ARCHIVED - Public Notice CRTC 2001-24

Public Notice CRTC 2001-24

Ottawa, 9 February 2001

Competition in the local exchange and local payphone markets in the territories of Québec-Téléphone and Télébec ltée

Reference: 8622-C12-13-01

1.

Québec-Téléphone and Télébec ltée are monopoly providers in the markets for local exchange services and local pay telephones in their respective service territories.

2.

In Telecom Decision CRTC 96-5, dated 7 August 1996, Regulatory framework for Québec-Téléphone and Télébec ltée, the Commission concluded that local competition must be allowed in the territories of Québec-Téléphone and Télébec.

3.

The Commission notes that, in 1997, it allowed competition in the local exchange market, and in 1998, in the local payphone market, for the former Stentor member companies.

4.

In the proceeding which led to Telecom Decision CRTC 97-21, dated 18 December 1997, entitled Implementation of regulatory framework for Québec-Téléphone and Télébec ltée, Québec-Téléphone and Télébec stated that they would be able to implement local competition once their transition to price cap regulation has been completed.

5.

In Telecom Decision CRTC 99-19, dated 10 December 1999, entitled Time-frame for the implementation of price cap regulation and rate rebalancing for Québec-Téléphone and Télébec ltée, the Commission set 1 January 2002 as the effective date for price cap regulation for the Utility segments of Québec-Téléphone and Télébec.

6.

In the Commission's view, it is in the interest of both consumers and carriers to implement competition in the local exchange services and local payphone markets, in the service territories of Québec-Téléphone and Télébec. Furthermore, the Commission is of the preliminary view that such competition should begin in 2002.

7.

Through numerous letters, orders and decisions, a list of which is appended¹, the Commission, assisted by the CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee and its working groups (comprising industry stakeholders), has established terms that facilitate competition in the local exchange and local payphone markets for the former Stentor member companies. The goal of these terms is to achieve a balance among the interests and needs of consumers, new entrants in the market for local exchange services, competitive toll service providers and incumbent telephone companies, while maintaining universal access to affordable telecommunications services in high-cost serving areas.

8.

The Commission is of the preliminary view that competition in the local exchange and local payphone markets in the service territories of Québec-Téléphone and Télébec should be under the terms already established to encourage local competition in the territories of the former Stentor member companies.

9.

With this public notice, the Commission seeks comments on appropriate terms and the implementation date of competition in the local exchange and local payphone markets in the service territories of Québec-Téléphone and Télébec. Parties should, among other things, comment on the following:

10.

In addition, the Commission requests that Québec-Téléphone and Télébec file the following, based on the supporting rates and costs filed in earlier proceedings by the former Stentor member companies:

11.

The Commission will initiate a proceeding during the second quarter of 2001 to establish: (a) the rate bands for local loops, and (b) the rates applicable to local network component unbundling, and to consider other issues concerning local competition in the markets for local exchange services and local pay telephones.

Procedure

12.

Québec-Téléphone and Télébec are made parties to this proceeding.

13.

Parties wishing to participate in this proceeding must notify the Commission of their intention to do so, by 28 February 2001. These parties should contactthe Secretary General by mail at CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N2; by fax at (819) 953-0795; or by email at procedure@crtc.gc.ca. They are to indicate in the notice their email address, where available. If parties do not have access to the Internet, they are to indicate in their notice whether they wish to receive disk versions of hard copy filings.

14.

The Commission will issue as soon as possible after the registration date, a complete list of interested parties and their mailing address (including email address, if available), identifying those parties who wish to receive disk versions.

15.

Québec-Téléphone and Télébec are to file with the Commission their comments concerning, in particular, the issues raised in paragraphs 9 and 10 of this proceeding, with supporting rationale and calculations, serving copies on all other parties, by 23 March 2001.

16.

Parties may address interrogatories to Québec-Téléphone and Télébec. Any such interrogatories must be filed with the Commission, with copies served on Québec-Téléphone and Télébec, by 12 April 2001.

17.

Responses to interrogatories addressed pursuant to paragraph 16 are to be filed with the Commission, with copies served on all other parties, by 11 May 2001.

18.

Requests for further responses to interrogatories addressed by parties pursuant to paragraph 17, specifying in each case why a further response is both relevant and necessary, and requests for public disclosure of information for which confidentiality has been claimed, setting out the reasons for disclosure, must be filed with the Commission, with copies served on Québec-Téléphone and Télébec, by 18 May 2001.

19.

Responses to requests for further responses to interrogatories and for public disclosure must be filed with the Commission, with a copy served on the relevant parties, by 25 May 2001.

20.

Requests for further responses and public disclosure of information will be dealt with as soon as possible. It is expected that any information to be provided will be filed with the Commission, and served on interested parties, by 8 June 2001.

21.

Interested parties may file comments with the Commission on the issues raised in this proceeding, serving copies on all other parties, by 22 June 2001.

22.

Québec-Téléphone and Télébec may file reply comments with the Commission, serving copies on all other parties, by 6 July 2001.

23.

Where a document is to be filed or served by a specific date, the document must be actually received, not merely mailed, by that date.

24.

Parties wishing to file electronic versions of their comments can do so by email at the address shown above, or on diskette.

25.

Electronic submissions should be in the HTML format. As an alternative, those making submissions may use "Microsoft Word" for text and "Microsoft Excel" for spreadsheets.

26.

Please number each paragraph of your submission. In addition, please enter the line ***End of document*** following the last paragraph. This will help the Commission verify that the document has not been damaged during transmission.

27.

The Commission will make submissions filed in electronic form available on its web site at www.crtc.gc.ca in the official language and format in which they are submitted. This will make it easier for members of the public to consult the documents.

28.

The Commission also encourages interested parties to monitor the public examination file (and/or the Commission's web site) for additional information that they may find useful when preparing their submissions.

29.

Submissions may be examined or will be made available promptly upon request at the following Commission offices during normal business hours:

Central Building
Les Terrasses de la Chaudière
1 Promenade du Portage, Room G-5
Hull, Quebec K1A 0N2
Tel: (819) 997-2429 - TDD: 994-0423
Fax: (819) 994-0218

405 de Maisonneuve Blvd. East
2nd Floor, Suite B2300
Montréal, Quebec H2L 4J5
Tel: (514) 283-6607 - TDD: 283-8316
Fax: (514) 283-3689

Secretary General

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

AASR

Abbreviated Access Service Report

AC

Area Code

ANI

Automatic Number Identification

AOSP

Alternate Operator Service Providers

BIWG

Building access and Inside wiring Working Group

BOSG

Billing and Ordering Sub-Group

BPSWG

Business Process Sub-Working Group

BPWG

Business Process Working Group

CARE

Customer Account Record Exchange

CCS7

Common Channel Signalling #7

CDIG

Canadian Data Interchange Guidelines

CFA

Central Fund Administrator

CFSG

Central Fund Sub-Group

CISC

CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee

CLEC

Competitive Local Exchange Carrier

CLG

Co-Location Group

C-LOG

Canadian Local Ordering Guide

CNA

Canadian Numbering Administrator

CNA

Canadian Numbering Administrator

CNAM

Calling NAMe conversion facility specifications

COCA

Central Office Code Assignment

COCUS

Central Office Code Utilisation Survey

CPTSP

Competitive Pay Telephone Service Provider

CSA

Canadian Standards Association

CSCN

Canadian Steering Committee on Numbering

CSPDN

Circuit Switched Public Data Network

CTSG

Customer Transfer Sub-Group

CWWG

Cable Wiring Work Group

DISWG

Data Interchange Sub-Working Group

EAS

Extended Area Service

EFRC

Extended Flat Rate Calling

ESSG

Emergency Services Sub-Group

ESWG

Emergency Services Working Group

FG A

Function Group A

GTT

Global Title Translation

IC

Interconnecting Carrier

IDF

Intermediate Distribution Frame

IDLC

Integrated Digital Loop Carrier

ILEC

Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier

ISDN

Integrated Services Digital Network

IVR

Interactive Voice Response

IXC

Interexchange carrier

LATA

Local Access and Transport Area

LEC

Local Exchange Carrier

LNP

Local Number Portability

LNPSG

Local Number Portability Sub-Group

LSR

Local Service Request

MALI

Master Agreement for Local Interconnection

MASG

Master Agreement Sub-Group

MAWG

Master Agreement Working Group

MTR

Main Terminal Room

MUD

Multiple Unit Dwelling

NANC

North American Numbering Council

NAS

Network Access Service

NOSG

Network Operations Sub-Group

NOWG

Network Operations Working Group

NPA

Numbering Plan Area

NPAC

Number Portability Administration Centre

NPSG

Network Planning Sub-Group

NPSWG

Network Planning Sub-Working Group

NTWG

NeTwork Working Group

OS/DL SWG

Operator Services & Directory Listings Sub-Working Group

PAL

Payphone Access Line

PIC

Primary Interexchange Carrier

POI

Point of Interconnection

PSAP

Public Safety Answering Point

ROSWG

Roll-Out Sub-Working Group

SCCP

Signalling Connection Control Part

SFT

Special Facilities Tariff

SOC

Stentor Operating Company

SPOI

Signalling Point of Interconnection

TIF

Task Identification Form

TISG

Technical Interface Sub-Group

TNS

Transit Network Selection

TNS

Transit Network Selection

TPSWG

Trial-Plan Sub-Working Group

WSP

Wireless Service Provider

PAY TELEPHONE COMPETITION RULINGS - LETTER DECISIONS

Date

File Number/CISC Document Number

Category

Subject/Title

CISC Group

Rule

08-Apr-99

CONSENSUS ITEMS

TIRE012

Technical Interface

ANI I/II Digits for Payphone Identification

TISG

An individual LEC network could choose to support either one or both of the ANI I/II (7 or 70) digit values to identify calls originating from a competitive pay phone access line. In the case that the value "7" is used, the ANI line number must also be signaled to allow identification of originating line characteristics corresponding to that line number.

ESRE020a

Emergency Services

Pay telephone location information

ESSG

Part (a) of paragraph 101 of Telecom Decision CRTC 98-8 places no onus on civic authorities to request that CPTSPs provide them with pay telephone location information, and that the onus rests instead with the CPTSPs to provide the specified information to the E911 administrator.

09-Nov-99

Emergency Services

Routing of 0 dialed calls to emergency service providers

ESSG

Absent suitable alternative solutions, CPTSPs will be required to implement the following routing of 0 dialed emergency calls:

1) All 0 dialed calls from pay telephones will be routed to the Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier's (ILEC) operator service for the purpose of routing calls to emergency service providers serving the location of the pay telephone.

2) All Competitive Pay Telephone Providers using a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier and/or Alternate Operator Service Provider will be directed to institute "00" dialing for all non-emergency operator assisted calls. Suitable signage will be affixed to pay telephones instructing customers on the use of "911", "0" and "00".

18-Jan-00

CONSENSUS ITEMS

ESRE020b

Emergency Services

Roles and Obligations of Competitive Pay Telephone Providers

ESSG

The CPTSP's pay telephone access line and terminal equipment must be capable of supporting emergency 9-1-1 call specifications and features. Emergency call specifications and features include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. On each pay telephone, the instructions on how to access the emergency numbers (9-1-1 or, in areas where 9-1-1 is not available, operator assistance), must be clearly posted;

2. The pay telephone must allow a caller to dial 9-1-1 or "0-" Operator calls where 9-1-1 service is unavailable and to complete the call without the deposit of a coin, credit card or any other device as soon as the calling party picks up the handset or activates the payphone in some other fashion. It is recommended that the pay telephone provide an indication that a call may be made via a dial tone signal, other comfort tone, or indicator;

3. The pay telephone access line must be connected to the network of a LEC;

4. The pay telephone access line must be capable of forwarding to the 9-1-1 Selective Router the valid Automatic Number Identification (ANI) assigned to the pay telephone set;

5. The pay telephone number must be displayed on the pay telephone, to enable the caller to provide it to the 9-1-1 call-taker when requested, in the case of no ANI/ALI delivery on that call;

6. Where technically feasible, the terminal-network interface between the pay telephone and the LEC must be capable of supporting 9-1-1 call control features (Call Party Hold, Ring-back and Forced Disconnect) where provided, even where no ringer/tone generator is available in the pay telephone set;

7. If incoming calls are blocked to the pay telephone, in the event of a emergency 9-1-1 call, an audible warning/information message must be provided where technically feasible to the PSAP indicating that the pay telephone line is not equipped to receive incoming calls.

