ARCHIVED - Telecom Order CRTC 2009-284

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  Ottawa, 15 May 2009
 

Bell Aliant Regional Communications, Limited Partnership and Bell Canada – Destandardization of Wholesale Local Service and Features services

  File number:
Bell Aliant Tariff Notice 239
Bell Canada Tariff Notice 7178

1.

The Commission received applications from Bell Aliant Regional Communications, Limited Partnership and Bell Canada (collectively, the Bell companies), dated 23 February 2009, proposing to destandardize the services associated with their Access Services Tariff item 317, Wholesale Local Service and Features (WLSF). In support of their applications, the Bell companies submitted that their WLSF services were no longer meeting their business objectives.

2.

The Commission received comments from Primus Telecommunications Canada Inc. (Primus). The public record of this proceeding, which closed on 7 April 2009, is available on the Commission's website at www.crtc.gc.ca under "Public Proceedings" or by using the file numbers provided above.

3.

The Bell companies submitted that, if their applications were approved, current customers for the services would continue to have the service available to them throughout the three-year transition period to forbearance set out in Telecom Decision 2008-17, and that those customers would be able to add or remove end-customers in accordance with the approved tariffs. However, the services would not be available to any new wholesale customers.

4.

Primus opposed the destandardization of these services, noting that services classified as non-essential subject to phase-out in Telecom Decision 2008-17 were subject to a transition period during which incumbent local exchange carriers providing the services were obligated to accept new customers. As such, Primus argued that the proposed destandardization of WLSF services would vary that determination. Primus further argued that destandardization of these services would destabilize the wholesale services framework set out in Telecom Decision 2008-17.

5.

The Bell companies replied that they introduced WLSF services on a voluntary basis, and that these services were never regarded as integral to the local services competition framework. The Bell companies submitted that acceptance of their destandardization proposals would not otherwise affect the application of the terms and conditions for phase-out services used by existing customers as set out in Telecom Decision 2008-17.

6.

The Commission considers that the destandardization of WLSF services would not adversely impact the wholesale framework set out in Telecom Decision 2008-17, even though new wholesale customers will not be able to subscribe to the service. In this regard, the Commission notes that it has never mandated that these services be provided. The Commission also considers that the present applications do not raise the concerns expressed by the Commission in Telecom Decision 2009-73 in that wholesale customers of the WLSF service will continue to have the flexibility to make new provisioning arrangements during the three-year phase-out period established by Telecom Decision 2008-17. Further, the Commission notes the Bell companies' assurances that existing WLSF customers will continue to have access to WLSF services throughout the three-year, phase-out period implemented by Telecom Decision 2008-17, and thus will be able to meet any commitments made based on the terms and conditions set out in the tariff for WLSF services.

7.

The Commission notes that the Bell companies have fulfilled the filing requirements set out in Telecom Decision 2008-22 for applications dealing with the destandardization of a tariffed service. Accordingly, the Commission considers that the Bell companies' proposals to destandardize WLSF services are reasonable.

8.

In light of the above, the Commission approves the Bell companies' applications, effective the date of this order.
  Secretary General
 

Related documents

 
  • Bell Aliant Regional Communications, Limited Partnership and Bell Canada – Application for immediate forbearance from the regulation of Wholesale Local Service and Features, Telecom Decision CRTC 2009-73, 16 February 2009
 
  • Mandatory customer contract renewal notification and requirements for service destandardization/withdrawal, Telecom Decision CRTC 2008-22, 6 March 2008
 
  • Revised regulatory framework for wholesale services and definition of essential service, Telecom Decision CRTC 2008-17, 3 March 2008
  This document is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined in PDF format or in HTML at the following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca

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