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Registration as a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC)

What is a CLEC?
How to register as a CLEC?
Pre-entry Obligations
Entry Obligations
How do I file a tariff and other agreements with the CRTC?
How will I know I have been registered with the CRTC?
What if I need to make any changes to my registration information?

What is a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC)?

A Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) provides facilities based local residential or commercial services in competition with the traditional Telephone Companies that provided the service prior to the introduction of local service competition.

For example, an applicant for CLEC status is a Canadian carrier who is at least one of the following:

  • A facility based service provider, regionally, provincially or nationally based.
  • A Small Independent Local Exchange Carrier (SILEC).
  • A carrier that is receiving local VoIP services from a reseller.
  • A carrier that is leasing CO codes from an existing Carrier.

How to register as a CLEC

In Local Competition, Telecom Decision CRTC 97-8, 1 May 1997, as modified from time to time, the Commission required all CLECs wishing to enter the market to file specified information with the Commission.

Entities wishing to become a CLEC are required to meet all the CLEC obligations of 97-8 prior to offering commercial service. These are detailed under Section 14; Entry Obligations for Competitive Local Exchange Carriers of Decision 97-8 and are summarized for ease of reference in a tabular format found at; CLEC Obligations.

Other modifications include the requirement for electronic registration and completion of online forms for the Commission’s Data Collection System (DCS).

Registration is comprised of essentially of two phases, “Pre-entry Obligations” and “Entry Obligations”.

I. Pre-entry Obligations

These obligations require that the applicant:

  • submit a letter to the Secretary General of the CRTC that attests to and provides the following:
    • It understands and will conform to the obligations set out in Telecom Decision 97-8, as modified from time to time, if applicable.
    • It is Canadian owned and controlled within the meaning of section16 of the Canadian Telecommunications Common Carrier Ownership and Control Regulations.
      • Note: an annual ownership report as well as an Affidavit is to be submitted separately via the Commission’s Data Collection System (DCS).
    • Provide a map of its proposed serving area to the Commission.
    • File the application with the Commission and with all other Canadian carriers providing service in exchanges where the Applicant is proposing to provide service, and “all other persons who have proposed to provide service in compliance with these entry procedures”, Telecom Decision CRTC 97-8; paragraph 295(2), 1 May 1997

The letter must include the company’s legal name and address. The name and title of a contact person and the corresponding telephone/fax numbers, and e-mail address must also be included.

This letter and any corresponding documentation referred to above, is to be sent to the Commission, addressed as follows:

M. Robert A. Morin,
Secretary General,
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission,
Ottawa, Ontario,
 K1A 0N2.

  • The Applicant must register electronically with the Commission’s Data Collection System (DCS) and complete the required forms. Applicants are also reminded that they are required to keep this information up-to-date.

Further information on how to electronically submit information to DCS is found under File, Register and Epass . Details on information collection requirements may be referenced at: Telecommunications industry data collection, Telecom Circulars CRTC 2003-1, 11 December 2003, 2005-4, 9 February 2005 and Telecom Circular CRTC 2007-17, 18 October 2007.

Completion of this phase will result in the applicant being placed on the Commission’s Proposed CLEC List and Proposed Market CLEC List.

II. Entry Obligations

The Applicant, after completing the pre-entry obligations, is required to complete the remainder of the other Entry Obligations as required by Section 14 of 97-8;

  •  File its proposed interconnection agreements and tariffs for Commission approval (Telecom Decision CRTC 97-8; paragraph 190-192);
  • Provide the Commission with all of the customer information identified in Part 14 (Telecom Decision CRTC 97-8; starting at paragraph 291)

The Commission in Telecom Decision CRTC 2006-58 and Telecom Decision CRTC 2007-49 have modified some of the requirements under Decision 97-8.

In order to qualify for the modifications, an applicant must satisfy all of the criteria in the relevant Decision. For ease of reference, the eligibility criteria set out in both these Decisions has been summarized under the headings of “Category 1” and “Category 2” found in the CLEC Obligations Table. A brief description of a typical applicant is provided below under the appropriate headings.

Category 1

This requires meeting all of the obligations set out in Decision CRTC 97-8 and as modified by Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association – Part VII application regarding the application of some CLEC obligations to certain CLECs, Telecom DecisionCRTC 2006-58, 18 September 2006. 

This category will typically apply to Cable companies that are Non Dominant carriers with less than 10,000 local exchange telecommunications subscribers and intend to offer local VoIP services through a reseller.

These modifications, as a result of this Decision, are found in the table under the “CLEC Obligations" link.

Category 2

This requires meeting all of the obligations set out in Decision CRTC 97-8 and as modified by Central office code obligations for competitive local exchange carriers, Telecom Decision 2007-49, 6 July 2007.

It typically applies to Non Dominant carriers that intend to utilize the central office codes of the Local Exchange Carrier where switching and/or local interconnection facilities are obtained.

These modifications, as a result of this Decision, are found in the table under the “CLEC Obligations" link.

How do I file a tariff and other agreements with the CRTC?

Please refer to our website under CISC for the Competitive Local Exchange Carrier Model Tariff and the User’s Guide for the CLEC Model Tariff.

For instructions on how to file a tariff, please refer to our website under File, Register and Epass.

How will I know I have been registered with the CRTC?

Shortly following the completion of the Pre-entry Obligations, you should be able to view your name on our Proposed CLEC list  and  Market - Proposed CLECS posted at our website under Industries at a Glance.

You will also receive a letter from the Commission stating that you have met the Commission’s current CLEC requirements, in order to proceed with any further arrangements necessary to allow you to provide local switched services and to complete the remainder of the Entry Obligations.

What if I need to make any changes to my registration information?

The registration information is to be kept current at all times. You must notify the Commission of any changes to the registration information including a change to the company’s name, address, the name and title of a contact person and that person’s telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address in the cover letter.

This information must be updated using the Commission’s Data Collection System (DCS).

Need help?

If you have any questions concerning CLEC issues, please contact us using our on-line form or at 1-877-249-2782

Date Modified: 2008-01-24

 

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