| |
Telecom Public Notice CRTC 98-28
|
| |
Ottawa, 2 October 1998 |
| |
TELUS COMMUNICATIONS (EDMONTON) INC. - PROPOSED INCREASE FOR LOCAL
CALLING RATE FOR PUBLIC PAY TELEPHONES
|
| |
File No.: Tariff Notice 94 |
| |
1. On 5 August 1998, the Commission received
an application under Tariff Notice (TN) 94 from TELUS Communications
(Edmonton) Inc. (TCEI) proposing to increase its local calling rate for its
public pay telephones from $0.25 to $0.35 for the cash payment option,
which includes the use of the company's Quickchange Prepaid Cash Card. |
| |
2. TCEI stated that the local cash payphone
rate is not compensatory and that, as the company prepares for pay
telephone competition, it recognizes the need to minimize subsidies
inherent in its pay telephone business. The company further stated that
achieving pay telephone rates that cover the cost of providing pay
telephone service is consistent with maintaining a viable, affordable, and
competitive service priced at market-based rates. |
| |
3. TCEI proposed a phased conversion of its
pay telephones to the new rate to be completed by 31 December 1998. |
| |
4. Coincident with TCEI's proposal, TELUS
Communications Inc. (TCI) filed a similar proposal under TN 1073. Since TCI
is under price cap regulation and its proposal met all the requirements of
that regulatory regime, the Commission approved TN 1073 in Telecom Order
CRTC 98-968, dated 30 September
1998. |
| |
5. The Commission notes that interventions on
the TCEI application have been received from the Public Interest Advocacy
Centre and the Consumers' Association of Canada, Alberta Branch. |
| |
6. As TCEI is still under rate of return
regulation, the Commission considers that a wider public proceeding is
warranted and therefore invites comments on TCEI's proposal. |
| |
PROCEDURE |
| |
7. The record of this proceeding may be
examined, or will be made available promptly upon request, at the CRTC
offices at the following addresses: |
| |
Central Building
Les Terrasses de la Chaudière 1 Promenade du Portage
Room 201
Hull, Quebec |
| |
530-580 Hornby Street
Vancouver, British Columbia |
| |
Bank of Commerce Building
1809 Barrington Street
Suite 1007
Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| |
Place Montréal Trust
1800 McGill College Avenue
Suite 1920
Montréal, Quebec |
| |
275 Portage Avenue
Suite 1810
Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| |
55 St. Clair Avenue East
Suite 624
Toronto, Ontario |
| |
8. The application may also be examined at any
of the company's business offices. |
| |
9. If you wish to comment on this application,
please write to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N2, fax:
819-953-0795, by 2 November 1998. A copy of your comments should be sent to
TCEI at the following address:
Mr. Deo Mathura
Director, Product Services & Support
Regulatory Services
Floor 21-A
10020-100 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 0N5
Fax: (403) 493-5380 |
| |
10. TCEI may file reply comments by
12 November 1998. |
| |
11. In addition to hard copy filings, parties
are encouraged to file with the Commission electronic versions of their
submissions in accordance with the Commission's Interim Telecom
Guidelines for the Handling of Machine-Readable Files, dated
30 November 1995. The Commission's Internet email address for
electronically filed documents is
public.telecom@crtc.gc.ca. Electronically filed documents can be
accessed at the Commission's Internet site at
www.crtc.gc.ca. |
| |
12. When a document is to be filed or served
by a specific date, the document must be actually received, not merely
mailed, by that date. |
| |
13. The Commission expects to issue a ruling
with respect to TCEI TN 94 during the fourth quarter of 1998. |
| |
Secretary General |
| |
This document is available in alternative
format upon request. |