ARCHIVED - Telecom Order CRTC 2004-333
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Telecom Order CRTC 2004-333 |
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| Ottawa, 4 October 2004 | |
Saskatchewan Telecommunications |
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| Reference: Tariff Notice 63 | |
Withdrawal of General Mobile Telephone Service |
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1. |
The Commission received an application by Saskatchewan Telecommunications (SaskTel), dated 5 April 2004, to withdraw General Tariff item 400.10, General Mobile Telephone Service (GMTS), and to discontinue and withdraw General Tariff item 400.15, GMTS-450 MHz Public Air-Ground Radio Telephone Service (GMTS-450). SaskTel noted that GMTS was a very high-frequency radio-telephone service that provided a small number of customers in northern Saskatchewan with access to the company's public switched telephone network, and to other mobile telephone customers. GMTS-450 was an aircraft service furnished between a land telephone (wire/mobile) and an aircraft via an air-ground base station. SaskTel noted that both of these services were furnished through the Digital Operator Toll System (DOTS). |
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2. |
SaskTel indicated that it had notified all of its GMTS customers in December 2001 of the unreliable status of GMTS, and of the search for affordable alternatives. SaskTel noted that, since GMTS was destandardized in April 2003,1 the company had provided economic alternatives to this service for its customers. One of these alternatives was a subsidized terminal unit provided for GMTS customers who switched to Infosat satellite service. SaskTel submitted that it intended to continue this subsidy program until GMTS was discontinued. |
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3. |
SaskTel indicated that, as a result of its efforts to provide alternate services, the number of GMTS customers had declined significantly in recent months. Furthermore, the company noted that the remaining GMTS customers made little use of the service. SaskTel also stated that the DOTS was now obsolete and manufacture discontinued. |
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4. |
SaskTel also indicated that it would send a letter to its GMTS customers advising them of the company's request to withdraw GMTS, and reminding them of the subsidized migration offer to Infosat satellite service. |
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5. |
The Commission received no comments with respect to the application. |
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6. |
In view of the limited demand for GMTS, the fact that alternatives to such service are available, and given that the DOTS is obsolete and no longer available, the Commission considers that the company's proposal to withdraw GMTS, and to discontinue and withdraw GMTS-450 is acceptable. |
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7. |
Accordingly, the Commission approves SaskTel's application and directs the company to notify the remaining customers of GMTS by 18 October 2004. The revisions take effect as of 31 October 2004. |
| 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 |
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Footnote:
1 In an application dated 12 December 2002, SaskTel applied to revise General Tariff item 400.10, General Mobile Telephone Service, proposing that service would no longer be available for new installations, additions to existing installations, or moves and rearrangements on the same or different premises. The company's application was approved in Saskatchewan Telecommunications - General mobile telephone service, Telecom Order CRTC 2003-41, 21 January 2003.
Date Modified: 2004-10-04
- Date modified: