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Ottawa, 13 August 1985
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Telecom Decision CRTC 85-17
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IDENTIFICATION OF ENHANCED SERVICES
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For related documents see: CRTC Telecom Public Notice 1984-72, 11 December 1984; and Telecom Decision CRTC 84-18, 12 July 1984.
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I. BACKGROUND
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In Enhanced Services, Telecom Decision CRTC 84-18, 12 July 1984 (Decision 84-18), the Commission directed the federally-regulated telecommunications common carriers (the carriers) to identify, within 30 days, which of the services that they currently provide should be considered enhanced pursuant to the definition contained in the decision.
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In submissions dated 13 August 1984 and 10 August 1984, Bell Canada (Bell) and British Columbia Telephone Company (B.C. Tel) identified as enhanced services their Envoy 100 and iNet 2000 services and B.C. Tel added its Voice Relay Service for the Deaf. CNCP Telecommunications (CNCP), in its letter to the Commission dated 13 August 1984, specified its Electronic Office Services and Infoswitch Terminal to Host Concentration as enhanced services. The latter service was also identified by Terra Nova Telecommunications Inc. (Terra Nova), in a letter to the Commission dated 17 August 1984, as the only enhanced service in its line of offerings. Both NorthwesTel Inc. and Telesat Canada advised the Commission, by letters dated 10 August 1984 and 13 August 1984 respectively, that their offerings did not include any which could be regarded as enhanced within the definition in Decision 84-18.
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The Canadian Manufacturers' Association (CMA) and the Canadian Business Equipment Manufacturers' Association (CBEMA), having reviewed the carriers' filings, both expressed concern over what they characterized as the carriers' apparent misinterpretation of the Commission's definition of basic and enhanced services in Decision 84-18. The Canadian Industrial Communications Assembly, the Canadian Association of Data and Professional Service Organizations, the Canadian Bankers' Association and Datacrown Inc., (collectively referred to as CICA et al, now CBTA et al) submitted that the Commission should question Bell's and B.C. Tel's categorizing of a number of services, such as various Datapac access arrangements, as basic. CBTA et al stated that Bell and B.C. Tel had originally indicated that they regarded these services as enhanced pursuant to the definitions of basic and enhanced services adopted by the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC). CBTA et al disagreed with Bell's and B.C. Tel's position that the Commission's definitions differ in substance from those of the FCC so as to give rise to changes in the categorizing of certain services. CBTA et al urged that a procedure, to include public comment, be established to categorize properly the services offered by the carriers and that, without delay, the Datapac access arrangements be categorized as enhanced services.
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In reply, Bell argued that, because it does not know what a customer's usage of Datapac services is at any given time, it cannot classify them through direct application of the Commission's definitions. Bell stated that, as a result, it classified Datapac services based on their primary function which, according to Bell, falls within the Commission's definition of a basic service.
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In CRTC Telecom Public Notice 1984-72, dated 11 December 1984, the Commission invited comment on which of the services contained in the carriers' submissions should be considered enhanced in light of the definition in Decision 84-18. In addition, the Commission invited comment as to whether any additional services, including the following, should be considered enhanced:
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a) Datapac Access Arrangements 3101, 3201, 3304 and 3305 provided by Bell and B.C. Tel;
and
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b) Infocall, Telenet and Infotex provided by CNCP and Terra Nova.
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The following parties made submissions in response to Public Notice 1984-72: Bell; B.C. Tel; a joint submission by the Canadian Business Telecommunications Alliance, the Association of Competitive Telecommunications Suppliers, the Canadian Association of Data and Professional Service Organizations, The Canadian Bankers' Association, The Canadian Radio Common Carriers Association, and Datacrown Inc. (collectively referred to as CBTA et al); CBEMA; CNCP; and Paradyne Canada Ltd.
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II. GENERAL ISSUES
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The submissions received in response to Public Notice 1984-72 identified a large number of services over which there is disagreement as to whether the service is basic or enhanced. Each of these services is discussed in part III. This part deals with two general issues relevant to the classification of these services.
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A. Availability vs Usage of Enhanced Service Features
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Bell characterized a number of Datapac Access Arrangements as basic on the grounds that the customer need not use the enhanced features associated with the service in particular instances. The company submitted that the appropriate approach is to examine each service as a whole. Where the characteristics of a service vary depending upon a customer's selected usage at any given instance, the service should be classified on the basis of whether the primary function of the service is the offering of transmission capacity for the movement of information that is virtually transparent in terms of its interaction with subscriber-provided information. B.C. Tel also supported this primary function approach.
