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Telecom - Staff Letter addressed to the Distribution List

Ottawa, 28 June 2024

References: 8740-T66-202303494, 8740-S22-202302230, 1011-NOC2023-0056

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Distribution List

Subject:  Follow-up to Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2023-56 – Notice of Hearing – Review of the wholesale high-speed access service framework – Supplemental Requests for Information

As part of the proceeding initiated by Notice of hearing – Review of the wholesale high-speed access service framework, Telecom Notice of Consultation 2023-56, dated 8 March 2023 (NoC 2023-56), the Commission directed wholesale high-speed access (HSA) service providers to file, amongst other things, proposed tariffs and associated cost studies using the Phase II costing methodology, with supporting rationale, for fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) facilities over aggregated wholesale HSA services.

Commission staff notes that the analysis is ongoing but additional information is required.  Further requests for information (RFI) may be forthcoming in due course.

Staff notes that two separate RFIs are being issued in separate attachments and which are subject to separate filling dates. Responses to the RFIs in Attachment 2 addressed to TELUS Communications Inc. (TCI) are due by 10 July 2024, and the responses to the RFIs in Attachment 3 addressed to TCI and Saskatchewan Telecommunications (SaskTel) are due by 17 July month 2024.

Parties will be advised as to the next steps in the evaluation process by way of a separate procedural letter, which will set out further process for the proceeding, including requests for disclosure.

All documents filed and served must be received, not merely sent, by the date provided. Parties are to send an electronic copy of all documents to Commission staff copied on this letter.

The Commission requires the response or other documents to be submitted electronically by using the secured service “My CRTC Account” (Partner Log In or GCKey) and filling the “Telecom Cover Page” located on the Commission’s website.

An abridged copy of this letter and all related correspondence will be added to the public record of the proceeding.

As set out in section 39 of the Telecommunications ActFootnote1and in Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2010-961Footnote2, Procedures for filing confidential information and requesting its disclosure in Commission proceedings, persons may designate certain information as confidential. A person 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 person 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

Chris Noonan
Director, Competitor Services & Costing Implementation
Telecommunications Sector

c.c.: Abderrahman El Fatihi, CRTC 819-953-3662  AbderRahman.ElFatihi@crtc.gc.ca
Tom Vilmansen, CRTC 819-997-9253 Tom.Vilmansen@crtc.gc.ca

Attach. (4)

  1. Distribution List
  2. RFI Questions to TCI
  3. RFI Questions to TCI and SaskTel
  4. Excel Table (upon request only)

Distribution List

Company; Tariff Notice Number(s); Our Reference Number; Company Contact; Company Email

Requests for Information (RFI)

Attachment 2 – NoC 2023-56 Requests for Information

Question for TCI

  1. For each of your operating territories in Alberta and British Columbia, for each of the historical years 2013-2023 as well as the estimate for 2024:
    1. Using the table provided in Attachment 4, Table 1, provide the total fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) distribution/feeder capital expenditure (capex), inclusive of all material and labour, and the number locations built in-year. Complete only the rows labelled “Total FTTP Distribution/Feeder Capital Expenditure” and “Locations built in-year”.

Attachment 3 – NoC 2023-56 Requests for Information

Section 1: Question for TCI

  1. Refer to the response to question 1) of Attachment 2 above, where the total FTTP distribution/feeder capex and total number locations built in-year for each of the years 2013-2024 and for each operating territory was identified.
    1. Provide a breakdown of the total FTTP distribution/feeder capex, by asset class, as identified in Attachment 4, Table 1 for each of the years 2013-2024 and for each operating territory.

Section 2:  Questions for SaskTel

  1. Refer to the cost model “7 FTTC Refile - Costings_template_V12 OCT 2022 with multiple scenarios MM”, dated 1 November 2023, worksheet tab titled “Output_All”, row 5, column P, titled, “Buried Expense”, where the company has provided the expense amounts for the “Buried SFU” and “Buried Wire and Conduit” capital expenditures per community:
    1. Explain how the “Buried Expense” amounts per community were estimated. Include all calculations, assumptions and supporting information required to substantiate the calculations.
    2. Comment, with supporting rationale and assumptions, on the appropriateness of classifying as expense the significant percentage of total expenditures per community in the “Buried Expense” category and including them as expense cashflows in the company’s economic study.
    3. Further refer to row 5, column V, titled, “Bus Buried Exp”, where the company has provided the associated expense amounts for the “Bus Buried” capital expenditures per community.
      1. Provide a revised cost model that reflects updated capital amounts for the “Buried SFU” and “Buried Wire and Conduit” and the associated expense amounts for the “Buried Expense” that are consistent with the ratio of expense to capital amounts for the “Bus Buried Exp” and the “Bus Buried” per community.
      2. Provide the associated revised proposed rates and cost information within SaskTel’s cost study that incorporates the response from question 1) c) i).
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