The CPTSP is required to order and use pay telephone access line types that the underlying LEC identifies with a public telephone class of service (e.g. "PCT" or "PUC" for Public Coin Telephone) as indicated in the ILEC 9-1-1 Interconnection Support Document.

The CPTSP is required to provide up-to-date specific location information of the pay telephone access line/equipment, to the LEC providing the dial tone/facilities: at the time of ordering, at the time of any subsequent physical moves of the equipment, or when the CPTSP becomes aware of changes in the references used to specify the location. The information should be specific enough to allow emergency services to respond as quickly as possible to a specific incident.

16-Feb-00

ESRE021A

Emergency Services

0-dialed emergency calls from payphones

ESSG

Approved: Consensus on handling of 0-emergency calls originating from a payphone, based on proposals by Telus, TelusBC and Bell Canada and Partners.

PAY TELEPHONE COMPETITION RULINGS - DECISIONS

Date

File Number/CISC Document Number

Category

Subject/Title

Rule

30-Jun-98

Main Decision

Telecom Decision CRTC 98-8 Local Pay Telephone Competition

See below

Registration

All new entrants must register. Registration must include the following:

(i) An attestation that the CPTSP understands and will conform to the obligations and consumer safeguards set out in Decision 98-8;

(ii) The name of the carrier supplying access lines in each serving area;

(iii) Serving area maps, which must be made available upon request to the public at their business offices;

(iv) Details as to how it proposes to deal with consumer complaints.

LEC Agreements and Consumer Safeguards

(i) Where an unregulated provider uses an incumbent local exchange carrier's (ILEC) services for access, Commission approved pay telephone access tariffs and a standard service agreement must be in place.

(iii) Where an unregulated service provider uses CLEC's services for access, the CLEC must ensure that its service contract includes the consumer safeguard requirements of this Decision.

Non-compliance by the CPTSP with the ILEC tariff or the CLEC contract as applicable will constitute reason for the termination of the access service.

ILEC Pay Telephone Locations

Within 45 days of a decision allowing pay telephone competition, ILECs must file reports indicating where pay telephones are located in their respective serving territories. Thereafter, ILECs are directed to file annual reports indicating locations where pay telephones were removed and the reasons why.

Per Call Compensation

CPTSPs should negotiate rates with interexchange carriers.

Operator Services

"The Commission directs that any operator services offered by CPTSPs be provided in compliance with procedures that evolve from CISC. CTPSPs should negotiate rates with interexchange carriers." (See also Mandated Safeguards)

Exclusive Contracts

"In order to identify whether a problem exists, the Commission directs the ILECs to file information with respect to any long-term or exclusive contracts which have a life expectancy of five years or longer, within 45 days of this Decision.

Mandated Safeguards

(a) Provision of coinless and cardless access to 9-1-1, or access to emergency call routing by an operator accessed by dialing 0 at a pay telephone. Where required by civic authorities, provision of a list of detailed pay telephone locations to the enhanced 9-1-1 administrator.

(b) Provision of Message Relay Service (MRS).

(c) Provision of 6-1-1 or other number for reporting telephone trouble.

(d) Provision of non-discriminatory access to the networks of all alternate providers of long distance service connected to the underlying local exchange network, if long distance calling is permitted.

(e) Posting on or near the pay telephone the company name, address and toll free number where information can be obtained and complaints addressed.

(f) Posting the Commission's address and toll free number (1-877-249-CRTC) on all pay telephone equipment, in order to ensure that consumers have direct recourse to facilitate resolution of unresolved complaints.

(g) Operator services, if provided, (other than emergency services access and MRS) that are in compliance with Telecom Order 95-316 as well as with procedures that evolve from the CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee.

(h) Prominent display, at each pay telephone location, of the following information: rates of local calls, the name of the default long distance provider, any surcharges not included in the price of the call and any limitations on the functionality of the equipment, such as an inability to make long distance calls.

(i) Provision for coin return for uncompleted calls, such as busy signals or no answer if coin access is applicable, and similarly if a card is used, alternately billed charges must not apply if the call is not connected to the called party.

(j) Standard arrangement of letters as well as numbers provided on the dial in order to permit callers to reach their provider of choice through the use of commonly used vanity access sequences.

(k) All pay telephones are to meet existing and future CSA and the Terminal Attachment Program Advisory Committee standards to prevent network harm.

(l) All pay telephones are to be accessible to the physically disabled, be hearing aid compatible and meet the standards established in Telecom Order CRTC 98-626, as modified by Telecom Order CRTC 98-1186, for provisioning of service to visually impaired consumers. These include:

- Bright contrasting-colour coin and/or card mechanisms to make them easier to see;

- A feature which enables the user to start the call over if an error is made;

- A screen which displays context-sensitive dialing instructions in a larger size than can be accommodated with printed instruction cards;

- A card-reader for a variety of telephone cards; and

- Voice prompts to assist in placing calls or using features.

(m) Adherence to all applicable Commission rules concerning protection of customer privacy.

PAY TELEPHONE COMPETITION RULINGS - ORDERS

Date

File Number/CISC Document Number

Category

Subject/Title

Rule

26-Jun-98

Telecom Order CRTC 98-626

Pay telephones must be equipped with the following functionality:

a) a more tactile key pad, larger buttons on the keypad spread further apart than standard sets;

(Note: This requirement was rescinded in Telecom Order CRTC 98-1186)

b) bright, contrasting-colour coin and/or card mechanisms to make them easier to see;

c) a feature which enables the user to start the call over if an error is made;

d) a screen which displays context-sensitive dialing instructions in a larger size than can be accommodated with printed instruction cards;

e) a card-reader for a variety of telephone cards; and

f) voice prompts to assist in placing calls or using features.

(para 22)

26-Nov-98

Telecom Order CRTC 98-1186

"The Commission orders that paragraph 22 a) ("a more tactile key pad, larger buttons on the keypad spread further apart than standard sets") be deleted from Order 98-626."

22-Dec-99

Telecom Order CRTC 98-1189

"The Commission directs the incumbent local exchange carriers to amend their respective pay telephone access line tariffs to reflect the Commission's determination that CPTSPs should not be permitted to limit the length of local pay telephone calls. Similarly, competitive local exchange carriers are directed to include the above limitation in all contracts with CPTSPs for the provision of pay telephone service." (para 24)

14-Jun-00

Telecom Order CRTC 2000-538: Compensation for toll-free calls payable to competitive payphone service providers

a) All IXCs, pursuant to Section 24 of the Act, must compensate the CPTSPs who provide toll-free access to the IXC's network;

b) CLECs, as a condition of offering service pursuant to Section 24 of the Act, who provide access service to the CPTSPs, must provide sufficient billing information so that CPTSPs can bill the IXCs. This requirement must be included in any agreement/contract entered into between CLECs and CPTSPs;

c) A default rate of $0.25 is set in cases where companies cannot negotiate a mutually acceptable rate. The collection of the compensation rate should commence, in the absence of any alternatively negotiated rate, for all CPTSPs in a given ILEC territory on the date of final approval of the ILEC's tariff to provide tracking report services.

(para 25)

15-Sep-00

Telecom Order CRTC 2000-858: Final rates for payphone access lines

See Below

Basic PAL Rates

"In light of the lower grade of service provided, the Commission has reduced the proposed basic PAL rate by 25 percent." (para 12)

Basic Features

Basic features are classified as follows and are to be provided at the rates specified:

- PAL basic service at 75 percent business line rate;

- PAL feature surcharge at no additional charge;

- business line service charge for PAL line installation;

- answer supervision at tariffed rate;

- BNS database service at tariffed rate;

- cut-off on disconnect at no charge if ordered with PAL;

- 9-1-1 (emergency) at tariffed rate;

- 7-1-1 (Message Relay Service or MRS) at tariffed rate;

- 6-1-1 (repair service), but based on alternate routing such as programming 6-1-1 calls to route to a toll-free number;

- 900/976 call blocking at tariffed rate;

- local calling extended area service (EAS) at the same rate business customers pay;

- Touch-Tone included at no additional charge;

- directory to be provided if requested, at no additional charge.

(para 20)

Optional Features

Optional features:

- operator "0-" services;

- 4-1-1: local directory assistance;

- XXX-555-1212: long distance directory assistance;

- receive incoming calls at no charge if ordered with PAL;

- directory listing at no charge if ordered with PAL; and

- billing and collection

Given the competitive regime established in the local competition decision and the evolution of alternatives in the operations support systems market, the Commission finds it appropriate to treat ILEC provision of these services for their CPTSP customers as optional.

(para 20, 22)

LOCAL COMPETITION RULINGS - LETTER DECISIONS

Date

File Number/ CISC Document Number

Category

Subject/Title

CISC Group

Rule

29-Oct-97

CONSENSUS ITEMS

29-Oct-97

RORE01

LNP

LNP Rollout

ROSWG

LNP rollout should take place through a combination of two processes: (i) pursuant to a pre-determined rollout schedule, and (ii) pursuant to carrier requests for LNP deployment.

29-Oct-97

TPRE002

LNP

LNP Trial Scope and Objectives

TPSWG

Approved: Consensus on the scope and objectives of the LNP trial.

29-Oct-97

TPRE003

LNP

Trial Timing and Duration

TPSWG

Approved: Consensus on work breakdown structure for LNP trial, Phase 0.

29-Oct-97

CTRE007a

Customer Transfer

Review of customer migration process to determine the impact of leased and/or third party maintained equipment

CTSG

LECs will need to designate a point of contact for equipment suppliers and maintenance providers for installation and repair situations.

29-Oct-97

CTRE008a

Customer Transfer

Business Failures, Mergers and Acquisitions

CTSG

A LEC that acquires the customer base of another must send to the individual customers, within 90 days, a notification that includes among other information details of the impact, if any, on the customer's service, including any change in rates, billing frequency, contract terms or other conditions of service. Further, where an acquiring LEC makes any material change in the rates, terms or conditions of the acquired customers' service prior to the end of the 90-day period, notification must be received by the customers prior to the effective date of any such change. LECs that become insolvent, and for which there is no acquiring LEC, must notify their customers prior to ceasing service.

29-Oct-97

CTRE0013a

Customer Transfer

Return of Leased Loops

CTSG

Where a LEC acquires a specific end-customer, and where the existing loop can be identified, and where it is an ILEC loop, it must be made available to the acquiring LEC, whether employed by the ILEC or a leasee.

29-Oct-97

DORE008

Directory Listings

Impacts of LNP on Directory Listings

OS/DL SWG

Service provider portability should not impact the provision of directories or directory assistance. However, geographic number portability will impact the NPA-NXX sort mechanisms presently used and that a viable alternative may be to use Exchange Names.

29-Oct-97

DORE009a

Operator Services

Operator Processes

OS/DL SWG

Process maps were developed by the OS/DL SWG to illustrate model call flows for operator interface with respect to requests for toll assistance, e.g. operator handled call completion (collect, person to person, calling card, third party) and request for assistance requiring intermediary operators, e.g. trouble dialing, busy line verification and busy line interruption. Consensus was reached that operator hand-off would be a business decision and subject to negotiation between LECs providing operator services.

29-Oct-97

DOCO008d

Directory Listings

Basic Listing Interchange File (BLIF)

OS/DL SWG

Approved: BLIF as the appropriate mechanism for the exchange of basic listing information between local exchange carriers. All LECs should make available basic listing information to other LECs for directories or directory assistance using the file format and process identified in DOCO008d (BLIF).

