ARCHIVED - Telecom Order CRTC 2003-229

Telecom Order CRTC 2003-229

Ottawa, 30 May 2003

NorthernTel Limited Partnership

Reference: Tariff Notice 190

Residential and business primary exchanges services

1.

The Commission received an application by NorthernTel Limited Partnership (NorthernTel), dated 21 March 2003, to revise item 5 of section N100, Rate Schedules for Primary Exchange (Local) Service; items 2, 5 and 8 of section N210, Centrex - Rates and Charges; item 7 of section N240, Centrex II Service - Rates and Charges; item 5 of section N490, Touch-Tone; and item 3 of section N900, Digital Network Services - Rates and Charges, of its General Tariff in order to increase its monthly rates as follows:

- residential individual line from $26.13 to $26.43;

- business individual line from $51.38 to $51.98;

- business multi-access line from $51.38 to $51.98 for rate groups 3 to 6, and from $54.13 to $54.73 for rate group 7;

- business individual line including Equivalent Service from $54.03 to $54.63;

- business multi-access line with Equivalent Service from $54.03 to $54.63 for rate groups 3 to 6, and $56.78 to $57.38 for rate group 7;

- Centrex Service 2 to 99 locals from $56.08 to $56.73;

- Centrex Service 2 to 99 locals including Equivalent Service from $58.73 to $59.38;

- Centrex Service above 100 locals and with 5 year contract from $37.58 to $37.98;

- Centrex Value Package, 2 to 15 locals from $56.08 to $56.73;

- Centrex Basic Business Bundle from $67.43 to $68.18;

- Centrex Plan A Fundamental from $70.08 to $70.88;

- Centrex Plan B Enhanced from $77.33 to $78.18;

- residential line Touch-Tone from $2.05 to $2.10;

- business line Touch-Tone from $3.10 to $3.15; and

- switch 56 Data Service from $54.08 to $54.68.

2.

The Commission received no comments with respect to the application.

3.

In Regulatory framework for the small incumbent telephone companies, Decision CRTC 2001-756, 14 December 2001 (Decision 2001-756), the Commission grouped services into four separate service baskets each with their own pricing constraints. The Commission assigned residential primary exchange service (PES) to the first service basket, business PES, including both single and multi-line, to the second service basket and other optional services, including Centrex service, to the fourth service basket.

4.

In Decision 2001-756, the Commission also determined that:

- in the absence of any exogenous factors, the rates for residential and business PES would be permitted to increase each year by no more than inflation; and

- the rates for services in the fourth service basket, which includes Centrex service, would generally be permitted to increase up to any already approved rate for the same service.

5.

The Commission notes that the rates proposed by NorthernTel for its optional services are less than those previously approved for other incumbent local exchange carriers.

6.

The Commission finds that NorthernTel's proposed rate increases are in accordance with the Commission's determinations in Decision 2001-756.

7.

The Commission approves NorthernTel's application. The revisions take effect as of the date of this order.

8.

NorthernTel is to issue revised tariff pages forthwith to reflect these changes.

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