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Ottawa, 10 December 1998
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Telecom Order CRTC 98-1241
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An application by Cochrane Public Utilities Commission (Cochrane) filed on 30 September 1998, under Tariff Notice (TN) 17, with respect to the 1998 Carrier Access Tariff (CAT).
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File No.: TN 17
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1.In Regulatory Framework for Abitibi-Consolidated and Cochrane Public Utilities Commission, Telecom Decision CRTC 98-13, 1 September 1998 (Decision 98-13), the Commission concluded that, with the exception of Phase III costing information, the regulatory framework set out in Regulatory Framework for the Independent Telephone Companies in Quebec and Ontario (Except Ontario Northland Transportation Commission, Québec-Téléphone and Télébec ltée), Telecom Decision CRTC 96-6, 7 August 1996 (Decision 96-6), would serve as a basis for the regulatory framework for Cochrane. The Commission noted that Cochrane had not filed a proposed Phase III Manual or forecast Phase III results and that the regulatory framework set out in Decision 96-6 includes the requirement to develop Phase III allocations in order to develop a cost-based CAT.
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2.For reasons noted in Decision 98-13, the Commission stated that, in its view, the CAT for Northern Telephone Limited (Northern) is an appropriate benchmark to use as a proxy interim CAT for Cochrane. The Commission concluded that Northern's final 1997 CAT would be used as the interim 1998 CAT for Cochrane. The Commission directed Cochrane to issue tariff pages to reflect an interim 1998 CAT rate of $0.0697 per minute, effective 1 January 1998.
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3.In Decision 98-13, the Commission further stated that, in the event that Cochrane does not file a Phase III Manual and 1998 Phase III results by 31 December 1998, the Commission intented to make final the interim 1998 CAT.
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4.Pursuant to Decision 98-13, Cochrane filed, on 30 September 1998, an application under TN 17 for approval of a 1998 CAT rate of $0.0697 per minute, consisting of a Contribution rate of $0.0519 per minute and a Direct Toll rate of $0.0178 per minute, effective 1 January 1998. By letter dated 30 October 1998, Cochrane informed the Commission that it will be using the Ontario Telephone Association's (OTA) Phase III Manual, but due to time constraints, it would not be submitting 1998 Phase III results. Cochrane therefore requested that the CAT rate in TN 17, be made final for 1998.
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5.The Commission notes that Cochrane's proposed final 1998 CAT rate is consistent with the determination in Decision 98-13. Therefore, Northern's final 1997 CAT will be used as Cochrane's final 1998 CAT, effective 1 January 1998.
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6.Further, pending the filing of Cochrane's 1999 Phase III forecast based on OTA's Phase III Manual and its proposed 1999 CAT, the Commission considers that it is appropriate to use Northern's final 1998 CAT as a proxy interim 1999 CAT for Cochrane. The Commission notes that in Telecom Order CRTC 98-1157, 20 November 1998, a final 1998 CAT rate of $0.0585 was approved for Northern.
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7.In light of the foregoing, the Commission orders that:
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(a) the proposed CAT of $0.0697 per minute with a Contribution rate of $0.0519 per minute and Direct toll rate of $0.0178 per minute is approved on a final basis, effective 1 January 1998;
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(b) Cochrane is to issue forthwith, revised tariff pages to reflect a 1999 interim CAT of $0.0585 per minute with a Contribution rate of $0.0408 per minute and a Direct Toll rate of $0.0177 per minute, effective 1 January 1999; and
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(c) Cochrane is to notify the Commission, within 60 days from the date of this Order, whether or not it intends to file a 1999 Phase III forecast and a proposed 1999 company-specific CAT.
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Secretary General
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This document is available in alternative format upon request.
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