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Ottawa, 1 May 1998
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Telecom Order CRTC 98-424
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By letter dated 22 December 1997 and fax dated 8 January 1998 (a revision of the previous letter), Bell Sygma Inc., operating as Bell Global Solutions (BGS), applied for contribution exemption for certain interconnecting circuits which are used for administrative purposes.
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File No.: 96-2052
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1. In Telecom Order CRTC 97-1567 dated 28 October 1997 (Order 97-1567), the Commission granted a contribution exemption to BGS with respect to circuits used for administrative purposes. Two types of administrative circuits were identified in Order 97-1567: (1) single circuits terminating on routers which are used for maintenance purposes; and (2) circuits terminating on modems which are used for backup and restoration purposes in the event of a network failure. The exemption was effective until 31 December 1997.
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2. In Order 97-1567 the Commission stated that approval of an exemption beyond 31 December 1997 would be dependent upon BGS providing further evidence with respect to the configuration and use of the administrative circuits. The Commission determined that this was necessary in order to clarify if an exemption would continue to apply in light of the new contribution regime pursuant to Telecom Order CRTC 97-590 dated 1 May 1997 (Order 97-590).
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3. By letter dated 23 March 1998, Stentor Resource Centre Inc. (Stentor), replied on behalf of and with the concurrence of BC TEL, Bell Canada, The Island Telephone Company Limited, Maritime Tel & Tel Limited, MTS Communications Inc. (formerly MTS NetCom Inc.), The New Brunswick Telephone Company, Limited, NewTel Communications Inc. and TELUS Communications Inc. (collectively, the companies).
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4. Stentor stated that it has reviewed BGS' submission and submitted that the circuit quantities are reasonable for the administrative use described by BGS. Stentor also noted that where long distance calls are placed over the administrative lines, such calls are carried by the Stentor companies. Stentor noted that BGS is prepared to provide an affidavit to affirm this. Stentor submitted that the provision of an affidavit in this case would appear to be appropriate.
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5. Accordingly, Stentor stated that the companies agreed with the requested exemption, subject to the receipt of an affidavit from BGS affirming that the administrative lines in question do not access the interexchange private line networks of BGS or any other service provider and that all long distance calls are routed over equal access arrangements with the Stentor companies.
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6. The Commission notes that in Order 97-590, it concluded that line-side connections used by alternate providers of long distance service for internal administrative use and directly interconnected to a service provider's interexchange (IX) network will be subject to contribution charges effective 1 January 1998.
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7. Based on the record of this proceeding, the Commission agrees with BGS and Stentor that the interconnecting circuits that are the subject of this application should be exempt from contribution subject to BGS affirming that the administrative lines in question do not access the IX private line networks of BGS or any other service provider, and that all long distance calls are routed over equal access arrangements with the Stentor companies.
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8. In light of the foregoing, the Commission:
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(i) grants approval beyond 1 January 1998 for the administrative lines in question; and
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(ii) finds that the approval is subject to BGS providing within 30 days of this Order, an affidavit affirming that the administrative lines in question do not access the IX private line networks of BGS or any other service provider, and that all long distance calls are routed over equal access arrangements with the Stentor companies.
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Laura M. Talbot-Allan
Secretary General
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This document is available in alternative format upon request.
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