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CBTA et al, CMA and CBEMA, however, submitted that only those services which are limited to the offering of transmission capacity should be construed as basic. It was their position that, if a particular service has the capability to perform enhanced functions which may be manifested in the outputs of the service, it should be classified as enhanced.
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The Commission is of the view that it is the availability rather than the use of the enhanced feature that is relevant for the purpose of characterizing a service as enhanced. The definition of a basic service in Decision 84-18 states clearly that a basic service is one that is limited to the offering of transmission capacity for the movement of information. If a service is not so limited in its applications, then the Commission considers that the service should be classified as enhanced.
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B. Speed Conversion
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In Decision 84-18, "internal speed, code and protocol conversion that is not manifested in the outputs of the service" was included in the definition of a basic service. Further, in the definition of enhanced services, the Commission included computer processing applications that "are used to act on the content, code, protocol, and other aspects of the subscriber's information". The definitions do not specifically address whether a service is enhanced if there is a net change in speed as between the sender and receiver of information.
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Bell and B.C. Tel were of the view that speed choice is a feature of basic service. Both Bell and B.C. Tel pointed out that the FCC has classified AT&T's Accunet service as basic even though it has a number of speed choices, on the grounds that speed conversion is an inherent part of a basic packet switching service.
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CBTA et al and CBEMA argued that, if a service performs speed conversion that is manifested in the outputs of the service, it should be classified as enhanced.
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In the Commission's view, speed conversion in itself does not represent an application that is acting upon the content, code or protocol of a subscriber's information. The Commission notes that for reasons of economic efficiency, a service provider or user may require link connections designed for different speeds depending upon the anticipated characteristics of the transactions. As such, the Commission views net speed changes as manifestations of a more efficient means of providing transmission capacity for the movement of information. Accordingly, the Commission concludes that speed conversion is not an enhanced service feature.
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III. SERVICES TO BE CLASSIFIED
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A. Bell and B.C. Tel
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1. Datapac 3000 Service
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The Datapac 3000 Access Arrangement provides for synchonous access to the Datapac network for data terminal equipment which conforms to CCITT Recommendation X.25. Datapac 3000 also offers a variety of speed choices but does not involve code or protocol conversion. CBTA et al and CBEMA argued that the availability of speed conversion renders the service enhanced while Bell and B.C. Tel took the position that this is the "bare bones" packet switching service and should be classified as basic despite the availability of speed conversion.
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For the reasons noted in section II.B., the Commission considers that speed conversion is not an enhanced service feature and, accordingly, considers that Datapac 3000 should be classified as a basic service.
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2. Datapac 3101, 3201, 3303, 3304 and 3305 Services
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The 3101, 3201, 3303, 3304 and 3305 Datapac Access Arrangements provide for both asynchronous and synchronous access to the Datapac network for data terminal equipment which use a variety of codes and protocols. Bell and B.C. Tel argued that these services should be classified as basic because a customer need not use the code and protocol conversion features. CBTA al, CBEMA and CMA argued that, since these Datapac access arrangements involve code and protocol conversions capable of being manifested in the outputs of the services, they should be classified as enhanced.
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For the reasons noted in section II.A., the Commission considers that the availability rather than the use of enhanced service features is relevant for classification purposes and, accordingly, considers that all of these services should be classified as enhanced.
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3. Datapac/Tymnet, Datapac/Telenet and Datapac/Dasnet Services
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Datapac/Tymnet, Datapac/Telenet and Datapac/Dasnet services provide for shared packet-switched data communications between Datapac customers and customers of Tymnet Inc., Telenet Communications Corporation or the Hawaiian Telephone Company of the United States. Datapac connects to these U.S. networks according to CCITT Recommendation X.75.
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CBTA et al submitted that the protocol conversion at the point of interconnection between the Datapac and U.S. networks is an enhanced service. Bell disagreed, arguing that such conversions are not manifested in the outputs of the service and are in fact transparent to the users. The company noted that X.75 is merely an international standard for interconnecting two networks in different countries in order to allow for the exchange of addressing and billing information. The standard, according to Bell, merely provides for communications between the two networks such that the traffic appears to be the same as domestic traffic, except that it is identified by an international address for billing purposes. Thus, Bell argued the service is not enhanced.
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The Commission considers that the conversion merely permits communication between the two networks. Accordingly, the Commission considers that these services should be classified as basic.
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4. Dataroute Channel Deriving Arrangements Services
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CBTA et al submitted that the channel deriving process involved in Dataroute Channel Deriving Arrangements is characteristic of an enhanced service because of the availability of speed conversion which is manifested in the outputs of these services. Bell and B.C. Tel both deny that any speed conversion involved in these services is manifested in their outputs. According to Bell and B.C. Tel, the outputs to the data terminal equipment provided by the customer are identical at both ends of the circuit.