29-Oct-97

ESRE002A

Emergency Services

9-1-1 Architecture

ESSG

Carriers should be provided with interconnection to ILEC 9-1-1 systems in accordance with the architecture described in the Trunk-side Interconnection Document wherever this architecture is available to CLECs.

29-Oct-97

ESRE003a

Emergency Services

Dual NPA-NXX within the same exchange

ESSG

a) In situations where a CLEC end office switch provides service to 2 or more NPAs in 2 or more provinces, the CLEC will require NPA specific trunk groups from the CLEC end office to the appropriate ILEC E9-1-1 tandem(s) in each province.

b) In situations where a CLEC end office switch provides service to 2 or more NPAs within the same province, the CLEC will require NPA specific trunk groups from the CLEC end office to the appropriate ILEC E9-1-1 tandem(s) within the province.

It is noted that ANI delivery to the E9-1-1 tandem(s) provides 7-digit ANI for the 9-1-1 caller. The caller's NPA is assigned from the NPA specific E9-1-1 trunk group. It is also noted that there is no inter-provincial routing of 9-1-1 calls. 9-1-1 calls must be delivered to the E9-1-1 tandem(s) specified for the caller's NPA within the caller's home province.

29-Oct-97

ESRE008a

Emergency Services

Emergency call treatment affecting operator services

ESSG

1. 9-1-1 Calls in Non-9-1-1 Areas: The document provides an number of alternative treatments. These treatments are advisory but not binding on CLECs, however, a CLEC shall be required to handle a 9-1-1 call dialed in a geographic area in which there is no existing 9-1-1 service in accordance with a treatment that is ranked no lower than the treatment that an ILEC accords such a call in the same geographic area.

2. Zero Dialed Emergency Calls in 9-1-1 Areas: CLECs must handle each zero emergency call dialed in a geographic area in which 9-1-1 service is available by directing the call to CLEC Operator Services for call completion by the CLEC operator to the appropriate 9-1-1 Public Service Answering Position (PSAP) for the caller's NPA NXX.

29-Oct-97

ESRE009a

Emergency Services

Billing and Collection Agreements

ESSG

CLECs should adhere to the municipal 9-1-1 cost recovery mechanism in existence at this time in Alberta and Quebec. As long as the amount that a municipality receives per Network Access Service (NAS) from each LEC is deemed to be the same (i.e., a uniform rate regardless of the identity of the LEC) for the duration of the term of a cost recovery agreement, the amount that a particular LEC actually receives per NAS for participating in the cost recovery mechanism may be different from amounts received by other LECs.

06-Apr-98

CONSENSUS ITEMS

Technical Interface

Call Completion to a portable number

TISG

Approved: Document entitled "Network-to-Network Technical Interface for Local Interconnection - Call Completion to a Portable Number Version 1.0", dated 1997 10 30. Specifications include both those that are applicable to LEC to LEC network interfaces and IXC to LEC network interfaces.

Technical Interface

NP Query Response

TISG

Approved: Document entitled: "Network-to-Network Technical Interface For Local interconnection, - NP Query-Response Network Capability Version 1.0", dated 1997 10 30. Specifications include both those that are applicable to LEC to LEC network interfaces and IXC to LEC network interfaces.

NPRE007

Network Planning

Facilities Build Principle, Implementation Alternative & Process

NPSG

Approved: Document entitled "Network Planning Sub-Working-Group Consensus Report on Facility Build Principle, Implementation Alternatives & Process, NPRE007, reference NPSWG TIF #2, Issue 2.0", Oct 14 1997, which provides the underlying principle to be followed when implementing a joint build as well as alternatives and processes for implementing joint builds. The underlying principle is as follows:

Principle

The initial facility build cost to be shared are for facilities between the interconnecting POIs and do not include any cost of POI equipment or co-location (i.e. co-location is not a pre-requisite). It is noted that the facility build could support Bill and Keep traffic (equal cost sharing traffic under CRTC Decision 97-8) and other tariffed traffic such as EAS transport and transiting.

Further, the interconnection of facilities between carriers will occur at a mutually agreed point(s) between the 2 POIs. This implies that each party is responsible to have its facilities built from their POI to the mutually agreed point.

ESRE006B/ ESRE006C

Emergency Services

Standard form agreements between CLECs and Municipalities

ESSG

Approved: English and French versions of a standard form agreement for the Assignment and Collection of Receivables for use in the province of Québec between CLECs and Municipalities/Municipal Associations, dated 15 January 1998.

DIRRE992A

Data Interchange

Canadian Data Interchange Guidelines

DISWG

Approved: Canadian Data Interchange Guidelines, DIRRE002A, version 1.0, 14 January 1998.

Network Planning

Facilities Build Principle, Default Technology

NPSG

The Commission does not consider it advisable to mandate a default technology for facilities used for interconnection between LECs.

Network Planning

CLEC Direct Access to Stentor 800/888 Database

NPSG

"Though the Commission would generally favour direct access to the Stentor 800/888 database, given the cost to Stentor of modifying its database and the uncertain scope of the gain from providing direct access, the Commission does not consider it either necessary or appropriate to mandate direct access at this time. The Commission also notes that databases are periodically redesigned in order to improve efficiency. The Commission is of the view that the Stentor companies should seriously consider the provision of direct access during the course of an appropriate redesign."

Central Funds

Expansion of ILEC EAS and EFRC Boundaries

CFSG

In Decision 97-8, the Commission did not freeze EAS/EFRC boundaries and, by extension, toll contribution boundaries.

16-Apr-98

Customer Transfer

Competitive Winback Guidelines

CTSG

"The Commission therefore directs that an ILEC is not to attempt to win back a customer for a period of three months after that customer's service has been completely transferred to another local service provider, with one exception: ILECs should be allowed to win back customers who call to advise them that they intend to change local service provider."

20-May-98

Central Funds

Disclosure of NAS-Related Information by Band

CTSG

"In light of the considerations set out above, the Commission has concluded the following:

- the subsidy per NAS by band should be publicly disclosed without application of the "less than three" rule;

- total subsidy by band should be maintained until there are three or more LECs in a band, and, on a confidential basis, with limited distribution;

-the number of residence NAS in a band should be publicly disclosed once three or more LECs are operating in that band."

19-Jun-98

Numbering

CNA Funding Formula

CSCN

The Canadian Numbering Administration Unanimous Shareholders Agreement receives Interim Approval.

24-Jul-98

CONSENSUS ITEMS

TIRE008/ TIRE009

Technical Interface

Minimum SS7 message set and ten digit global title translation responsibility

TISG

Approved: TISG consensus that the CCS7 messages to be supported, associated with the multi-laterally supported services pursuant to Telecom Order 98-40, include:

- Select Call Management Services and Custom Calling Features (Automatic Callback, Automatic Recall, Screening List Editing)

- ISDN

- Toll-free carrier selection

- Calling Name and

- Messages associated with LNP.

Approved: TISG consensus that the originating network for an SCCP message addressed to a global title consisting of a portable number shall be responsible for performing the 10 digit global title translation.

ESRE006D

Emergency Services

Model CLEC-municipality 9-1-1 service agreement for use in the province of Quebec

ESSG

Approved: A model "Agreement for the Provision of 9-1-1 Emergency Calling Service in the Province of Quebec" which has been adopted by the ESSG. The model agreement is to be used by CLECs that provide 9-1-1 service to Quebec subscribers by way of the arrangement specified in the Bell Canada 9-1-1 Implementation Support Document.

ESRE006E

Emergency Services

Model Agreement for the Provision of E9-1-1 Emergency Calling Service in the Province of Ontario

ESSG

Approved: A model "Agreement for the Provision of E9-1-1 Emergency Calling Service in Province of Ontario" which has been adopted by the ESSG. The model agreement is to be used by CLECs that provide 9-1-1 service to Ontario subscribers by way of the arrangement specified in the Bell Canada 9-1-1 Implementation Support Document.

LNP

NPAC/SMS downloading charges

LNPSG

All users of the NPAC/SMS will be assessed a flat fee of $25,000 per calendar year. The transaction charge will be a credit against the additional funding payable by uploaders on a per NAS basis as approved by the Commission.

Billing and Ordering

Canadian Local Ordering Guide (C-LOG)

BOSG

Approved: The C-LOG, which identifies and defines the required data elements to order unbundled loops and interconnection facilities in the local exchange environment. The C-LOG will incorporate all data elements and service intervals for ordering and billing activities in the Canadian local market.

LNP

Unanimous Shareholders Agreement

LNPSG

Approved: Amended and Restated Unanimous Shareholders Agreement and the Administrative Services Agreement.

Agreements

Master CLEC-IXC Interconnection Agreement

MASG

Approved: Master Agreement for CLEC-IXC Interconnection, which contains standard agreement terms and conditions for CLEC to IXC interconnection. In addition, the MASG has proposed to include provisions that cover:

i) a description of the functions and procedures that will be carried out by both CLECs and IXCs;

ii) provisions for the retention and non-disclosure of confidential information;

iii) procedures for modifying or changing the procedures that govern the agreement; and

iv) procedures for facilitating dispute resolution and termination of the agreement.

29-Jul-98

8622-M15-02/98

LNP

Application for Toll Termination Arrangements

"Having regard the considerations set out above, the Commission grants interim approval to the Stentor tariff rate of $7.50 per interconnecting DS-0 per month for performing Local Number Portability query processing on behalf of carriers that are not capable of doing this for themselves.."

06-Aug-98

Equal Access

Billing and Collection Service Requirements

Billing and Collection task Force

CLECs must provide Billing and Collection services (i.e. which allow casual use of alternate long distance providers) in order to give customers the ability to complete all types of calls with at least the same ease and efficiency that users enjoy at present, regardless of the service provider which originates, routes and/or terminates the call.

17-Aug-98

96-2376

Central Funds

Central Fund Administration Agreement

CFSG

"In light of the above considerations, the Consortium is directed to submit revised Central Fund Administration Agreements for the Commission's approval taking into account the following revisions:

- A compliance audit of each LEC is to be conducted annually.

- Each LEC is to appoint an external auditor to conduct the annual compliance audits in conjunction with the LEC's expense. The LEC's external auditor may conduct the compliance audits in conjunction with the LEC's annual financial audit.

- A report stating that the LEC is in compliance (or, a report listing the deficiencies) is to be provided to the Commission and the CFA.

- A general standard audit plan for the annual compliance audits is to be developed by either the CFA or its auditor with input from all members of the consortium.

- The CFA auditor retains the right to conduct special follow-up audits where deficiencies have been identified during the course of the annual compliance audits.

