ARCHIVED -  Telecom Order CRTC 99-59

Telecom Order

Ottawa, 21 January 1999

Telecom Order CRTC 99-59

On 11 November 1998, Abitibi-Consolidated filed a letter with respect to its 1998 Carrier Access Tariff (CAT).

File No.: 8085-RP0001/97

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 Abitibi-Consolidated. The Commission noted that Abitibi-Consolidated had not filed a proposed Phase III Manual or forecast Phase III results and that the regulatory framework set out in Decision 96-6 included the requirement to develop Phase III allocations in order to develop a cost-based CAT.

2.For reasons provided 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 Abitibi-Consolidated. The Commission concluded that Northern's final 1997 CAT would be used as the interim 1998 CAT for Abitibi-Consolidated. The Commission directed Abitibi-Consolidated to issue forthwith tariff pages to reflect an interim 1998 CAT rate of $0.0697 per minute, effective 1 January 1998.

3.In Decision 98-13, the Commission further stated that, in the event that Abitibi-Consolidated does not file a Phase III Manual and 1998 Phase III results by 31 December 1998, the Commission intended to make final the interim 1998 CAT.

4.As noted above, Abitibi-Consolidated was directed to issue tariff pages to reflect an interim 1998 CAT rate, effective 1 January 1998, pursuant to Decision 98-13. The Commission notes that Abitibi-Consolidated did not issue the required tariff pages. By letter dated 11 November 1998, Abitibi-Consolidated informed the Commission of its intention not to file 1998 Phase III forecasts and requested that the interim CAT rate be made final for 1998.

5.The Commission hereby makes final Abitibi-Consolidated's interim 1998 CAT, effective 1 January 1998.

6.Further, consistent with Decision 98-13 and pending the filing of Abitibi-Consolidated's Phase III Manual, 1999 Phase III forecast 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 Abitibi-Consolidated. 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.

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

(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;

(b) Abitibi-Consolidated is to issue forthwith, tariff pages reflecting its final 1998 CAT;

(c) Abitibi-Consolidated is to issue forthwith, 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

(d) Abitibi-Consolidated is to notify the Commission, within 120 days from the date of this Order, whether or not it intends to file a Phase III Manual, a 1999 Phase III forecast and a proposed 1999 company-specific CAT in 1999. In the event that Abitibi-Consolidated does not intend to file a 1999 Phase III forecast and a proposed 1999 company-specific CAT, the company is to file comments with the Commission on the reasonableness of making final its interim 1999 CAT. Parties will have 30 days from the date of Abitibi-Consolidated's filing, to file comments with the Commission, serving copies on Abitibi-Consolidated. Abitibi-Consolidated may file reply comments within 10 days with the Commission, serving copies on all parties who filed comments.

Secretary General

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