Letter

Ottawa, 11 August 2006

File Nos.:  8740-A53-200602007 
         8740-B2-200301531 
         8740-B2-200307216 
         8740-B2-200404822 
         8740-B2-200405805 
         8740-B2-200405904 
         8740-B2-200609779 
         8740-M59-200407975 
         8740-M59-200415572 
         8740-M59-200501793 
         8740-S22-200407628 
         8740-T66-0065/02 
         8740-T66-200401654 
         8740-T66-200407553  
         8740-T66-200502098

By E-Mail

To: Distribution List

Re:        Ethernet Services

In Ethernet services , Telecom Decision CRTC 2004-5, 27 January 2004 (Decision 2004-5), the Commission:

•  approved on an interim basis the introduction of Ethernet access service by Bell Canada that would also be available to Canadian carriers registered with the Commission or digital subscriber line service providers (competitors)

•  approved on an interim basis the introduction of Ethernet central office (CO) connecting link arrangements ( Ethernet CO connecting link service) by Bell   Canada for competitor use.

•  directed Bell Canada to provide, on an interim basis, an Ethernet interface service for competitor use.

•  required TELUS Communications Company (TCC) (formerly TELUS Communications Inc.) to provide, on an interim basis, an Ethernet CO connecting link service for competitor use and to introduce, on an interim basis, an Ethernet interface service for competitor use.

•  required Aliant Telecom Inc. (Aliant Telecom), MTS Allstream Inc. (MTS Allstream) (formerly MTS Communications Inc.) and Saskatchewan Telecommunications (SaskTel) to introduce, on an interim basis, Ethernet access service that would be available to competitors and to introduce, on an interim basis, an Ethernet interface service and an Ethernet CO connecting link service for competitor use.

In Decision 2004-5, the Commission was of the view that it would not be in a position to make final determinations on issues raised by the Ethernet service applications until the proceeding begun by Competitor Digital Network Access service proceeding , Telecom Public Notice CRTC 2002-5, 9 August 2002 (the CDNA proceeding) was concluded.   The Commission found that until it reached its determinations regarding the adequacy of Ethernet substitutes and related matters, it was appropriate to put in place interim Ethernet services for competitor use to provide competitors with the opportunity to mitigate any harmful effects they may experience during the remainder of the proceeding.

The CDNA proceeding was concluded with the issuance of Competitor Digital Network Services , Telecom Decision CRTC 2005-6, 3 February 2005, as amended by Telecom Decision CRTC 2005-6-1, 28 April 2006. In Decision 2005-6, the Commission classified on a final basis service components provisioned using optical fibre facilities as Category II Competitor Services, with the exception of optical CO connecting link services which it classified as Category I Competitor Services.

In light of the conclusion of the CDNA proceeding, the Commission is in a position to deal with Ethernet services for competitor use on a final basis.

Accordingly, the following process is established to provide parties an opportunity to comment, to the extent it alters their existing submissions, on approval on a final basis of the tariffs filed for Ethernet services for competitor use:

1)   By 25 August 2006 , Bell Canada , TCC, Aliant Telecom, MTS Allstream, and Sasktel may file submissions, serving a copy on other parties.

2)   By 5 September 2006 , interested parties may file comments, serving a copy on other parties.

3)   By 15 September 2006 , Bell Canada , TCC, Aliant Telecom, MTS Allstream and Sasktel may file reply comments, serving a copy on other parties.

Where a document is to be filed or served by a specific date, the document must be actually received, and not merely sent, by that date.

Yours sincerely,

Original signed by Paul Godin

Paul Godin
Director General, Competition, Costing & Tariffs (Acting)

Distribution List:

Bell Canada, MTS Allstream Inc., Saskatchewan Telecommunications Inc., TELUS Communications Company, Aliant Telecom Inc., Xit Telecom Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., Francois Menard, Cable-Axion Digitel Inc., Quebecor Media Inc.

cc:   Kim Wardle - CRTC ( 819 ) 997-4945
        Doug Thurston - CRTC (819) 997-4579