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The Commission considers that, for the reasons given in part II.B, speed conversion is not an enhanced service feature whether or not it is manifested in the outputs of the service. Accordingly, the Commission considers that these services should be classified as basic.
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5. Radio Paging Service (Bell) and Page Call Service (B.C. Tel)
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Radio Paging and Page Call services provide for radio-signalling communication from any telephone to a radio receiver. CBTA et al argued that radio paging is an enhanced service because the carrier recognizes the destination of a telephone call as a pager and then transmits an RF signal capable of activating the called pager. According to CBTA et al, it is important to remember that the tone is the message yet it is not originated by the telephone caller when the pager number is dialled.
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Bell and B.C. Tel argued that the service is basic, although competitive, in nature. Bell and B.C. Tel addressed the conversion of the wireline signal to an RF signal, arguing that the change in the transmission link should not affect the characterization of the service.
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The Commission agrees with Bell and B.C. Tel that a change in the mode of transmission, from a wire line to an RF signal, is not a conversion which affects the characterization of a service. Nevertheless, the Commission considers that, because the alerting signal is the message, these services should be classified as enhanced.
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6. Centralized Emergency Reporting System - 911 Service
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Under 911 Service, the carrier assigns telephone number service code 911 to individual lines or trunk lines that are arranged for inward service only and that originate in one or more wire centres within an exchange and terminate on equipment furnished by the company. The customer for the system accepts calls for emergency services such as fire, police and ambulance.
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CBTA et al pointed out that, as part of Bell's 911 Service, it may supply the customer with the name, address and telephone number of the caller. CBTA et al argued that Bell is in essence furnishing a data base access and display service which is an enhanced service.
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Bell and B.C. Tel argued that 911 Service is basic. Bell pointed out that 911 Service provides individual lines along with optional ringback and signal line features, which enable the municipality offering the emergency system to receive calls from the public for emergency fire, police and ambulance services. According to Bell, the optional data base access and display service features do not change the fundamental nature of the service.
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For the reasons cited by CBTA et al, the Commission considers that 911 Service should properly be classified as enhanced. However, the Commission is of the view that 911 Service is not, nor is likely in the near future to become, a competitive offering. That being the case, the Commission considers that the costing requirements established in Decision 84-18 to ensure fair competition in the provision of enhanced services, should be waived for this service.
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7. Centrex III Service (Bell) and Integrated Business Services (B.C. Tel)
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Bell describes Centrex III service as a business communications service in which the switching of customer calls is provided through a main switching facility located on telephone company premises. According to Bell, Centrex III service includes a variety of features each of which is similar to features available with modern PBX's.
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CBTA et al argued that Centrex III service has a number of enhanced service features, including automatic route selection, station message detail recording, speed calling, class of service and code restrictions and automatic call back. CBTA et al was of the view that by means of interaction with stored information, the subscriber is able to manage, alter and configure the Centrex service in a variety of ways.
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The Commission considers that the memory and storage features associated with Centrex III and Integrated Business Services, such as speed calling, serve only to facilitate the transmission of information. Accordingly, the Commission considers that these services should be classified as basic.
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8. Conference 600 Service
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Conference 600 is a two-way video-conferencing service involving analogue to digital conversion and digital compression techniques. According to Bell, the service is designed in this manner to avoid the use of dedicated analogue circuits which would require more transmission capacity. Thus, Bell submitted that the use of bandwidth compression techniques merely facilitates the economical movement of information and does not alter the basic nature of the service.
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CBTA et al submitted that Conference 600 is an enhanced service because of the extensive amount of processing involved in the service.
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The Commission considers that the analogue to digital conversion process and the use of digital compression techniques to minimize the bandwidth required to transmit a signal merely facilitate the economical and reliable movement of information and do not alter the basic nature of the service. Accordingly, the Commission considers that this service should be classified as basic.
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9. Radiotelephone Services
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CBTA et al submitted that these services should be classified as enhanced because they involve a conversion from a wire line signal to an RF transmission. Bell and B.C. Tel argued that the use of multiple types of technologies to provide a transmission link does not render a service enhanced.
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As noted in the context of radio paging service, the Commission considers that the conversion from one transmission medium to another does not alter the nature of a service. Accordingly, the Commission considers that these services should be classified as basic.
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10. Voice Relay Service for the Deaf (B.C. Tel)
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The Commission agrees with B.C. Tel that this service should be classified as enhanced. However, for the reasons stated above in the case of 911 Service, the Commission is of the view that the costing requirements applicable to enhanced services should be waived for this service.