- The Commission's audit consultant is to review the audit

29-Oct-98

Letter to Carriers

Numbering

CNA Funding Formula

CSCN

"The costs associated with the establishment and funding of an independent CNA will be recovered from persons that use and benefit from numbering resources in Canada as contemplated by the consensus position adopted by the CSCN on 30 October 1997. Furthermore, the proposed minimum charge and annual base-line fee, which received consensus from the CSCN on August 28, 1998, is as follows:

Annual Revenues:

Below $5M: $50 minimum change plus $50 annual base-line fee = $100

Above $5M: $1,250 minimum change plus $1,250 annual base-line fee = $2,500"

27-Nov-98

8740-S1-0487/97

8740-T10-0931/97

Imputation Test

The Imputation Test Methodology for Local Services

See Below

Methodology

The imputation test for local services performed by the ILECs will include the proposed service revenues and the aggregate of the following costs:

(a) the Phase II costs of the proposed service modified to exclude cross impacts; and

(b) the tariffed rates for the essential services used by the ILECs in the provision of the proposed service; less

(c) the Phase II costs included in item (a) above for those functionalities and facilities included in the essential services in item (b) above. (para 4-6)

The imputation test will be considered to be met when the service revenues exceed the above factors. (para 23)

Service Filing Information Requirements

For each service, the report is to include the service revenues and each of the cost items (a), (b) and (c) above. These revenues and costs are to be provided on a total basis, and, where appropriate, on a per unit basis. The other parts of the ILECs' filings are to adhere to the Information Requirements. (para 27)

Application of the Test

(i) The imputation test is to be provided with all tariff applications for services in the local market which propose: (a) the introduction of a new service; or (b) implicit or explicit price decreases for an existing service. Consistent with Decision 97-8, imputation tests are not required for legitimate market trials or for promotions of limited duration. (para 7)

(ii) For proposed price decreases on existing services, if the average price change is negative, an imputation test is to be filed, consistent with the filing requirements of existing competitive service tariff revisions. (para 8)

(iii) For local exchange service tariff applications involving the use of essential services, the imputation test is to be applied at the rate band level. If the average price change within a particular rate band is negative, an imputation test is to be filed. The imputation test is to include all mandatory (non-optional) local services such as EAS or a community calling plan. Mandatory local service features such as 9-1-1 service and Message Relay Service (MRS) can be excluded from the test. (para 9)

(iv) The ILEC is to perform an imputation test when a basic residential service becomes compensatory in a given band. (para 12)

Imputation Test for Bundled Services

The imputation test filing requirements discussed above for local services should apply to bundled services as follows. The imputation test is to:

(a) identify with supporting rationale, as appropriate, the assumed levels and types of revenue discounts;

(b) provide separate Phase II costs of major forborne services and non-forborne services;

(c) provide separate tariffed rates for essential services, below-cost single-line residence service, bottleneck services as identified in Decision 94-19, contribution charges and IXPL services; and

(d) include separately the associated revenue and cost summaries for each major forborne service and for each major non-forborne service which are determined based on Phase II costs, and which show the Phase II cost adjustments associated with any of the functionalities and services, the costs of which are included in both items (b) and (c) above. (para 29)

A major forborne or non-forborne service would be a service, the cost of which exceeds 10% of the total bundled cost.

08-Dec-98

CONSENSUS ITEMS

MALIv 15Sep9

Agreements

Master Agreement for Local Interconnection

MASG

Approved: Master Agreement for Local Interconnection, which contains boiler plate terms and conditions for an agreement of this nature as well as provisions that cover functions and procedures, confidentiality, dispute resolution and termination of the agreement.

TIRE010

Technical Interface

Interconnection Standards

TISG

Approved: Documents describing the following:

Basic SS7 Call Control (TICO128a)

Calling Line Identification Presentation and Restriction Services, Version 1 (TICO135)

Call Forwarding Services, Version 1 (TICO136)

Call Management Features, Version 2 (TICO118d)

TIRE011

Technical Interface

Interconnection Specifications

TISG

Approved: Documents describing the following:

Calling Name Interface Specification (TICO119c)

Default and Pre-Determined Routing (TICO140b).

CTRE003d/ CTRE022a

Customer Transfer

PIC/CARE Handbook and Data Elements

CTSG

Approved: The "Model PIC/CARE Access Customer Handbook", which identifies the recommended structure and appropriate content for Canadian implementation of industry standards for the exchange of customer account information between Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLEC) and Interexchange Carriers (IXC). It supports the equal access carrier selection processes and identifies the business processes and procedures.

ESRE006F

Emergency Services

Model Agreement for the Provision of E9-1-1 Emergency Calling Service in Alberta

ESSG

Approved: A model "Agreement for the Provision of E9-1-1 Emergency Calling Service in Alberta" which has been adopted by the ESSG. The model agreement is to be used by CLECs that provide 9-1-1 service to Alberta subscribers by way of the arrangement specified in the Telus 9-1-1 Implementation Support Document.

ESRE006G

Emergency Services

Model Agreement to collect municipal charges for E9-1-1 in Alberta

ESSG

Approved: A model "Agreement to Collect Municipal Charges in Alberta for E9-1-1 Emergency Calling Service", which has been adopted by the ESWG. The model agreement is to be used by CLECs that provide 9-1-1 service to Alberta subscribers by way of the arrangement specified in the TELUS 9-1-1 Implementation Support Document.

FRREA2SF

Central Funds

Development of Allocation Factors for Contribution on International Circuits

CFSG

Approved: Methodology to distribute the per-circuit contribution collected on Canada-US circuits and overseas access circuits to the funds for each of the eight Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs) territories, and to Sask Tel, using allocation factors based on the distribution of originating and terminating traffic of the long distance service providers subject to per-circuit contribution to each ILEC territory, and the applicable contribution rates for each territory.

NORE013

Network Operations

Network Operations Schedule to the MALI

NOSG

Approved: Network Operations Guidelines, which to be incorporated by reference into the MALI under the Network Operations Schedule.

BORE025B

Service Intervals

Connecting Links Ordering/Service Intervals

BOSG

Approved: Document describing standard service intervals for ordering Connecting Links, from initiation to acceptance of service, including escalation and expedite intervals.

BORE028a

Billing and Ordering

Cutover Notification

BOSG

Approved: Cutover Notification Process for the provisioning of a Type A Loop migration from one carrier to another. Immediately upon completing the Cutover, the Central Office technician will initiate a call to an industry established phone number from the respective Loop cable and pair.

- The Industry established phone number would be consistent across Canada.

- All LECs will be required to utilise this number within their own processes.

No human contact is to be established from either the initiating or terminating end of this Notification call. All LECs must establish a mechanised method of intercepting this phone call.

Service Intervals

Customer Migration Service Intervals

BOSG

Approved: The following consensus items:

1. The interval associated with end user service interruption (i.e., the period of time during which an end customer does not possess the ability to place outgoing calls) for loop types A and B in Local Number Portability (LNP) Priority 1 exchanges, is not to exceed 15 minutes, and the target will be met 90% of the time. This interval is dependent on the CLEC having provided dial tone to the connecting link.

2. BC TEL and TELUS Communications Inc. (TCI) will establish their initial provisioning interval for unbundled local loops, in a migration situation, at five business days. BC TEL and TCI will meet these intervals 90% of the time. This commitment should be reported to the Commission in accordance with Telecom Decision CRTC 97-16, Quality of Service Indicators for Use in Telephone Company Regulation, 24 July 1997.

3. An industry review of all service intervals, including: New, Migration and Disconnect of unbundled loop types A & B should be conducted in October 1998.

11-Dec-98

96-2376

Technical Interface

Calling Party Name Conversion Facility

TISG

CNAM protocol converters may be used on interconnecting CCS7 links between LECs using different protocols.

16-Dec-98

96-2376

Central Funds

Central Fund Administration Agreement

CFSG

"The Commission has reviewed the Fund Agreements (including the Unanimous Shareholders Agreement that is Schedule C of the Fund Agreements) and grants them final approval with an effective date of 1 January 1998."

01-Apr-99

Cable Wiring

Cable Winback Rules

CWWG

Incumbent cable companies must refrain from the direct marketing of customers who, through an agent, have notified their intention to cancel basic cable service. Such restriction will be in effect from the date of receipt of notice to terminate, and will continue for a period ending ninety (90) days from the date of disconnection of basic cable service. In instances where disconnection of service occurs in advance of the incumbent's receipt of notice of termination, the restriction will operate for ninety (90) days from the date of disconnection. Incumbent cable companies must also refrain from offering discounts or other inducements not generally offered to the public where customers personally initiated contact with the cable company for the purpose of canceling basic cable service. This restriction will be in effect from the date of receipt of notice to terminate and for ninety (90) days from the date of disconnection of basic cable service.

08-Apr-99

CONSENSUS ITEMS

TICO145B/ TICO131C

Technical Interface

Basic Toll Interface and ISDN Call Control Specification

TISG

Approved:

1. Toll interface specification for basic calling in which an IXC carries the call between originating and terminating LECs.

2. Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) call control specification which provides basic call control for calls which either:

- originate from a terminal which accesses the LEC network through an ISDN interface.

- terminate to a terminal which accesses the LEC network through an ISDN interface.

- similarly, originate from or terminate to terminals on a LEC circuit switched public data network (CSPDN).

TIRE012

Technical Interface

ANI I/II Digits for Payphone Identification

TISG

An individual LEC network could choose to support either one or both of the ANI I/II (7 or 70) digit values to identify calls originating from a pay phone access line. In the case that the value "7" is used, the ANI line number must also be signaled to allow identification of originating line characteristics corresponding to that line number.

RORE03B

LNP

Request Driven Rollout Process

ROSG

For exchanges not covered within a pre-determined LNP rollout, a request-driven process will apply. The intervals (under some conditions) will begin with receipt of the CLEC's letter of request, rather than with the completion of local network interconnection between the parties. Where possible, ILECs will make switches ready at an earlier date to allow network interoperability testing and verification to be conducted before the service ready date.

The time frames for request-driven LNP are as follows:

-Exchange served by a switch remote unit (for which the host switch is LNP-capable): 30 days

-Exchange served by switches requiring only software upgrades: 90 days

-Other configurations: 180 days

Financial commitments will be required in all but the following cases:

-for exchanges in which LNP implementation is scheduled in accordance with the pre-determined roll-out schedule;

-for exchanges that the ILEC serves only with DMS-100 ,GTD-5, #5 ESS or other LNP-compliant switches (after March 31, 1999);

BORE001a/ BORE002a

Billing and Ordering

Interconnection/Trunks/ Ordering/Data Elements

BOSG

Approved: Interconnection Request (Abbreviated Access Service Request - AASR) Form Preparation Guide to be included as a section of the Canadian Local Ordering Guidelines (C-LOG). The AASR contains specific administrative, billing, contact, circuit and location detail information required for the complete provisioning of the request.

BORE003a

Service Intervals

Industry Standard Service Intervals - LNP

BOSG

Approved: Industry Standard Service Intervals for certain LNP activities:

-Interval from receipt of Local Service Request (LSR) to completion of port for the first port of a number in a NXX: 5 business days

-Interval from NPAC broadcast to completion of port for the first port of a number in a NXX: on or before the due date associated with the first port order

-Interval from receipt of LSR to completion of port for subsequent ports of numbers in a NXX: 3 business days from receipt of valid LSR.

The above intervals apply to stand alone number porting. In the event a number is being ported and loop activity is requested, the longer interval of the two applies.

BORE003b

Service Intervals

Industry Standard Service Intervals - Connecting Trunks and CCS7 Links

BOSG

Approved: Industry Standard Service Intervals - Connecting Trunks and CCS7 Links:

-CCS7 Link Interval: to be negotiated between interconnecting carriers on an individual case basis

-Interconnection Trunk Interval: 20 business days where facilities exist and 35 business days where facilities are required.

BORE050a

Billing and Ordering

Notice of Billing Dispute/ Minimum Billing Data Elements

BOSG

Approved:

1. Minimum required data elements to dispute a bill and the Notice of Billing Dispute Form.

2. Minimum data elements required for billing for local services.

CTRE006b

Resellers

Number Retention by Resellers

CTSG

Resellers are required to provide 911/MRS. Resellers are also required to allow their customers to retain and port their number in the same manner as customers of LECs.

BORE037c

Agreements

Ordering and Billing Schedules

BOSG

Approved: Ordering and Billing schedules to the MALI.

18-May-99

Customer Transfer

Definition of End-Customer

CTSG

An end-customer is defined as:

The ultimate user of local telephone services sold on a retail basis, and

(a) in the case of a multi-person household, is the person within that household responsible for changes to local telephone services. This will be the person named on the existing Local Exchange Carrier's (LEC) customer account, or his or her agent, such as an authorized adult member of the household; and

(b) in the case of a business customer, is the business entity. The business may designate any individual to act as its representative, and may change its named representative at any time.

25-May-99

Co-location

CONSENSUS ITEMS

CLG

Approved: The following consensus items:

-To permit co-location of digital loop carrier (DLC) terminals;

-To permit particular power sources to be used by co-locating carriers in incumbent telephone companies' central offices;

-To accept a consultation process for co-location design;

-To accept the National Co-location Equipment List as agreed to this point;

-To accept National Equipment List Revision process; and

-To accept consensus on vendors and permitted equipment.

