ARCHIVED - Telecom Order CRTC 2002-324
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Telecom Order CRTC 2002-324 |
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Ottawa, 1 August 2002 |
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TELUS Communications Inc. |
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Emergency Reporting System |
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1. |
The Commission received an application by TELUS Communications Inc. (TCI), dated 28 November 2001, requesting approval to revise the former TCI tariff item 160, Emergency Reporting System (ERS) service, in order to discontinue offering the service to new customers while maintaining the service for existing customers in Alberta. TCI further proposed to amalgamate this tariff item with the equivalent, TCBC tariff item 422, Emergency Reporting and Alerting Systems. The service in British Columbia has been discontinued for new customers since 1980. |
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2. |
ERS service is a fire alarm reporting system used at exchanges where the fire department consists of volunteers and the fire hall is not manned twenty-four hours per day. The ERS consists of a Central Office line with parallel stations at volunteers' premises. |
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3. |
In support of its application, TCI submitted that it is no longer in a position to provide ERS service to new customers, or for existing customers who change from one location to another, because the equipment required to provide the service is no longer manufactured and the company has no remaining inventory. TCI also submitted that the demand for the service is declining with the development of alternative services that use newer technology such as Fixed Call Forwarding to the 9-1-1 Call Centre, Pager Service, and Provincial E9-1-1 Service. |
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4. |
The Commission received one intervention from the Mayor of the Town of Hanna who raised concerns with respect to the unavailability of the ERS service in cases where existing customers move an emergency phone from one location to another. |
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5. |
In reply, TCI submitted that the scavenging and transfer of used equipment to maintain ERS service for existing customers was becoming increasingly time-consuming and heightened the risk of potential service outages during emergencies. Furthermore, TCI noted that it was currently exploring, with the Town of Hanna, the use of alternative technology to meet the customer's needs. |
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6. |
The Commission considers that it is reasonable to permit TCI to modify its ERS service as proposed, because the required equipment is obsolete and alternative services are available. |
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7. |
The Commission accordingly approves TCI's application. The revisions take effect as of the date of this order. |
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Secretary General |
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This document is available in alternative format upon request and may also be examined at the following Internet site: www.crtc.gc.ca |
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Date Modified: 2002-08-01
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