ARCHIVED - Telecom Commission Letter - 8638-C12-200602708
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LetterOttawa, 22 June 2006 File Number: 8638-C12-200615586 Delivered by e-mail
To: Canadian National Institute for the Blind Re: Follow up to Disposition of funds in the deferral accounts, Telecom Decision CRTC 2006-9: Requests for extension to file proposals In Disposition of funds in the deferral accounts, Telecom Decision CRTC 2006-9, 16 February 2006 ( Decision 2006-9), t he Commission determined that appropriate uses of funds in the deferral accounts were initiatives 1) to expand broadband services to rural and remote communities and 2) to improve accessibility to telecommunications services for persons with disabilities. Accordingly, each incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) was directed to file, by 30 June 2006 , their proposals for these initiatives to dispose of the funds that would have accumulated in its deferral account by the end of the fourth year of the price cap period. In a letter dated 24 May 2006, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), on behalf of itself and 11 national disability organizations (the Advocacy groups), requested that the Commission extend the ILECs' filing date with respect to their accessibility proposals to 1 September 2006 in order to provide more time to submit well thought out, comprehensive proposals that reflect improved accessibility to telecommunications services for persons with disabilities. In a letter dated 1 June 2006, Bell Canada indicated that it was not opposed to the Advocacy groups' requested extension with respect to the accessibility proposals. Bell Canada also proposed that the deadline to file its submission with respect to the broadband initiatives be extended to 21 August 2006 due to the resource intensive nature required by the exercise. In a letter dated 12 June 2006, TELUS Communication Company (TELUS) did not oppose the Advocacy groups' requested extension. TELUS also indicated that it did not object to the additional extension requested by Bell Canada with respect to the broadband initiatives provided that it did not unnecessarily delay the Commission's approval of TELUS' broadband expansion proposal. TELUS added that, similar to Bell Canada, it would not be able to complete its broadband expansion proposal by 30 June 2006 and requested that the Commission extend the deadline to file its submission with respect to the broadband initiatives to 31 July 2006 . TELUS expressed the view that the Commission's evaluation of the ILECs' broadband expansion proposals and the proposals to improve accessibility to persons with disabilities could be conducted independently with different timelines . In a letter dated 8 June 2006 , Saskatchewan Telecommunications did not oppose the Advocacy groups' requested extension of time. In a letter dated 14 June 2006, MTS Allstream Inc. (MTS Allstream) noted that Decision 2006-9 is currently under review by the Commission, the Courts and the Federal Cabinet. MTS Allstream submitted that the Commission should await the resolution of these reviews before proceeding further with the finalization of the disposition of the funds in the deferral accounts. The Commission notes that, in Decision 2006-9, it specifically directed the ILECs to consult and work with the appropriate advocacy organizations for persons with disabilities prior to submitting their proposals for approval. The Commission considers that full consultation with the appropriate advocacy organizations for persons with disabilities is crucial prior to the ILECs submitting their proposals for Commission approval . Regarding Bell Canada's and TELUS' proposals to extend the filing dates with respect to the broadband initiatives, the Commission considers that it would not be appropriate for the ILECs to file incomplete or unsatisfactory proposals related to their broadband initiatives simply to meet the filing deadline of 30 June 2006. The Commission also considers that the same filing dates for all ILECs would result in procedural fairness and efficiency, as parties ' views would be heard and considered at one time. In addition, the Commission considers that this would ensure that its determinations for the disposition of funds from the deferral accounts would be evaluated on a consistent basis and would keep the process simple for interested parties who intend on participating. In light of the above, the Commission hereby modifies the deadline set out in Decision 2006-9 from 30 June 2006 to 1 September 2006 for the ILECs to file initiatives 1) to expand broadband services to rural and remote communities, and 2) to improve accessibility to telecommunications services for persons with disabilities. Yours sincerely, (Original signed by)
Diane Rhéaume
c.c.: R. Gauthier, CRTC (819) 994-5174 |
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