08-Sep-99

CONSENSUS ITEMS

08-Sep-99

RORE04B

LNP

LNP Business & Systems Operational Requirements

ROWG

Approved: Business and system operational procedures to allow for the commercial rollout of LNP in Canada, including the LNP order requirements, trouble reporting and 9-1-1 emergency service requests.

08-Sep-99

BIRE007a

Building Access

Code of Conduct for Building Access

BIWG

Approved: Code of conduct that addresses the issues surrounding those circumstances where a LEC is denied access to a building to service its end-users. Also included in the Code of Conduct is a course of action to facilitate LEC access to the end-user.

08-Sep-99

BCRE001C/ BCCO001H

Billing and Collection

Billing and Collection Services Agreement

MAWG

Approved: The Billing and Collection Services Agreement, which is a commercially standard industry agreement for Billing and Collection Services.

08-Sep-99

BCRE002B/ BCCO002H

Billing and Collection

Billing and Collection Technical Guideline

MAWG

Approved: This Billing and Collection Technical Guideline which is an integral part of the Billing and Collection Services Agreement and defines the standard method of interface related to the exchange of telecommunications message information ("Eligible Services") between Service Providers and Billers.

08-Sep-99

BPRE001a

Customer Transfer

Authorization and Dispute Procedures for Customer Transfers between LECs

BPWG

Approved: The Customer Transfer Schedule to the Master Agreement for Local Interconnection, which documents authorization and dispute procedures for customer transfers between LECs. The dispute procedures include a standard compensation fee to be paid to the LEC restoring service to an end customer by the LEC deemed to have performed an unauthorized transfer of local service. This fee has been developed as a simple and objective means of identifying the average costs incurred by the aggrieved LEC. It is anticipated that the fee will be modified from time to time by the industry.

08-Sep-99

BPRE003a

Customer Transfer

Industry Process Maps for Customer Migration

BPWG

Approved: The Industry Process Maps for Customer Migration, which provides a high-level view of recommended processes and information exchange between carriers and other parties for customer transfer between local service providers, initial subscription to new local service, and cancellation of local service. Carriers are expected to establish procedures and systems in accordance with the recommendations provided. This material will be updated as additional requirements are identified.

08-Sep-99

BPRE004a

LNP

Valid LNP Conflicts and LNP Conflict Resolution Process

BPWG

Approved: The consensus defining under what circumstances a current LEC can initiate NANC-approved conflicts to block the initial attempt to port a working telephone number and how those conflicts will be resolved. (The NANC NPAC-SMS Specifications specify a limited number of different types of conflicts that can be initiated by the current LEC.)

08-Sep-99

BPRE009b

Billing and Ordering

Data Interchange Format Code Specification DI103.1

BPWG

Approved: Industry standard record format for electronic data exchange of information in the C-LOG (version 4). It identifies and defines the data interchange requirements between LECs to order unbundled loops and local number portability in the local exchange environment.

08-Sep-99

NTRE003b

Network Planning

Principles, construction/provisioning alternatives, capacity utilization and compensation related to Joint Build Facility

NOWG

Approved: Consensus report that addresses principles, construction/provisioning alternatives, capacity utilization and compensation related to Joint Build Facility between interconnecting LECs.

08-Sep-99

NTRE003

Network Planning

Network & Forecast Information Exchange

NTWG

Approved: Consensus document which specifies the format and process for the issuance of network and forecast information to be exchanged between local exchange carriers for the purpose of establishing and maintaining an interconnection arrangement.

08-Sep-99

LRN SC 6May98

LNP

CSCN agreement on LRN Selection Criteria

CSCN

Approved: Consensus document that specifies the criteria for LRN selection. The criteria will be attached to the Canadian Central Office Code (NXX) Assignment Guidelines as appendix H.

08-Sep-99

BIRE008a

Building Access

Inside Wire (Dis-) Connection Process

BIWG

Approved: Consensus document which provides procedures for the installation and connection of unbundled local loops at the building owner/customer premises and the procedures related to inside wire when a LEC local loop is terminated at the demarcation point.

08-Sep-99

NTRE004

LNP

Obligation of LNP Processing

NTWG

Routing of undipped traffic to another network for LNP call processing shall be in accordance with either an applicable tariff or bilateral business agreement. Further, LECs who are the code holders of the NPA-NXX codes cannot guarantee the undipped traffic will be completed unless the carrier sending such traffic is subscribed to an applicable tariff of the LEC or bilateral business arrangements have been agreed to.

08-Sep-99

NORE014a/ NOCO023L

Co-location

Network Operations Guidelines for Co-location

NOWG

Approved: Operations guideline to be used for co-location. This guideline relates to the installation and maintenance of both physical and virtual co-location types.

08-Sep-99

NORE015a/ NOCO028J

Network Operations

Installation, Testing, and Maintenance Guidelines for Joint Build Facilities

NOWG

Approved: Operations guideline for Installation, testing, and maintenance of Joint Build Facilities.

08-Sep-99

NORE018a/ NOCO043

Network Operations

Test Plan for the Calling Name Conversion Facility

NOWG

Approved: Comprehensive test plan developed to ensure the reliability of the proposed Calling Name Conversion Facility.

08-Sep-99

COCA GL.ZIP

Numbering

The Canadian Central Office Code (NXX) Assignment Guidelines

CSCN

Approved: Canadian Central Office Code (NXX) Assignment Guidelines that includes new Appendices regarding Aging of Disconnected Telephone Numbers (TNs) (Appendix I), and Reserved & Held TNs (Appendix J).

24-Sep-99

Co-location

Passing traffic through co-located equipment

CLG

Interconnecting carriers may pass traffic through their own co-located equipment The passing through of traffic will impose no further costs upon the incumbent telephone companies. As current co-location rates are set to recover incremental costs and to provide a substantial recognition of embedded costs, these rates need not increase to cover any perceived increase in value to interconnecting carriers that pass traffic through their co-located equipment.

18-Jan-00

CONSENSUS ITEMS

MALIv25

Agreements

Master Agreement for Local Interconnection

MAWG

Approved: Revised version of the MALI, including new schedules addressing network planning, technical specifications, interconnection architecture, ordering procedures, billing procedures, network operations guidelines, data interchange and customer transfer procedures.

BPRE008a

Billing and Ordering

Loop Sub-Type Ordering Process

BPWG

Approved: Consensus document regarding: (1) the impacts of the introduction of new loops sub-types on current ordering processes and associated service intervals; and (2) the data elements to be provided on a Loop Sub-Type Make-up Report.

BPRE009c

Data Elements

LEC Customer Service Record - Data Elements

BPWG

Approved: Consensus document on the required data elements that a Provisioning LEC should capture on a LEC Customer Service Record (CSR) and noted that the CSR will be provided in accordance with section 5.8(a) of Review of the General Regulations of the Federally Regulated Terrestrial Telecommunications Common Carriers, Telecom Decision CRTC 86-7, 26 March 1986.

NORE003a/ NOCO005n

Network Operations

Network Management Guidelines

NOWG

Approved: Guidelines for traffic management and the management of network events to be used by network management personnel or Trouble Report Centre personnel of Interconnecting Carriers.

NORE010a/ NOCO006l

Network Operations

Installation, Testing, and Maintenance Guidelines for Unbundled Loops

NOWG

Approved: Document that provides the operations personnel of the respective Local Exchange Carriers with general guidelines for installation, testing and maintenance of unbundled local loops.

NORE019a

Network Operations

Date and Time Notation Standard

NOWG

Approved: Consensus that, on a going forward basis, a date and time notation standard will be used in the exchange of information between operations' groups. This standard is based on that of the International Organization Standardization ISO 8601.

Numbering

CIC Administration Guidelines

CSCN

Approved: CSCN-developed Canadian Adjuncts to the INC Carrier Identification Code Assignment Guidelines, for application in Canada.

Numbering

International Inbound 456 Administrative Guidelines

CSCN

Approved: CSCN-developed Canadian Adjuncts to the INC International Inbound NPA Assignment Guidelines (456), for application in Canada.

01-Feb-00

96-2376/ CTRE015

Resellers

Application of Consumer Safeguards to Resellers

CTSG

"The Commission therefore hereby requires all LECs, as a condition of providing services to resellers of local services, to include in their service contracts with resellers of local services the requirement that such resellers provide the consumer safeguards described in the consensus report CTRE015."

04-Apr-00

CONSENSUS ITEMS

NTRE006b

Technical Interface

Circuit Code Signaling Parameter Guideline

NTWG

Approved: Consensus set of recommendations for the use of the "Circuit Code" signaling parameter in Canada. The Circuit Code is used by Local Exchange Carriers between End Offices and Access Tandems:

"Although every LEC can choose their own TNS Circuit Code values in accordance with the appropriate Standards to which the Canadian industry adheres, the Circuit Code definitions noted in this Report, and as amended from time to time, be used to the fullest extent possible by the Canadian telecommunications industry."

CNRE004a

Numbering

Authorization Process for CO Code Transfer

CSCN

Approved: Authorization Process for CO Code Transfer when the code holder name changes from one entity to another. The CSCN established a new procedure authorizing the CNA to update appropriate fields in Telcordia databases.

10-Apr-00

Billing and Ordering

Daily Local Service Request (LSR) Cutoff Time

BOWG

"Considering all of the above, the Commission is of the view that the Competitors must not be put at any undue disadvantage by having an earlier cutoff time than other carriers. The Commission therefore approves the request made by the Competitors and directs that the LSR cutoff time be changed to 4:00 p.m...The Commission notes that, in order not to impact the agreed upon service interval for the return of the Local Service Confirmation (LSC), the LSC cutoff time needs to be moved to 4:00 p.m. as well. The Commission directs that the LSC cutoff time be changed to 4:00 p.m."

10-Apr-00

8638-C12-27/99

Building Access and Inside Wire

Decision 99-10: Follow-up Process - CISC Consensus Items

BIWG

(i) Consensus on interpretation of paragraph 35 of Decision 99-10 (BIRE09): There should not be a formal notice period as contemplated in paragraph 35 of Decision 99-10. Notification of a proposed installation date can be handled on a case by case basis between the proposed serving LEC and the building owner if not otherwise provided for in an agreement between the parties.

(ii) Consensus on the definition of a new building within the meaning of paragraph 38 of Decision 99-10 (BIRE010): A "new" building should be described as follows:

1. A newly constructed building that has never been served with an external telecommunications network; or

2. An existing building in which vacant possession of the entire building has been achieved in connection with a complete renovation of such building, all serving LECs have ceased service to all previous customers in such building, and all in-building wiring has been removed; or

3. An existing building, formerly a single tenant building where the service provider demarcation point has been in the main terminal room, and such building is renovated to facilitate multiple tenants in such building.

16-May-00

8638-C12-05/97

CONSENSUS ITEMS

BPRE009e

Billing and Ordering

Canadian Local Ordering Guide (C-LOG) V5

BPWG

Approved: C-LOG-Version 5

BPRE006e

Customer Transfer/ Resale

Industry Process Maps for Customer Migration Involving Resale

BPWG

Approved: Consensus document entitled: "Customer Migration Process for Canadian Implementation of Local Competition, Part IV, Primary Processes (Resale), Version 6", dated 26 May 1999.

BPRE010c

Data Interchange

Canadian Data Interchange Guidelines V2.1

BPWG

Approved: Version 2.1 of the Canadian Data Interchange Guidelines. An interim version of these Guidelines was published on the CRTC website in June 1999 (BPRE009d) to incorporate additional data interfaces since the initial issuance of the document in December 1997. This new version of the Guidelines includes further clarifications and refinements, which were prompted by industry experience over the past 6-12 months, and replaces any existing version of the CDIG.

NORE009A

Network Operations

Installation, Testing and Maintenance Guidelines for Local Trunk Interconnection

NOWG

Approved: Revisions to the "Testing and Maintenance Guidelines for Local Trunk Interconnection", 13 April 2000.