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11. Envoy 100 and iNet 2000 Services
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The Commission agrees with the parties to this proceeding that Envoy 100 and iNet 2000 should be classified as enhanced services.
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B. CNCP
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1. Infoswitch
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Infoswitch is a public switched data network providing, through hybrid circuit/packet switching capabilities, four major service offerings.
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a) Infoexchange Service
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This service provides a circuit switched point to point channel using the Infoswitch network. The Commission agrees with parties to this proceeding that Infoexchange should be classified
as a basic service.
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b) Infocall and Infogram Services
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Infocall utilizes packet switching technology with the Infoswitch network to provide channels
between terminals of like code and protocol but which do not conform to CCITT
Recommendation X.25.
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Infogram also utilizes packet switching technology with the Infoswitch network but provides
channels between terminals which conform to CCITT Recommendation X.25.
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CBTA et al stated that Infocall and Infogram encompass a family of enhanced services
providing protocol and speed conversion which are manifested in the outputs of the service.
Further, both services provide for abbreviated addressing whereby the network stores the
address of a called party's terminal, which can then be accessed by the use of a one or two
digit code. According to CBTA et al, this amounts to providing subscriber access to previously
stored information, a characteristic of an enhanced service. CBEMA was of the opinion that
Infogram is enhanced as a result of its speed conversion capability.
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CNCP argued that Infocall service provides only speed conversion and should therefore be
considered a basic service. With respect to Infogram, CNCP stated that, while this service
supports two protocols, it does not allow communication between terminals with different
protocols. Therefore, it should be classified as basic.
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As stated previously, the Commission considers that speed conversion is not an enhanced
service feature. Accordingly, the Commission considers that Infocall should be classified as a
basic service. As in the case of Centrex III and Integrated Business Services, the Commission
is of the view that the memory and storage features available with this service serve only to
facilitate the transmission of information.
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With respect to Infogram, the Commission notes that, although the service supports two
protocols, it does not provide protocol conversion. The Commission therefore agrees with
CNCP that the service should be classified as basic.
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c) Terminal to Host Concentration Service
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This service provides asynchronous access to Infogram service.
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The Commission agrees with CNCP and other parties that this service should be classified as
enhanced because of the code and protocol conversion features available with it.
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2. Telenet and Private Switched Network Services
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Telenet and Private Switched Network are computer controlled store and forward message services offering code and protocol conversion.
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CBTA et al described a number of other characteristics of Telenet which it considered to be enhanced, including message retrieval and the provision of traffic statistics. While CNCP originally classified Telenet and Private Switched Network as basic services, the comments of CBTA et al caused it to add these services to its list of enhanced services.
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The Commission agrees with parties that these services should be classified as enhanced.
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3. Infodat Service
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Infodat service provides dedicated digital communications circuits.
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As in the case of Bell's and B.C. Tel's Dataroute service, CBTA et al stated that the low speed deriving arrangements available with this service involve speed conversion which is manifested in the outputs of the service and that this processing is characteristic of an enhanced service.
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CNCP argued that, while Infodat can accommodate a wide range of speeds, any individual Infodat circuit is nothing more than a private line data circuit linking terminals of like speeds.
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For the reasons given in the case of Bell's and B.C. Tel's Dataroute service, the Commission considers that this service should be classified as basic.
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4. Telex
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There are a number of Telex services which were alleged by parties to display characteristics of enhanced services.
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a) Store and Forward Telex Service
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This is a store and forward service which allows subscribers to send single and multiple
address messages to Telex subscribers. This service may involve the temporary storage of
the sender's information depending on the availability of the addressee's terminal. In addition,
this service permits messages to be deferred for off-hours delivery.
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CBTA et al argued that these features suggest that progress of the subscriber's information
towards its destination is subject to more than delays due to network congestion or the
originator's transmission priorities. According to CBTA et al, the discretion in the originator to
store a message for transmission at a convenient time renders the service enhanced.
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CNCP agreed that the service is enhanced because of the ability to store and retrieve
information.
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The Commission agrees with parties that this service should be classified as enhanced.
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b) Canada-U.S. Telex-TWX Service
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This service involves code and protocol conversion at the point of connection of the Canadian
Telex network and U.S. TWX networks. CBTA et al argued that the conversion is manifested
in the outputs of the service and is characteristic of an enhanced service. CNCP disagreed,
arguing that the information is the same at the originating and receiving terminals.
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As in the case of Datapac interconnection with Telenet, Tymnet and Dasnet, the Commission
considers that this service should be classifed as basic because the conversion merely
permits communication between the two networks.
