ARCHIVED -  Telecom Order CRTC 99-483

Telecom Order

Ottawa, 31 May 1999

Telecom Order CRTC 99-483

On 6 November 1998, People's Telephone Company of Forest Inc. filed an application for approval of tariff revisions to introduce Basic Access Service Improvements and to restructure its local rates. On 9 April 1999, the company amended its application under Tariff Notice 35A.

File No.: Tariff Notice 35

1.The company proposed to increase most local residential, business, and Centrex rates.

2.The Basic Access Service Improvements proposed by the company consist of an expanded local calling area and the elimination of locality rates. The company's proposed expanded local calling area would introduce new Extended Area Service (EAS) links consistent with Bell Canada's (Bell) Natural Calling Centres (NCCs).

3.The company also proposed to introduce three rate groups based on access to a schedule of weighted average telephone numbers. The introduction of the rate groups would result in a rate decrease for the residential subscribers of the Arberarder exchange.

4.In Review of Contribution Regime of Independent Telephone Companies in Ontario and Quebec, Telecom Decision CRTC 99-5, 21 April 1999 (Decision 99-5), the Commission ordered independent telephone companies in Ontario and Quebec to increase their local rates to Bell rate levels, effective 1 July 1999. In Decision 99-5, the Commission also considered that independent telephone companies should be allowed to immediately file tariffs to eliminate mileage charges and, in certain circumstances, expand local calling areas based on NCCs.

5.The Commission notes that the proposed Basic Access Service Improvements are consistent with Decision 99-5.

6.The Commission notes that the introduction of the proposed rate groups and the resulting local rate decrease for the residential subscribers of the Arberarder exchange are not consistent with its determinations in Decision 99-5.

7.The Commission considers that a number of independent telephone companies will likely be proposing the introduction of new EAS links with Bell, consistent with Decision 99-5. The Commission considers that the concurrent introduction of a number of EAS links would likely strain both the independent telephone companies' and Bell's resources. Given this, the Commission considers that the company should have some flexibility with respect to the scheduling of the effective dates of the approved EAS links.

8.In light of the foregoing, the Commission orders that:

(1) Tariff Notices 35 and 35A are approved, as modified by paragraphs (2), (3), (4) and (5) below.

(2) The company is to implement local rate increases consistent with the Commission's Decision 99-5 determinations, effective 1 July 1999.

(3) The company is to implement the approved EAS links by 30 September 1999.

(4) The proposed introduction of rate groups and the resulting local rate decrease for the Arberarder exchange are denied.

(5) The company is to implement the remaining aspects of its application, effective 1 July 1999.

(6) The company is to issue revised tariff pages to reflect the above revisions.

Secretary General

This document is available in alternative format upon request and may also be viewed at the following Internet site: www.crtc.gc.ca