05-Jun-00

8644-N31-01/99

Building Access and Inside Wire

Eastlink/Norigen Part VII Applications - Access to In-building Wire

BIWG

(i) CLECs may connect to in-building wire that the ILECs (Bell & MTT) control where the building owner: (a) has not accepted control of in-building wiring; and (b) will not allow the CLEC to install its own in-building wire but will permit CLEC access to the MTR.

(ii) In the circumstances described above, the service provider demarcation point must move to the MTR.

(iii) Pending the outcome of Telecom Public Notice CRTC 2000-124, the interim rate for connection to ILEC in-building wiring is set at $1.00 per connection.

27-Jun-00

8644-N31-01/99

Building Access and Inside Wire

Demarcation point for copper facilities in multi-dwelling units (MDUs) 15 June 2000 ex parte application filed by Bell Canada

BIWG

In existing buildings, when the service provider demarcation point moves to the MTR, it applies to all copper facilities in the building, not just those used to provide single line telephone service. In the case of new MDUs, the demarcation point is to be in the MTR for all copper in-building wire regardless of the services to be provided on them.

25-Jul-00

8638-C12-27/99

Building Access and Inside Wire

Follow-up to Decision 99-10: NTC, NBT, ITC, TCI

BIWG

(i) Directs the Aliant companies and TCI for Edmonton to establish the service provider demarcation point in MDUs pursuant to the condition set out in Decision 99-10 and to transfer responsibility and control for all single line inside wire to customers in MDUs consistent with MTT's tariffs and with MTT's process for transferring inside wire control. The companies must provide a 6 month transition period between subscribers receiving notice of new regime and the effective date of the tariffs.

(ii) Directs TCBC (as amended in Letter Decision dated 10 August 2000) to charge for maintenance of inside wire but not in-building wire and to provide inside wire diagnostics at no charge to all end users where the end user is unable to sectionalize troubles as long as an ILEC owned loop is the underlying access facility.

10-Aug-00

8638-C12-27/99

Building Access and Inside Wire

Letter Decision dated 25 July 2000 on Follow up to Decision 99-10

BIWG

TCBC is ordered to charge for maintenance of inside wire but not in-building wire and to proceed as directed for Aliant companies and TCI for Edmonton in 25 July 2000 letter decision.

31-Oct-00

96-2376

Service Intervals

Commission Decision Regarding CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee Dispute on ILEC Service Intervals associated with the Provision of New Unbundled Loops (Type A&B) (BODI011a)

CTSG

(i) ILECs are to provide unbundled loops to CLECs within service intervals no greater than those within which they provide loops to themselves. The Incumbents should pay their own costs for upgrading or creating systems and processes to implement this directive.

(ii) ILECs, through their Carrier Services Groups, are to accept CLEC forecasts that are based on reasonable assumptions and direct CLECs to provide full support for their forecasts. In the event that a CLEC and an ILEC cannot agree on a forecast, the two parties may seek Commission assistance either at the staff level or through a formal application.

15-Nov-00

CONSENSUS ITEMS

BIRE019

Building Access and Inside Wire

Definition of Main Terminal Room

BIWG

Definition of Main Terminal Room (MMTR): An MTR is "the cross-connecting point of incoming cables from the telecommunications network and in-building cable system(s) that provides access to tenants within the building". As a consequence of the fact that in-building wiring may terminate in more than one location, there may be multiple MTRs in a Building(s).

BIRE012a

Building Access and Inside Wire

Service provider demarcation points for fixed wireless technology

BIWG

In the case of fixed wireless technology, the location of the demarcation point should be determined on a case-by-case basis by the building owner (or their agent) in discussion with the fixed wireless service provider. Such demarcation point(s) are limited to "natural" points of demarcation including, but not limited to, the building rooftop or MTR. Where possible, when a natural point of demarcation other than the building rooftop or MTR is contemplated, it should be located in close proximity to either the building's rooftop or the MTR.

BIRE015 BIRE016 BIRE017 BIRE020 BIRE021

Building Access and Inside Wire

Demarcation Point Location for Provisioning of Pay Telephone Basic Access Line (PAL) Service

BIWG

The group agreed to a list of locations for service provider demarcation points to be used by various ILECs.

Agreements

CLEC -IXC Agreement

MAWG

Approved: Revisions to the Master Agreement for CLEC-IXC Interconnection (May 15_CLEC-IXC), which updates the 7 May 1998 version.

BPRE014a

Business Process

Return of Leased Loops

BPWG

Approved: A process for a Facility Provider to request the return of a leased loop to facilitate the transfer of that loop to a LEC planning to provide local service to an end customer moving in to the designated service address.

BPRE017a

Resale

Resale Customer Migration Maps

BPWG

Approved: Version 7 of the Customer Migration Process Maps for Resale (i.e. Part IV). This new version includes:

- An additional scenario to illustrate the appropriate process for transferring a customer between two resellers.

- Revisions to the process for notifying the current local service provider of a customer disconnection. Where an end customer transfers service from a reseller of LEC services, the LEC will notify the reseller of the customer disconnection.

BPRE018a

PIC/CARE

Model PIC/CARE Handbook

BPWG

Approved: Version 2.0 of the Model PIC/CARE Access Customer Handbook.

BPRE019a

Building Access and Inside Wire

Procedure for Connection to CLEC In-Building Wire

BPWG

Approved: Interim ordering and billing procedures for connection to LEC in-building wire.

BPRE020a

Billing and Ordering

C-LOG V5.1

BPWG

Approved: C-LOG-Version 5.1

Numbering

Various

CSCN

1. Approved: Interim NPA Relief Planning Timeline, beginning with NPA 514;

2. Approved: Recommendation that a single Canadian LATA "888" be adopted for all NPAs assigned in Canada;

3. Approved: Changes to the COCA Guidelines;

4. Approved: Recommendation that Canadian entities be permitted to participate at the North American Numbering Council (NANC).

LOCAL COMPETITION RULINGS - DECISIONS

Date

File Number/CISC Document Number

Category

Subject/Title

CISC Group

Rule

01-May-97

Telecom Decision CRTC 97-8: Local Competition

See Below

CLEC OBLIGATIONS

1. Obtain at least one Central Office code (NXX) for each Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier's (ILEC) exchange in which it provides services. (para 23)

2. Treat CLEC-generated calls between ILECs' exchanges where ILECs' toll charges are applicable as toll calls for contribution payment purposes. (para 23)

3. Share equally the costs of interconnection trunks (required only within a given ILEC's exchange) and Common Channel Signaling 7 (CCS7) links. (para 27 and 28)

4. File interconnection agreement to implement no. 3, above. (para 27)

5. Designate one switch or establish a point of interconnection (POI) as its gateway for the purposes of interconnecting to other local exchange carriers (LECs) operating in that exchange. (para 32)

6. Provide a CCS7 POI in each Numbering Plan Area (NPA) in which it provides service. (para 40)

7. Exchange minimum set of CCS7 message types. (para 41; see also Commission Letter 24/7/98)

8. Provide advanced notification of changes to network-to-network interfaces and be prepared to conduct technical tests of the proposed changes with all of the carriers to which it is interconnected. (para 45)

ENTRY OBLIGATIONS

9. File proposed tariffs for interexchange equal access and justify any departure from the terms and conditions contained in ILECs' tariffs. (para 190)

10. File proposed tariffs providing for Wireless Service Providers (WSP) interconnection that are equivalent to the terms and conditions contained in the ILECs' tariffs, justifying any departure therefrom. (para 192)

11. Ensure that the end-users it serves are able to have direct access, under reasonable terms and conditions, to services provided by any other LEC serving in that area. (para 206)

12. File intercarrier tariffs for the provision of subscriber listings to LECs that contain rates capped at the rates approved for ILECs. (para 227)

13. File tariffs for services provided to other LECs and intercarrier agreements. (para 279)

14. Include provisions for reciprocal technical interconnection in tariffs and agreements, as appropriate. (para 282)

15. Implement local number portability. (para 282)

16. Provide 9-1-1 service and Message Relay Service (MRS). (para 286)

17. Required to satisfy all existing and future regulatory requirements designed to protect customer privacy. These include (para 288):

- Delivery of the privacy indicator when invoked by an end customer;

- Provision of automated universal per-call blocking of calling line identification;

- Provision of per line call display blocking to qualified end customers;

- Disallowance of Call Return to a blocked number;

- Enforcement of the Commission's restrictions on Automatic Dialing-Announcing Devices, Automatic Dialing Devices, and unsolicited facsimiles applicable in the ILEC territory where they operate; and

- Provision of universal Call Trace.

18. Required to abide by Commission rules regarding confidentiality of customer information established in Review of the General Regulations of the Federally Regulated Terrestrial Telecommunications Common Carriers, Telecom Decision CRTC 86-7, 26 March 1986, as amended by Telecom Order CRTC 86-593, 22 September 1986 and as modified from time to time. (para 289)

19. Make serving area maps available upon request at its business offices. (para 291)

20. Provide the following information to consumers, upon request (para 292):

- Local calling area boundaries;

- Details of all service options, with applicable prices;

- Details of all potentially applicable service charges;

- Policy on access to enhanced service providers;

- Available special needs services; and

- Information respecting privacy, including the company's responsibilities with regard to protecting the confidentiality of customer records.

21. Provide the following information to customers, prior to contracting for service (para 293):

- Billing frequency and payment policy;

- Disconnection policy;

- Security deposit policy;

- Policy on directories;

- The name and address of the company providing service to the customer;

- A toll-free telephone number from which the customer can obtain further information or lodge a complaint;

- Billing date;

- Due date for payment;

- Interest rate applicable to late payments;

- 9-1-1 service and MRS information, including customer charges, if any;

- Information on company obligations with regard to customer safety and privacy protection.

22. Any future obligation arising from the proceeding on provision of billing information and billing inserts in alternative formats. (para 294)

ENTRY PROCEDURES

23. Attest in writing that it understands and will conform to the obligations set out in Decision 97-8 and provide a map of its proposed serving area to the Commission. (para 295(1))

24. Serve the documentation filed with the Commission pursuant to paragraph 295(1) on all other Canadian carriers providing service in exchanges where the CLEC is proposing to provide service, and all other persons who have proposed to provide service in compliance with these entry procedures. (para 295(2))

25. File its proposed interconnection agreements and tariffs for Commission approval. (para 295(3))

26. Provide the Commission with all of the customer information identified in paragraphs 291, 292, 293 and 295 of Decision 97-8. (para 295(4))

OTHER OBLIGATIONS

27. Contact the Canadian Numbering Administration Consortium with regards to participating in the funding of the Canadian Numbering Administrator.

28. Participate in the Local Number Portability Consortium.

29. Participate in the Central Fund Administration Consortium.

30. Contact the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA) or CAN Website for information relating to applicable Canadian numbering resource administrative guidelines, application forms and procedures as well as current or upcoming area code relief planning activities and related service provider obligations (e.g., COCUS input).

31. Ongoing compliance with the Canadian ownership and control regulations set out in section 16 of the Telecommunications Act and associated regulations.

32. Notify the Commission once the requirements imposed on CLECs in Telecom Decision CRTC 97-8, Local Competition, 1 May 1997 have been satisfied. The notification should include a description on how the CLEC obligations have been satisfied along with a reference to the relevant Commission determinations. Serve a copy of the notification on other local exchange carriers, on the Central Funds Administrator and on the three consortia.

Local Calling Area Boundaries

CLECs are permitted to establish their own continuous local serving areas for the purpose of setting rates for retail services. (para. 23)

Integrated Digital Loop Carrier

The rate charged by ILECs for a service provided to competitors should not vary as a result of the underlying technologies chosen by the ILEC to provide the service. Accordingly, rates charged to competitors for unbundled loops are not to be varied according to the costs of unbundling a particular loop technology that is used in a particular location. ILECs may, however, include the costs of providing IDLC loops to CLECs in the overall loop costs underlying the local loop rates. (para. 51)

Compensation for traffic termination

The bill and keep approach would be in the public interest for local traffic that is interchanged between and terminated within the same exchange.