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c) Canadian Ship/Shore Radio Telex Service
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This service allows Telex users to contact ships at sea and is provided in conjunction with the
Ministry of Transport and Teleglobe.
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CBTA et al argued that this service is enhanced because it involves a protocol conversion,
namely the conversion from a wire line electrical signal to an RF transmission. CNCP argued
that, while the customer may view the service as enhanced, CNCP only provides the "shore"
portion of the service which is basic.
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As in the case of radio paging and radio telephone services, the Commission considers that a
conversion from a wire line to a radio signal is not a change in code or protocol but simply a
different mode of transmission. Accordingly, the Commission considers that this service
should be classified as basic.
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d) Tel-Tex and Telepost Services
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Tel-Tex service enables a Telex subscriber to utilize basic Telex service to send a message to
CNCP's Public Message Service for delivery to a non-Telex subscriber by telephone.
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Telepost is similar to Tel-Tex except that Canada Post delivers a printed message to the
recipient.
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CBTA et al stated that these services are enhanced since they involve human interaction to
receive messages and convey the messages to the recipients. CBTA et al argued that these
activities go well beyond the offering of transmission capacity for the movement of
information.
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CBEMA was of the opinion that Telepost is enhanced since it provides for long-term storage in
the network and computer processing to enable automatic duplication of messages.
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CNCP argued that both services are basic because the information content of the message is
unchanged in each case. The Commission agrees with CBTA et al that these services should
be classified as enhanced. The conversion of the message from the Telex format to either a
voice or a printed message goes beyond the offering of transmission capacity.
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5. Public Message Service
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Public message service (PMS) consists of the transmission of a voice message to the recipient in printed form. CBTA et al argued that the service is enhanced because it involves human intervention to receive the message and transmit it to the recipient. Similarly, CBEMA claimed that the service is enhanced because it involves protocol conversions.
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CNCP argued that PMS is a basic service because the information content of the message is unchanged. According to CNCP, the human interface merely facilitates the transmission of the message.
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The Commission considers that PMS should be classified as enhanced because the conversion from a voice to a printed message goes beyond the offering of transmission capacity. However, the Commission considers that, in light of the declining market for and particular public service aspects of PMS, the costing requirements applicable to enhanced services are not necessary to ensure fair competition in respect of this service. Accordingly, the Commission has determined that the costing requirements applicable to enhanced services should be waived for PMS.
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6. Electronic Mail and Office Communication Services (EMOC)
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CNCP's EMOC is an umbrella offering comprised of four sub-services. CBEMA argued that all of these services are enhanced because of the availability of features such as speed and protocol conversion, mailboxing and processing. CNCP commented on each of these services individually.
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a) WP Mail Service
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WP Mail is a public telecommunications service that provides for the exchange of letter
quality text communication between similar word processors. This service utilizes 1200 bps
asynchronous Infoexchange service.
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According to CNCP, the service is basic because there is no speed, code or protocol
conversion.
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b) Teletex Service
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Teletex service is similar to WP Mail except that it provides for communication between
similar Teletex terminals and uses 2400 bps synchronous Infoexchange service.
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According to CNCP, Teletex service is therefore also a basic service.
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c) Electronic Office Services (EOS)
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This is a text communicating service for the sending and retrieval of messages from allocated
storage areas known as mailboxes. CNCP considers this to be an enhanced service.
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d) Infotex Service
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Infotex service provides store and forward, multiple addressing and conversion within and
between other CNCP services. CNCP considers that this service is enhanced.
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The Commission agrees with CNCP as to the classification of its EMOC services.
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IV. CONCLUSION
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As a result of this decision, the Commission classifies the following as enhanced services:
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Service Carrier
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Datapac 3101, Bell/B.C. Tel
3201, 3303, 3304,
3305 Services
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Radio Paging Service Bell
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Page Call Service B.C. Tel
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Centralized Emergency Bell
Reporting System (911 Service)
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Voice Relay Service for B.C. Tel
the Deaf
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Envoy 100 Service Bell/B.C. Tel
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iNet 2000 Service Bell/B.C. Tel
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Terminal to Host CNCP/Terra Nova
Concentration Service
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Telenet Service CNCP/NorthwesTel/Terra Nova
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Private Switched Network Service CNCP/Terra Nova
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Store and Forward Telex Service CNCP/NorthwesTel/Terra Nova
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Tel-Tex Service CNCP/NorthwesTel/Terra Nova
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Telepost Service CNCP/NorthwesTel/Terra Nova
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Public Message Service CNCP/NorthwesTel/Terra Nova
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Electronic Office Services CNCP
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Infotex Service CNCP/Terra Nova Service
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Fernand Bélisle
Secretary General
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