ARCHIVED - Telecom Decision CRTC 2002-53

Telecom Decision CRTC 2002-53

Ottawa, 30 August 2002

Saskatchewan Telecommunications - Transitions to federal regulation - Reporting quality of service

Reference: 8663-S22-01/99

In this decision, the Commission concludes that it is appropriate for Saskatchewan Telecommunications (SaskTel) to be subject to the quality of service standards and reporting requirements imposed on the other major incumbent telephone companies.

The Commission also directs SaskTel to show cause, by 16 September 2002, why it should not be subject to the interim quality of service rate adjustment mechanism established in Regulatory Framework for Second Price Cap Period, Telecom Decision CRTC 2002-34, 30 May 2002, for residential and business customers, as well as for competitors.

1.

In a letter to Saskatchewan Telecommunications (SaskTel), dated 29 April 2002, the Commission stated its preliminary view that SaskTel should be subject to the same quality of service requirements imposed on the other major incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs).The Commission directed, therefore, SaskTel to show cause, by 31 May 2002, why SaskTel should not be subject to these requirements.

2.

The Commission served copies of its 29 April 2002 letter on the interested parties in the proceedings leading to Final standards for quality of service indicators for use in telephone company regulation and other related matters, Decision CRTC 2000-24, 20 January 2000 and CRTC creates new quality of service indicators for telephone companies, Decision CRTC 2001-217, 9 April 2001; and directed SaskTel to serve a copy of its response on the same interested parties.

3.

SaskTel responded in letters dated 27 May and 18 June 2002. The Commission received no comment from other interested parties.

4.

The Commission subsequently issued Regulatory Framework for Second Price Cap Period, Telecom Decision CRTC 2002-34, 30 May 2002 (Decision 2002-34), as amended by Erratum: Telecom Decision CRTC 2002-34 - Appendix 3, Telecom Decision CRTC 2002-34-1, 15 July 2002, establishing an interim quality of service rate adjustment mechanism (interim mechanism). Pursuant to this interim mechanism, customers and competitors are entitled to rebates if the incumbent telephone companies do not meet the Commission-mandated service standards. This interim mechanism does not currently apply to SaskTel.

SaskTel's Position

5.

SaskTel submitted that it should be subject to the same quality of service standards and reporting requirements as those imposed on other ILECs in the decisions enunciated in the Commission's 29 April 2002 letter. SaskTel stated that it would not, however, be able to measure and report on the full set of quality of service indicators until it had implemented a system to measure Indicator 4.2, Access to Directory Assistance. SaskTel stated that it expected to have this work completed by the end of August 2002.

Commission Determinations

6.

The Commission considers that it is appropriate for SaskTel to be subject to the same quality of service requirements imposed on the other major ILECs.

7.

Accordingly, the Commission directs SaskTel to comply with quality of service standards and reporting requirements set out in the following decisions:

8.

The Commission further directs SaskTel to commence filing quality of service reports as of the fourth quarter of 2002.

9.

The Commission is also of the preliminary view that SaskTel should be subject to the interim quality of service rate adjustment mechanism established in Decision 2002-34 for residential and business customers, as well as, for competitors. The Commission, therefore, directs SaskTel to show cause by 16 September 2002, why it should not be subject to the interim quality of service rate adjustment mechanism established in Decision 2002-34 for residential and business customers as well as for competitors. SaskTel is to serve a copy of its submission on all interested parties in the proceeding leading to Decision 2002-34.

10.

Interested parties may file comments with the Commission by 30 September 2002 serving a copy on SaskTel.

11.

12.

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

Secretary General