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ARCHIVED - Telecom Order CRTC 2003-518

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Telecom Order CRTC 2003-518

  Ottawa, 22 December 2003
 

TELUS Communications (Québec) Inc.

  Reference: Tariff Notice 365
 

Residential local services in high cost serving areas

1.

The Commission received an application by TELUS Communications (Québec) Inc. (TELUS Québec), dated 14 November 2003, to revise General Tariff items 2.20, SmartTouch Services, and 2.27, Residential Bundles, in order to increase the monthly rates of certain residential optional services in high cost serving areas (HCSA) by $1.00, and to increase the monthly rates for residential optional service bundles in HCSA from between $0.80 to $0.85.

2.

TELUS Québec also requested Commission retroactive application of the rates for these services as of 22 August 2003.

3.

The Commission received no comments with respect to the application.

4.

In Implementation of price regulation for Télébec and TELUS Québec, Telecom Decision CRTC 2002-43, 31 July 2002 (Decision 2002-43), the Commission determined that monthly rate increases for residential optional local service rates in HCSAs should not exceed $1.00 per feature per year. The Commission further determined that this limit would not apply to the prices of service bundles that include a residential local exchange service or a residential optional local service as these services are generally available on a stand-alone basis and are subject to constraints at the rate element level when sold on that basis.

5.

The Commission is satisfied that the proposed tariff revisions are consistent with the pricing constraints established in Decision 2002-43.

6.

The Commission approves TELUS Québec's proposed tariff revisions. The revisions take effect as of the date of this order.

7.

With respect to TELUS Québec's request to retroactively apply the rates for these services as of 22 August 2003, the Commission is concerned about the uncertainty that retroactive rate adjustments can cause and remains of the view, as set out in CRTC denies application by Call-Net and AT&T Canada for a refund of amounts paid for direct connection service, Order CRTC 2001-137, 14 February 2001, that "as a matter of regulatory policy, rates approved on a final basis should not generally be subject to adjustment." The Commission is not persuaded that in this case there are special circumstances that justify making an exception to the policy. Accordingly, the Commission denies TELUS Québec's request to retroactively apply the rates for these services as of 22 August 2003.
  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

Date Modified: 2003-12-22

Date modified: