Telecom - Commission Letter addressed to Lindsay Hodgkinson (Galaxy Broadband Communications, Inc.)
Ottawa, 9 September 2022
Our reference: 8000-N1-202204923
BY EMAIL
Lindsay Hodgkinson
Vice-President Operations
Galaxy Broadband Communications, Inc. (Galaxy Broadband)
4-4020A Sladeview Crescent
Mississauga, Ontario – L5L 6B1
lindsay@galaxybroadband.ca
SUBJECT: Request for Information – Telesat Anik F2 Matters
Lindsay Hodgkinson:
This letter sets out requests for information (RFIs) directed towards Galaxy Broadband with respect to certain of its services. At this time, these questions are being asked for the general purpose of administration of the Telecommunications Act. A copy of this letter and any subsequent correspondence will be added to the public record: TEL 8000-C12-202204923.
This letter and any subsequent correspondence may also be added to the public record of other proceedings in the future should it be determined that the information is relevant to the Commission’s determinations. If that occurs, parties to any relevant proceeding would be notified of the addition and given the opportunity to comment on the responses.
Your responses to the questions in this letter are due by 23 September 2022.
Confidential information
As set out in section 39 of the Telecommunications Act and in Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2010-961, Procedures for filing confidential information and requesting its disclosure in Commission proceedings, parties may designate certain information as confidential. A party designating information as confidential must provide a detailed explanation on why the designated information is confidential and why its disclosure would not be in the public interest, including why the specific direct harm that would be likely to result from the disclosure would outweigh the public interest in disclosure. Furthermore, a party designating information as confidential must either file an abridged version of the document omitting only the information designated as confidential or provide reasons why an abridged version cannot be filed.
Sincerely,
Original signed by Ian Baggley for
Fiona Gilfillan
Executive Director, Telecommunications Sector
c.c.: Michèle Beck, Telesat, mbeck@telesat.com
APPENDIX 1
Context
Telesat informed Commission staff of issues with its Anik F2 satellite.
Telesat confirmed to Commission staff that it has also informed Galaxy Broadband of these issues.
Questions for Galaxy Broadband
Telesat informed Commission staff that Galaxy Broadband’s services – broadband and enterprise – that currently use the Anik F2 satellite as transport may be “adversely impacted” as early as February 2023.
Impact on Galaxy Broadband’s services and customers
Identifying who is at risk of adverse impacts
- List the communities that you serve using the Anik F2 satellite, and identify those that are at risk of being adversely impacted by the degradation of the Anik F2 satellite. Provide the following information for each community:
- community name
- province or territory
- services you offer
- # of subscribers
- List the enterprise customers that you serve using the Anik F2 satellite, and identify those that are at risk of being adversely impacted by the degradation of the Anik F2 satellite. Provide the following information for each customer:
- customer name
- location(s)
- industry/service type (e.g. hospital/medical services, government, education, power generation, mining).
Identifying services or customers more at risk of adverse impacts
- Are certain of the public safety or emergency services that you provide more at risk of
- experiencing adverse impacts sooner than others?
- experiencing more significant adverse impacts? If so, explain which and why.
- Are certain of the telecom services that you provide more at risk of.
- experiencing adverse impacts sooner than others?
- experiencing more significant adverse impacts? If so, explain which and why.
- Describe any technical challenges that Galaxy Broadband may face in adapting its network, including, but not limited to its satellite ground stations, to ensure continued connectivity for retail telecom customers.
- Provide an overview of Galaxy Broadband’s risk mitigation strategy to ensure continued connectivity for customers (retail and enterprise) that it serves in affected regions. Specifically address the following, along with any other information Galaxy Broadband deems relevant:
- Detailed timeline for overall risk mitigation strategy
- All technical solutions under consideration (including associated costs and timelines)
- Notification to customers
- Whether Galaxy Broadband is collaborating with (a) other telecommunications service providers (TSP), or (b) non-TSP companies on risk mitigation and/or to ensure service continuity for impacted services or customers..
- Explain how your new risk mitigation strategy is different from previous plans to ensure network resiliency. If applicable, provide an overview of your previous plans to ensure continued connectivity.
Emergency services
9-1-1 - Identifying impacts and rist mitigation
- Provide a complete explanation of any potential impacts the degradation of the Anik F2 satellite may have on continued access to 9-1-1 for customers of Galaxy Broadband.
- Provide an overview of your risk mitigation strategy to address these impacts and ensure all 9-1-1 calls made over its network are successfully delivered to public safety answering points (PSAPs) within its serving territory.
- Date modified: