ARCHIVED -  Telecom Public Notice CRTC 97-29

Telecom Public Notice

Ottawa, 31 July 1997

Telecom Public Notice CRTC 97-29

TÉLÉBEC - 1997 CONTRIBUTION CHARGES

File No.: 97-8695-T5-01

I BACKGROUND

1. In Regulatory Framework for Québec- Téléphone and Télébec ltée, Telecom Decision CRTC 96-5, 7 August 1996 (Decision 96-5), the Commission set out, among other things, the methodology for determining the Carrier Access Tariffs (CATs) applicable to Québec-Téléphone and Télébec ltée (Télébec). In Decision 96-5, the Commission stated that for 1997 and subsequent years, in the absence of a revenue requirement proceeding for a given year for Québec-Téléphone and Télébec, the companies would be included in an annual contribution charge proceeding.

2. In Telecom Order CRTC 97-87, 23 January 1997, the Commission approved, on a final basis, Télébec's 1995 and 1996 contribution charges. The Commission also directed Télébec to file proposed interim 1997 contribution charges, to be effective 1 January 1997, using the 1996 final CAT adjusted to take into account the 1997 local rate increases approved in Telecom Order CRTC 96-1506, 20 December 1996 (Order 96-1506). The interim 1997 contribution charges, filed as Tariff Notices 129 dated 5 February 1997 and 129A dated 13 February 1997, were approved in Telecom Order CRTC 97-313, 6 March 1997 as amended by Telecom Order CRTC 97-313-1, 14 April 1997.

3. The Commission hereby initiates a proceeding to finalize Télébec's 1997 contribution charges.

4. The Commission will initiate a separate proceeding to consider Québec-Téléphone's contribution charges for 1997 after it has disposed of the company's application under section 62 of the Telecommunications Act to review and vary the method of calculating contribution charges set out in Decision 96-5.

II 1997 CONTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS

A. De-averaged Per-Minute Contribution Mechanism for Trunk-Side Connections

5. In Decision 96-5, the Commission directed Télébec to show cause as to why a de-averaged per-minute contribution rate applicable to trunk-side connections, as approved in Revisions to the Mechanism to Recover Contribution Charges, Telecom Decision CRTC 95-23, 4 December 1995, should not apply in its territory as part of its 1997 contribution filing. Therefore, Télébec is to show cause when it submits its 1997 contribution filing.

B. De-averaged Per-Minute Contribution Mechanism for Line-Side Connections

6. In Per-Minute Contribution Mechanism for Line-Side Connections, Telecom Decision CRTC 96-12, 12 December 1996 (Decision 96-12), the Commission approved the implementation of a de-averaged (peak and off-peak) per-minute contribution mechanism by Stentor members for line-side connections.

7. The Commission directs Télébec to show cause when it submits its 1997 contribution filing as to why a de-averaged (peak and off-peak) per-minute contribution rate for line-side connections, as approved in Decision 96-12, should also not apply in the company's territory.

C. Financial and Demand Information

8. Télébec is directed to file, by 29 September 1997, 1997 Phase III forecast results, including explanations for 1997 over the most current 1996 Phase III results, changes resulting from significant changes to methodology, or from variances in revenues, investment or expenses, based on the latest budget view. By the same date, Télébec is directed to file proposed 1997 contribution rates with an effective date of 1 January 1997. The proposed contribution charges are to be based on the company's 1997 forecast contribution requirement, reflecting its 1997 Phase III forecast results, 1997 forecasts of contribution eligible minutes and the local rate increases approved in Order 96-1506. Notwithstanding the company's response to the show cause noted in Sections A and B above, Télébec is to provide a breakdown of its proposed 1997 contribution rate by peak and off-peak periods for trunk-side connections and on a per-minute basis by peak and off-peak periods for line-side connections, with all supporting calculations.

