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Order CRTC 2000-265
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Ottawa, 11 April 2000
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Revised interim 1999 Carrier Access Tariffs
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Reference: SATAT Tariff Notice 10
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Background
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1.
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The Société d'administration des tarifs d'accès des télécommunicateurs (SATAT) filed, on behalf of its members, proposed revised interim 1999 Carrier Access Tariffs (CATs) pursuant to Telecom Order CRTC 99-1111, dated 30 November 1999.
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2.
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In Order 99-1111, the Commission approved the final 1997 and 1998 CATs of SATAT members and directed SATAT to file, on behalf of all its members, revised interim 1999 CATs to reflect the determinations in Order 99-1111.
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3.
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On 22 December 1999, SATAT filed proposed revised interim 1999 CATs and served an abridged version on Bell Canada and Québec-Téléphone.
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Disclosure request
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4.
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On 14 January 2000, Bell indicated to the Commission that it was unable to evaluate the proposed revised interim 1999 CATs given that SATAT had filed information in confidence with the Commission.
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5.
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Bell stated that the Ontario Telephone Association and the Canadian Alliance of Publicly-Owned Telecommunications Systems routinely disclose information, such as those filed in confidence by SATAT, on the public record. Bell also referred to the Commission's confidentiality decision in Time-frame for the implementation of price cap regulation and any further required rate rebalancing for Québec-Téléphone and Télébec ltée, Telecom Public Notice CRTC 99-15, dated 27 May 1999, in which Québec-Téléphone was directed to provide similar information on the public record.
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6.
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On 21 January 2000, SATAT provided Bell and Québec-Téléphone with the information it had filed in confidence, but requested that the information not be placed on the public record.
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7.
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SATAT has not provided any reasons nor demonstrated that the placement of the information on the public record could cause any specific direct harm to SATAT members.
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8.
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The Commission notes that:
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- SATAT members are currently operating in a non-competitive environment with respect to local services;
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- the disclosure request relates to proposed subsidies from toll carriers;
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- similar information has been filed on the public record by SATAT in previous filings; and
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- the information filed in confidence does not reveal the financial results or the financial situation of SATAT members.
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9.
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The Commission is of the view that the disclosure of the information would not:
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- result in material financial loss or gain to any SATAT members;
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- prejudice the competitive position of SATAT members; nor
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- affect contractual or other negotiations by SATAT members.
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10.
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In light of the foregoing, the Commission directs SATAT to disclose the information, filed in confidence with the Commission, on the public record within three days of the issuance of this order.
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Revised interim 1999 CATs
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11.
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In Review of contribution regime of independent telephone companies in Ontario and Quebec, Telecom Decision CRTC 99-5, dated 21 April 1999 (Decision 99-5), the Commission stated at paragraph 97 that "…each independent will be required to cap its contribution requirement at the interim 1999 contribution level…".
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12.
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The interim 1999 CATs approved in Telecom Order CRTC 99-676, dated 16 July 1999, were based on estimated 1998 contribution requirements. Therefore, the Commission directed SATAT, in Order 99-1111, to file revised company-specific interim 1999 CATs to reflect the final determinations for 1998 and to ensure that the 1999 cap amount represented was more accurately reflected.
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13.
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The revised interim 1999 CATs filed by SATAT on 22 December 1999 reflect the determinations of the Commission set out in Order 99-1111, except for a minor and immaterial discrepancy in the 1998 contribution requirement of CoopTel.
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14.
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Bell concurred with the minute forecast provided by SATAT in its 22 December 1999 filing and provided no further comments. Québec-Téléphone provided no comments.
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15.
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The Commission notes that effective 1 February 2000, la Compagnie de Téléphone de Lambton Inc. is no longer a member of SATAT. Lambton filed separately its revised interim 1999 CAT on 24 February 2000 (Tariff Notice 9). Lambton received approval in Order 2000-264 dated 11 April 2000.
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16.
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In light of the foregoing, the Commission:
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a) approves the company-specific CATs listed in Appendix A of this order on an interim basis, effective 1 January 1999; and
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b) directs SATAT to issue forthwith revised tariff pages to reflect the revised interim 1999 CATs.
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Secretary General
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This document is available in alternate format upon request and may also be viewed at the following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca
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