ARCHIVED -  Telecom Order CRTC 99-641

Telecom Order CRTC 99-641

Ottawa, 13 July 1999

On 26 January 1999, GT Group Telecom Networks Inc. (Group Telecom) filed an application for approval of tariff revisions related to intra-exchange and extended area service (EAS) traffic termination, contribution charges, and Location Routing Number (LRN) Absent service.

File No.: Tariff Notice 3

1. Group Telecom proposed revisions to Tariff Item 101 - Compensation for Traffic Imbalance, to reflect the final rates approved for intra-exchange traffic termination in Telecom Order CRTC 98-1190, dated 30 November 1998.

2. Group Telecom proposed to introduce a service that would provide Local Exchange Carriers (LECs) with interconnecting circuits for local traffic to another exchange within the Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier’s (ILEC) EAS under Tariff Item 102 - Delivery of LEC Traffic within an EAS Area.

3. Group Telecom also proposed to provide for the processing of calls from an interconnecting carrier that does not transmit the LRN of the switch to which the call must be routed for termination in locations where local number portability has been implemented under Tariff Item 205, Call Routing - LRN Absent.

4. Group Telecom also proposed revisions to Tariff Item 202.3 - Contribution Charges, to collect contribution on Internet Service Providers’ eligible telecommunications services pursuant to Telecom Order CRTC 98-929, dated 17 September 1998 (Order 98-929).

5. By way of a letter dated 4 March 1999, BCT·TELUS noted that Group Telecom’s proposed tariff for delivery of LEC traffic within an EAS area described services that are optional to other LECs. BCT·TELUS submitted that the optional nature of these services must be clearly established in the tariff before approval is granted.

6. BCT·TELUS noted that the wording in Tariff Item 102.4 would permit Group Telecom to charge more for delivery of calls to wireless service providers (WSPs), than it charges to other Group Telecom subscribers. BCT·TELUS submitted that the words "or WSP" must be deleted from Item 102.4 to bring it into compliance with Telecom Order CRTC 98-486 dated 19 May 1998. BCT·TELUS further noted that Item 102.4 pertained to interim local transit which should be a separate tariff.

7. BCT·TELUS noted that the definitions in Items 202.3 g) 3) and 4) do not match the definitions given in Order 98-929 and submitted that they should be corrected. BCT·TELUS further submitted that Group Telecom should remove the reference to the exemption regime for Internet backbone services as this regime is outside the scope of Order 98-929.

8. In reply, Group Telecom agreed to remove the words "or WSPs" from Item 102.4. Group Telecom noted that the National Services Tariff still included a provision similar to Item 102.4 at this time. Group Telecom submitted that the definitions in Items 202.3 g) 3) and 4) agreed with Order 98-929 and do not refer to Internet backbone services. Group Telecom noted that the Commission had approved equivalent provisions for BC TEL, TELUS Communications Inc. and Bell Canada.

9. The Commission notes that Group Telecom’s proposed tariff modifications related to compensation for traffic imbalance and LRN Absent service correspond to tariffs approved by the Commission for the ILECs.

10. The Commission agrees with BCT·TELUS that competitive LECs, unlike the ILECs, are not required to offer delivery of LEC traffic within an EAS area. The Commission considers that while Group Telecom may offer this service to LECs in competition with the incumbents, it need not be tariffed.

11. The Commission agrees with Group Telecom that the definitions in Items 202.3 g) 3) and 4) match the definitions given in Order 98-929 except in one respect which should be corrected.

12. In light of the above, the Commission orders that:

1. The proposed tariff revisions are granted interim approval with the following modifications:

(a) delete Tariff Item 102; and

(b) in Tariff Item 202.3 g) 4), add the words "line-side access or" prior to "a Canada-U.S. circuit.".

2. Group Telecom is to issue forthwith revised tariff pages.

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