9. Télébec is to provide its forecast of 1997 minutes for contribution-eligible services as defined in Decision 96-5.

10. The Commission directs ACC TelEnterprises Ltd. (ACC), AT&T Canada Long Distance Services Company (AT&T Canada LDS), Canadian Satellite Communications Inc. (CANCOM), fONOROLA Inc. (fONOROLA), S.N.S. Shared Network Services Inc. (SNS), Sprint Canada Inc. (Sprint), Telesat Canada (Telesat) and Vidéotron Télécom ltée (Vidéotron) (the interconnecting carriers), that originate or terminate contribution-eligible traffic in Télébec's territory, to file, by 29 September 1997, 1997 forecast data regarding contribution-eligible minutes as defined in Decision 96-5.

11. By letter dated 31 July 1997, the Commission has addressed interrogatories to Télébec and the interconnecting carriers, seeking information regarding issues related to this Public Notice.

III PROCEDURE

12. Télébec is made party to this proceeding. ACC, AT&T Canada LDS, CANCOM, fONOROLA, SNS, Sprint, Telesat and Vidéotron (the interconnecting carriers) are made parties to this proceeding.

13. Other persons wishing to participate in this proceeding must notify the Commission of their intention to do so by writing to Mrs. Laura M. Talbot-Allan, Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N2 Fax: 819-953-0795 by 15 August 1997. Parties are to indicate in the notice their Internet email address, if available. If parties do not have access to the Internet, they are to indicate in their notice whether they wish to receive disk versions of hard copy filings. The Commission will issue a complete list of parties and their mailing addresses (including Internet email addresses if available), identifying those parties who wish to receive disk versions.

14. As described in Part II of this Public Notice, Télébec and the interconnecting carriers are to file forecast information, serving copies on all parties, by 29 September 1997.

15. By 29 September 1997, Télébec is directed to file tariff pages setting out the proposed contribution charges for 1997. Underlying calculations are to be provided by the same date and in the format shown in the attachment to Télébec's letter of 6 September 1996 which illustrated the methodology used to calculate its 1995 and 1996 contribution charges.

16. Those parties to whom the Commission has addressed interrogatories, as noted in Part II, are directed to file responses, serving copies on all parties, by 29 September 1997.

17. Parties may file requests with the Commission for public disclosure of information for which confidentiality has been claimed, setting out the reasons for disclosure, by 6 October 1997, serving the party asserting confidentiality.

18. Replies to requests for public disclosure are to be filed with the Commission and served on the party making the request by 9 October 1997.

19. The Commission will issue a determination with respect to any requests filed pursuant to paragraph 17 as soon as possible. The Commission intends to direct that any information to be released pursuant to its determination be placed on the public record and served on all parties by 24 October 1997.

20. Any party may address interrogatories to any party who files information pursuant to paragraphs 14, 15 or 16, above. Any such interrogatories must be filed with the Commission and served on the party or parties in question by 31 October 1997.

21. Responses to interrogatories addressed pursuant to paragraph 20 are to be filed with the Commission and served on all parties by 21 November 1997.

22. Requests by parties for further responses to their interrogatories, specifying in each case why a further response is both relevant and necessary, and requests for public disclosure of information for which confidentiality has been claimed, setting out the reasons for disclosure, must be filed with the Commission and served on the party or parties in question by 28 November 1997.

23. Written responses to requests for further responses to interrogatories and for public disclosure must be filed with the Commission and served on the party making the request by 5 December 1997.

24. The Commission will make a determination with respect to requests for disclosure and for further responses as soon as possible. The Commission intends to direct that any information to be provided pursuant to that determination be filed with the Commission and served on all parties by 29 December 1997.

25. All parties may file comments with the Commission on any matter raised in this proceeding, serving copies on all other parties, by 8 January 1998.

26. Télébec may file replies to any comments, serving copies on all parties, by 19 January 1998.

27. Where a document is to be filed or served by a specific date, the document must be actually received, not merely mailed, by that date.

28. 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 http://www.crtc.gc.ca.

This document is available in alternative format upon request.

Laura M. Talbot-Allan
Secretary General

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