ARCHIVED -  Telecom Order CRTC 99-508

Telecom Order

Ottawa, 7 June 1999

Telecom Order CRTC 99-508

On 1 September 1998, Quadro Communications Co-operative Inc. filed an application for approval of tariff revisions to introduce Basic Access Service Improvements and to restructure its local rates.

File No.: Tariff Notice 15

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

2.The Basic Access Service Improvements proposed by the company consist of an expanded local calling area. The company's proposed expanded local calling area would introduce new Extended Area Service (EAS) links following its interpretations of the principles behind 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.

4.A majority of subscribers who filed comments supported the application as filed by the company.

5.In its comments, Bell noted that a number of the proposed EAS links did not meet the NCC criteria.

6.In response to Bell's comments, the company noted it was not consulted in the development of Bell's NCC criteria and should therefore not be held to the strict interpretation put forward by Bell. The company also argued that its proposed EAS links were reflective of its customers' needs as evidenced by the numerous supporting comments.

7.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.

8.The Commission notes that the proposed rate groups and rate increases are not consistent with its determinations in Decision 99-5. The Commission is of the view that the company should implement the local rate increases ordered by the Commission in Decision 99-5.

9.The Commission notes that a number of the proposed EAS links are not consistent with Decision 99-5.

10.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.

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

(1) Tariff Notice 15 is approved as modified by paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) 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 proposed EAS links between Sebringville and Kitchener-Waterloo, Monkton and Thorndale exchanges are denied. The proposed EAS links between the Uniondale and Embro, Ilderton and Thorndale exchanges are denied. The proposed EAS links between the Granton and Clinton, Dashwood, Exeter, Hensall (Bell), Hensall (Independent), Seaforth, Thorndale, Zurich, Centralia and Crediton exchanges are denied. The proposed EAS links between the Kirkton and the Clinton, Dashwood, Hensall (Bell), Hensall (Independent), Seaforth, Zurich, Centralia and Crediton exchanges are denied.

(4) The proposed introduction of rate groups is denied.

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

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

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

Secretary General

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