ARCHIVED - Telecom Order CRTC 2006-295

a) service proposed to be destandardized and/or withdrawn;

b) proposed date for destandardization;

c) proposed date for ultimate withdrawal of service;

d) type of destandardization;

e) rationale for the application;

f) availability of a substitute, with rationale as to why it was reasonable interms of equivalent functionality, availability in the same geographical area, and cost (including the initial outlay and ongoing costs to the customer);

g) the transition plan;

h) relevant information concerning existing customers, such as the number of customers affected;

i) a copy of the notice to affected customers; and

j) any other information the applicant believed was relevant.

a) service proposed to be destandardized and/or withdrawn

Bell Canada proposed to destandardize AST item 105 Type C local loop service.

b) proposed date for destandardization

Bell Canada requested that the Commission grant interim approval of the proposed destandardization of Type C local loop service, with an effective date of 4 September 2006.

c) proposed date for ultimate withdrawal of service

Not applicable - Bell Canada submitted that it was not proposing to withdraw Type C local loop service at this time.

d) type of destandardization

Bell Canada proposed to destandardize Type C local loop service by discontinuing the offering of this service for new installations, moves, rearrangements, or other changes at the same or different premises. Bell Canada submitted that customers wishing to expand their Type C local loop service could do so by using CDN or DNA services, as applicable.

e) rationale for the application

Bell Canada indicated that AST item 105 Type C local loop service was provided at the rates, terms, and conditions specified in AST item 130, Competitor Digital Network (CDN) Services, or at the rates, terms, and conditions specified in National Services Tariff item 301.3, Digital Network Access (DNA) - Rates and Charges. Bell Canada submitted that there was no difference in functionality between a CDN or DNA Access at DS-1 speed and a Type C local loop. However, the company noted that it incurred incremental costs to support Type C local loops under AST item 105 in addition to CDN and DNA services.

Bell Canada submitted that Type C local loops had become redundant and, in view of the incremental costs to maintain the service, the company proposed to destandardize Type C local loop service.

In order to ensure that the destandardization of Type C local loop service from AST item 105 did not impact customers, Bell Canada indicated that it would continue providing in-service Type C local loops to customers currently subscribing to the service. Customers that wished to expand or change their Type C local loop service could do so by using CDN or DNA services, as applicable. Similarly, new customers would be offered and provided CDN or DNA services in place of Type C local loops.

f) availability of a substitute, with rationale as to why it was reasonable in terms of equivalent functionality, availability in the same geographical area, and cost (including the initial outlay and ongoing costs to the customer)

As noted above, the company would continue to offer and provide in-service Type C local loops to existing customers. Customers that sought to increase their number of in-service Type C local loops or change their Type C local loops would be provided the functionality associated with Type C local loops through the company's CDN or DNA services. The company submitted that its CDN and DNA services were available in the same geographical areas as the Type C local loops offered under AST item 105, and provided identical functionality as Type C local loop service.

g) the transition plan

Bell Canada submitted that customers who maintained their existing in-service Type C local loops would not be transitioned to another service. Bell Canada further submitted that customers that expanded or changed their Type C local loop service would be able to do so using CDN or DNA services, as applicable.

h) relevant information concerning existing customers, such as the number of customers affected

Bell Canada submitted that all of its customers that subscribed to Type C local loop service also subscribed to its CDN and DNA services and, as such, were familiar with existing CDN and DNA ordering systems and processes. Bell Canada was of the view that customers who wished to expand or change their Type C local loop services would require little or no assistance in the transition from ordering Type C local loops to ordering CDN or DNA services.

i) a copy of the notice to affected customers

Bell Canada indicated that it had issued a letter on 21 June 2006 to its customers for Type C local loop service describing the proposal to destandardize that service. Bell Canada noted that the letter included information regarding its intent to work with customers affected by the destandardization of Type C local loops for the purpose of assisting these customers in the ordering of CDN and DNA services. Further, Bell Canada noted that the letter invited customers to provide comments on the proposal by 30 June 2006, and provided them with information regarding Circular 2005-7.

Bell Canada also noted that it had copied the affected customers with this application. Bell Canada indicated that each of these customers was an experienced participant in Commission proceedings and was aware of how to participate in the destandardization process.

j) any other information the applicant believed was relevant

No additional information was filed.