In those instances where it is demonstrated that traffic between LECs is not balanced for a significant period of time, mutual compensation should be implemented and the rate should be capped at the ILEC rate. This rate should be set at the mandated rate for essential facilities, based on the mandated pricing principle of Phase II plus 25%. (para. 63, 64)

Intra-EAS Traffic

For traffic originated by a CLEC in one exchange terminating on an ILEC subscriber in another exchange within the EAS area, ILECs must provide for delivery of such traffic by receiving the traffic from the originating CLEC and delivering the traffic to the ILEC subscriber in the terminating exchange. ILECs are to provide this traffic delivery function priced on the same basis as essential facilities for a five-year period. Also, the ILECs must cost this function at Phase II costs rather than at tariff rates in the imputation test. (para. 65)

Definition of Essential facility

To be essential, a facility, function, or service must meet all three of the following criteria: (1) it is monopoly controlled; (2) a CLEC requires it as an input to provide services; and (3) a CLEC cannot duplicate it economically or technically. Facilities that meet this definition shall be subject to mandatory unbundling and mandated pricing. As well, the tariffed rates for these facilities shall be treated as costs in the imputation test.

List of Essential Facilities

Essential Facilities that meet the above criteria:

Central Office Code

Subscriber Listings

Local Loops in small urban and rural areas

Essential facilities that must be unbundled for a period of 5 years

Other non-essential facilities or services that must be unbundled for a period of five years:

Local loops not considered essential; (para. 86)

CLEC to CLEC transiting; (para. 98)

CLEC to WSP transiting; (para. 98)

CLEC to IX transiting; and (para. 98)

CCS7 transiting (para.104)

Local Loop Technologies

Should the ILECs provide local exchange services that require a specific type of loop, that type of loop should be made available on an unbundled basis. (para. 87)

Pricing of Essential Facilities

Rates for essential facilities and for other services subject to the essential services pricing principle should be based on:

Phase II costs plus a 25% mark-up; and (para. 126)

The combined demand of CLECs and ILECs (para. 136)

Portable Subsidies and Central Funds

(i) There should be a portable contribution approach, in which all LECs would have access to sources of subsidy and in which contribution would be provided to any LEC that serves a subsidized subscriber. (para. 173)

(ii) The residence subsidy requirement will be calculated, based on ILEC costs and revenues, by band, as: residential exchange costs (Phase II plus 25%), plus residential optional local costs (Phase II plus 25%), minus the associated revenues. (para. 176)

(iii) The portable contribution approach requires all LECs to remit the toll contribution that they collect to a central fund. (para. 185)

Imputation Test

An imputation test is required to prevent anti-competitive pricing. The service-specific test will be applied so that it constitutes a floor price for a service in a given band. (paras. 210, 213, 215)

Directories

ILECs must continue to provide comprehensive directories to their subscribers. (para. 229)

Resale of unbundled components

ILECs must allow for the unrestricted resale by CLECs of unbundled components, other than subscriber listings. (para. 240)

16-Jun-97

N/A

N/A

Telecom Decision CRTC 97-15: Co-location

N/A

See Below

Co-location types

Co-location customers of the ILECs should have the option of choosing physical co-location where floor space is available and should have access to a virtual co-location tariff option. (para 22)

Qualification to obtain co-location

Co-location is limited to Canadian carriers, as defined in the Telecommunications Act, who interconnect either through terms and conditions defined in a tariff, or through an interconnection agreement with the SOC.(para 28)

Types of Equipment and Cross-connection

1. Co-location requirements do not extend to accommodating Interconnecting Carriers' (ICs') switching and processing equipment. (para 41)

2. ILECs should be permitted to require ICs to provide written assurance that all co-located equipment complies with CSA and Bellcore generic standards as necessary to ensure a safe and reliable environment within the CO. (para 42)

3. Equipment suitable for co-location will be in accordance with a list developed and maintained in consultation with ICs, (currently in the domain of the CISC Ad Hoc Committee on Co-location). (para 43)

4. The ILECs are encouraged to provide access to ICs for transmission technologies, other than fibre optic systems, under negotiated terms consistent with the co-location principles approved in this Decision. (para 44)

5. Co-located ICs may cross-connect their transmission systems as long as this is a secondary function of the co-located transmission equipment. ILECs may require an IC to demonstrate that the capacity dedicated to interconnection with the ILEC facilities is greater than that dedicated to IC to IC cross-connection. (para 45, 46)

Co-location Sites

Co-location is to be provided at all COs that provide switching capability, including tandem and toll offices that house local or toll switches, and COs that provide a wire centre. (para 50)

Existing Arrangements

In the event that an IC currently has an existing transmission arrangement under a SFT for access to the CO, the IC is to have the opportunity to migrate from such an access arrangement to the co-location general tariffs. The ILEC may, however, impose a charge in order to recover the present worth of the remaining capital costs in the contract period. If such a charge is applied, it should be applicable to all customers who so migrate to the co-location general tariffs. (para 57)

Rates

The rates for co-location should also attempt to recover pre-introductory costs and costs which are specific to the provision of co-location but which are not demand-related. (para 64)

Floor Space Rates

Phase II costs for floor space in a CO is essentially zero. Therefore, rates for floor space at a minimum should recover the associated embedded costs. (para 63)

Entrance Conduit Rates

The Commission approves a uniform national monthly rate for entrance conduit of $0.16 per metre per cable. (para 71)

Rates for other co-location service elements

Rates for other co-location elements, including the Service Order Charge, the Application Charge, Riser Space, various power consumption services, Access to Synchronization Clock and Transition Cabinet per Cable should be based on Phase II costs plus a 25% mark-up. (para 75)

Rates for services used to establish co-location

Charges associated with services used to establish co-location, including Power Delivery, Project Management Fee, Cable Pulling/Splicing, Construction Fee, and Site Preparation Fee should be based on costs incurred without mark-up. (para 84)

Reimbursement approach

The reimbursement approach provides for the initial construction costs to be charged in whole to the initial subscriber or subscribers making a request for Type 1 co-location and provides for subscribers to receive a proportionate rebate if additional customers use Type 1 co-location service in that same CO within a period of 60 months. (para 85)

Imputation Test

ILECs should charge the Competitive Segment by way of Phase III costing procedures and to include for imputation test purposes the Phase II costs for these services. (para 88,89)

COLA

See Below

CRTC Approval

The COLA requires CRTC approval. (para 91)

Termination

Upon early termination, the termination amount charged to the IC shall not exceed 6 months of charges. (para 98)

Limitation of Liability

An ILEC's liability should not be limited in cases of death, physical injury or damage to property where the damages are caused by the company's negligence. In cases that involve other types of damages resulting from the ILEC's negligence, the Commission considers that the ILEC should be permitted to limit, but not exclude, its liability. The Commission further concludes that: 1) the limitation of liability for changes in an ILEC's facilities should be conditional upon adequate notice having been given to the IC; 2) the liability of the IC to pay recurring charges, when the co-location arrangement is not in place on the effective date, applies only where the delay is due to the IC's negligence; and 3) the IC should not be liable for third party claims where the claims arise out of the negligence or deliberate fault of the ILEC or its employees. (para 106-108)

Procedure to Obtain COLA

See Below

Maximum Elapsed Time

The Commission imposes a 6-month maximum on the procedures leading to physical co-location and directs that the ILECs include a mechanism that would provide for virtual co-location, at the option of the IC, where the ILEC will not meet this maximum period. For virtual co-location, the Commission imposes a maximum time frame of 3 months on the procedures to obtain service. (para 120)

Interim Report

Interim Report should be provided with the ILEC's acceptance of the co-location application within 15 days.

30-Nov-98

N/A

N/A

Telecom Decision CRTC 98-22: Final Rates For Unbundled Local Network Components

N/A

See Below

Significant Factors

The significant factors affecting loop costs are loop length, loop density, supplier prices and labour costs. (para 6)

Other Factors

There are other factors that affect unbundled loop costs. These include the feeder/distribution ratio, the cable construction mix for feeder and distribution (i.e., aerial, buried and underground), the circuit mix (i.e., copper loaded or unloaded, pair gain systems) and cable gauges and sizes, along with adjustments for loops that are deployed on integrated remote systems. (para 7)

Loop Cost Study Methodology

Cost of Equity: 11% (consistent with ROE level in Decision 98-2) (para 28)

Terminal Value: For plant and equipment resources that continue to be useful beyond the study period, terminal values at the end of the study period shall be equal to the unamortized value of capital calculated in accordance with the discounted service potential (DSP) approach. (para 38)

Study Period: Five years (para 45)

Economic Service Lives: Equal to the accounting service lives in decision 98-2. (para 51)

Expense Inclusions

Billing and Collections: $0.90 for both Type A and B loops, within all rate bands and across all ILECs.(para 66)

Productivity Factor: At least 3.5% for annual loop cost expenses over the study period. (para 86)

Rates Where no CLEC Demand has been Forecast

"The Commission has relied on this ILEC-only demand cost information, adjusted to reflect costs under the all-carrier approach, to determine the unbundled loop costs for Bell's rate band D and TCI's rate band A." (para 91)

Variable Rate Service Charge

"Based on these assumptions, the cost estimate for Bell's variable-rate component is reduced from $43.46 to approximately $30.00. For the remaining ILECs, the variable-rate costs are determined from Bell's cost estimate, adjusted for the differences in the average labour unit costs among the ILEC groupings of BC TEL/TCI/NBTel/NewTel and of Island Tel/MT&T/MTS." (para 127)

Fixed Rate Service Charges

"The Commission concludes that fixed-rate service charges of $112.50 for Bell and $84.50 for the other ILECs are appropriate." (para 139)

Connecting Link Service Change

Connecting Link service charges should be determined on a flat rate basis, rather than on a per metre basis, and that the total service charge per 100 links should not exceed the level of $1,600. (para 147)

Connecting Link Monthly Rate

The connecting link rate is capped at $1.25 per month per 100 connecting links. (para 152)

Requirement for an IDF

Running the CLEC's connecting link from the co-location area to the IDF is appropriate. Wherever this option is selected, the incremental costs associated with the IDF solution (compared to the MDF solution) are causal to the ILEC's own distribution frame operations. Therefore no distinction should be made between connecting links that terminate on an IDF or an MDF. (para 157)

Riser Space

The per metre Riser Space rate should only apply to the vertical distance in metres used by each CLEC connecting link. In the event that a CLEC's co-located equipment resides on the same floor as the ILEC's MDF, no Riser Space charges are to apply. (para 185)

06-Aug-99

8644-C12-01/98

Building Access and Inside Wire

Telecom Decision CRTC 99-10: Location of Demarcation Point for Inside Wire in Multi-Dwelling Units and Associated Issues

BIWG

(i) The service provider demarcation point must be located in the Main Terminal Room of each building. Ruling applicable to all new buildings and all existing ones where the building owner has accepted responsibility for in building wire. Only applies to copper wire used to provide single line local telephone service. (This limited application was varied by Letter Decision dated 27 June 2000 Re: "Demarcation point for copper facilities in multi-dwelling units (MDUs) 15 June 2000 ex parte application filed by Bell Canada" to include all copper based services.)

(ii) Where the demarcation point needs to be moved, each LEC, as a condition of offering service in the affected MDU, shall provide written notice to each of its affected customers re: (a) the changes in responsibility and control for in-building wire; (b) the process customers should follow to resolve service problems and complaints; and (c) the customer's option of having their serving LEC act as single point of contact in respect of service problems that may relate to in-building wire.

(iii) Where responsibility and control for in-building wiring is transferred from a LEC to a property owner, the LEC must obtain written acceptance of the transfer from the property owner.

LOCAL COMPETITION RULINGS - ORDERS

Date

File Number/CISC Document Number

Category

CRTC Telecom Order #

Subject/Title

Rule

01-May-97

95-1159

LNP

97-591

Responsibility for carrier Specific Costs for the Provision of Local Number Portability

Each carrier is responsible for the recovery of its own costs associated with the implementation of LNP.

