at a minimum for each exchange, or per LIR, in which it wishes to offer local services," reads the decision.

Small CLECs and resellers get regulatory parity

News | July 10, 2007

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