05-Sep-97

96-2376

LNP

97-1243

LNP Funding

Two sources of funding for the administration of the LNP database:

Direct Charges: Each shareholder must pay on a pro rata basis according to the aggregate of total NAS it serves in each exchange where portability is available.

Transaction Charges: The transaction charge to upload a ported number into the NPAC/SMS is set at $5.

09-Oct-97

8638-C12-01/97
96-2376

Customer Transfer

97-1451

Local Exchange Carriers - Confirmation of an end-customer local service transfer order

a) A LEC must confirm each order to transfer local service to that LEC. Such confirmation may be obtained by transferring the end-customer, following the original order, to an independent third-party or to an IVR system for the purpose of confirming the local service transfer order;

b) a separate call to confirm an end-customer local service transfer order is not required;

c) LECs are not permitted to use voice recordings to confirm an end-customer local service transfer order;

d) LECs are not required to provide end-customers with a toll-free telephone number solely dedicated to order confirmation purposes; and

e) LECs who choose to provide end-customers with the opportunity to call back to confirm a transfer order may use a multi-purpose toll-free number with access to an IVR system, or to an independent third-party.

07-Jan-98

8638-C12-05/97

Central Fund

98-1

The definition of subsidy-eligible NAS and whether carriers are required to operate as CLECs in all served exchanges

a) Residential NAS, in respect of which a LEC is eligible to collect contribution, is defined as the NAS used by the LEC to offer residential switched two-way local voice services in the exchanges where it operates as a LEC.

b) Carriers are not required to operate as LECs in all exchanges where they operate.

26-Jan-98

96-2376

Network Interface

98-40

Interconnection Standards and CCS7

(i) Individual carriers may determine which standards and versions to implement within their networks and the timing of implementation;

(ii) Adherence to specifications must be demonstrated by conformance testing;

(iii) The minimum message set required at this time will consist of messages necessary for: Basic SS7 Call Control, Calling Line Identification Presentation and Restriction Services, and Call Forwarding Services; and support of LEC (local exchange carrier) multi-laterally supported services and mandated internetworking such as LNP;

(iv) When a parameter in a message that has not been defined in the minimum message set is received at an interface, the receiving or transiting carrier will deal with the message in compliance with the specifications provided in the common interface standard, unless it can be shown that it will impair the operation of the carrier network;

(v) The interface provided by a carrier shall be compatible with GR-317; and

(vi) Where protocol conversion is required, the carrier required to bring its protocol to the approved common interface standard will be responsible for the costs.

19-May-98

96-2376

Network Planning

98-486

Transiting and Points of Interconnection

See Below

Definition of Bill and Keep Traffic

The bill-and-keep approach mandated in Decision 97-8 applies to traffic between a pair of LECs that originates and terminates in the exchange (local traffic) in which the LECs are directly interconnected. Where a transiting arrangement is used, the traffic delivered by the originating LEC to the transiting LEC and then transited to the terminating LEC is not delivered on a bill-and-keep basis; rather the originating LEC pays the transiting LEC to deliver traffic to the terminating LEC. (para 11)

EAS/EFRC Transiting

EAS/EFRC transiting is within the scope of transiting services that the ILECs are required to provide pursuant to paragraph 98 of Decision 97-8. (para 16)

Transiting Service - Inclusion of Trunks and Responsibility for the Cost of the Transiting Arrangement

ILECs' transiting tariffs must include an option for the provision of the trunking required from the originating CLEC and trunking to the terminating CLEC. The CLEC subscribing to the transiting service is responsible for the cost of the trunks. If the bill-and-keep shared-cost trunks are used for the delivery of transit traffic, the ILEC's transiting tariff must recover costs incurred for the additional capacity required for the transit traffic. (para 21,22)

CLEC Agreements for Transiting

Each LEC must enter into an interconnection agreement with every other LEC to arrange the manner by which they plan to exchange traffic, whether by way of direct connection or transiting. Further, the transiting ILEC must route only the traffic types that the ILEC and CLEC agree to transit: they must also agree on any new traffic types to be transited. (para 26,27)

Trunk Group Requirements

Where a means of identifying and measuring various types of traffic, bill & keep trunks may be used to carry transiting traffic provided the cost of the trunking capacity required for the transiting is recovered in its entirety through the tariff (that is, no cost sharing with the originating or terminating CLECs).

Where such traffic measurement is not feasible, the set of trunk groups to be used for the exchange of traffic between a CLEC and an ILEC providing transiting service to that CLEC must, at a minimum, be as follows:

(1) one trunk group (bill-and-keep shared-cost) for:

a) originating and terminating intra-exchange traffic between ILEC and CLEC subscribers and WSPs that are not CLECs; and

b) for an interim period, IXC traffic terminated on the ILEC using line-side arrangements;

(2) one trunk group (CLEC cost) for:

a) intra-exchange transit traffic; and

b) intra-EAS/EFRC transit traffic;

(3) one trunk group (IXC cost recovered through tariffs) required to terminate IXC to CLEC traffic; and

(4) trunk group(s) (IXC cost recovered through tariffs) required for transiting CLEC to IXC traffic to an ILEC access tandem. (para 42)

ILEC CCS7 Transiting

ILEC transiting service must permit the exchange of CCS7 messages between CLECs and between a CLEC and a WSP operating in an exchange, between a CLEC and IXCs and between a CLEC and the Stentor LNP SCP(s). (para 48)

CCS7 SCCP Capability

The mandated ILEC CCS7 transiting function must provide for the transiting of SCCP messages in order to ensure that subscribers can benefit from the full range of basic, optional and enhanced services that can be provided between local carriers exchanging local traffic. The carrier originating the SCCP message must be responsible for the GTT and must make arrangements for the processing necessary to route the message to the terminating network. (para 55, 56)

Non-ILEC Transiting - Switching and Aggregation Charge

The company providing the transiting service is entitled to recover the transiting costs incurred by way of a tariff or other arrangement. The company whose customer originates the IX traffic or receives IX traffic is entitled to the revenue from the S & A charge. (para 60)

Treatment of Transiting between a WSP and a CLEC

A WSP's traffic must be treated as would the traffic of a retail subscriber of the LEC to which it is connected. Accordingly, the traffic must be transported on the bill-and-keep trunks between the LEC with which the WSP is connected and the originating or terminating LEC. (para 63)

Transiting and Independent Companies

Transiting between CLECs and independents within the EAS/EFRC area of an ILEC is to be treated in the same manner as transited traffic between CLECs within the company's own EAS/EFRC area. (para 69)

Use of WSP Terminations When the WSP Becomes a LEC

Where the ILEC Gateway POI and the existing ILEC's WSP POI are at the same location, existing facilities are to be used and the ILEC is to be responsible for its share of the cost for trunking used for bill-and-keep traffic. Where the ILEC Gateway POI and the ILEC's WSP POI are not at the same location, and the existing facilities are appropriate and adequate for WSP/CLEC to ILEC interconnection, the existing facilities should be used. The WSP/CLEC shall be responsible for the cost of the existing facilities between the ILEC and itself and the ILEC shall be responsible for costs of the facilities between the existing ILEC's WSP POI and the ILEC Gateway POI designated pursuant to Decision 97-8. These arrangements may be used only for the duration of the current term of the existing arrangement for the provision of the facilities. (para 82)

Location of SPOIs

Every SPOI must be co-located at a LEC's designated POI. (para 87)

CCS7 Interconnection Principles

Where two LECs both operate in the same set of NPAs, a separate SPOI in each NPA is not required provided that the CCS7 interconnections between them meet the CCS7 standard requirements. However, when a LEC operates only in one NPA, other LECs operating in that NPA are required to provide a SPOI in that NPA unless other arrangements are made for interconnection. (para 93)

Treatment of Existing CCS7 Interconnections When a WSP Becomes a CLEC and an IXC Begins to Operate as a CLEC

Where an IXC or WSP operates as a CLEC, in a given NPA, the IXC or WSP will operate as a CLEC co-carrier and the provisions of Decision 97-8 requiring it to establish a SPOI in the NPA, as interpreted above, apply. (para 99)

Interconnection of ILEC and Third Party CCS7 Networks

When a CLEC uses the network of a third party for the provision of signaling transmission and switching services, the Commission considers that SPOI provided by the third party should be considered as being the CLEC's designated SPOI for purposes of Decision 97-8. Further, if several LECs decide to have common SPOIs, these SPOIs should be considered as the SPOIs of each individual company. The CLECs could also decide to use only one set of links to other LECs and share the cost. (para 103)

Establishment of SPOIs when a new NPA is established

In the particular case of an overlay scenario where the new NPA will cover the identical geographical area served by the old NPA, no new SPOI should be required. In the case of an NPA-split, LECs operating in both NPAs must establish a new SPOI to connect with a LEC that might be operating only in the old or the new NPA, unless other arrangements can be negotiated. (para 106,107)

Cost Sharing of A-Links

A-links are no subject to cost sharing. (para 112)

26-Jun-98

8665-C12-03/97

Billing

98-626

Alternative Billing Formats

Canadian carriers, including wireless carriers and non-dominant carriers, must:

a) provide to subscribers, upon request, billing statements in Braille, large print, on computer diskette, or in any other alternative format mutually agreed upon between the Canadian carrier and the subscriber;

b) provide to subscribers, upon request, bill inserts informing them about new services or changes in rates for existing services, and any bill inserts mandated from time to time by the Commission, in Braille, large print, on computer diskette, or in any other alternative format mutually agreed upon between the Canadian carrier and the subscriber; and

c) offering directory assistance, provide to their visually impaired subscribers an insert in Braille advising such subscribers of the availability, upon request, of billing statements and bill inserts in alternative formats.

08-Jan-99

96-2376

LNP

99-5

Porting Numbers by Non-LECs

Access to the NPAC/SMS to port numbers is restricted to LECs.

12-Apr-99

96-2376

LNP

99-340

Responsibility for Performing the LNP Query for Carriers Using Line-Side Terminations

The N-1 carrier is responsible for performing the query processing for toll calls in an LNP environment, regardless of the type of interconnection used. The ILECs should offer FG A interconnections to carriers under a separate tariff, with specific additional charges for performing LNP query service and, if required, for providing transiting service to another LEC in the same exchange.

15-Apr-99

8740-B20-0702/99

Traffic Imbalance

99-352

Clarification of Rules Pertaining to Traffic Imbalance

(1) Traffic imbalance may occur for traffic that is exchanged between a CLEC and an ILEC and terminated within the same exchange. Commencing six months after commercial launch, once an imbalance is detected for three consecutive months on specific trunk group(s), the ILEC will notify the CLEC of the imbalance. The monthly rates will be applied on the basis of actual traffic imbalances from the date of notification for as long as an imbalance exists. Billing would commence from the date of notification.

(2) The ILEC will notify the CLEC when an imbalance is detected in the ILEC's favour. The monthly rates for traffic imbalance apply, for each trunk required at the busiest hour of the month, on the basis of actual traffic imbalances from the date of notification of the imbalance, for as long as the imbalance exists.

29-Apr-99

96-2376

Equal Access

99-379

Equal Access by Resellers

Only CLECs and ILECs need provide equal access; local service resellers do not.

25-Nov-99

8622-A4-12/98

Co-location

99-1107

Connecting to a telephone company via a co-located third party

The transmission capacity of the third-party co-located carrier used by a contracting carrier, reseller or end-user for connection to the telephone company facilities is capacity connected to the telephone company facilities for the purpose of the primary purpose test of the co-located third-party carrier at the CO.

14-Jun-00

Payphones - Per Call Compensation

2000-538

Compensation for toll-free calls payable to competitive payphone service providers

CLECs, as a condition of offering service pursuant to Section 24 of the Act, who provide access service to the CPTSPs, must provide sufficient billing information so that CPTSPs can bill the IXCs. This requirement must be included in any agreement/contract entered into between CLECs and CPTSPs (para 25.b)