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Telecom Public Notice CRTC 2006-11
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See also: 2006-11-1
Ottawa, 11 August 2006
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Elimination of service connection charge applicable to Residential Primary Exchange Service customers
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Reference: 8661-C12-200610057, Bell Canada TN 6967 and Bell Aliant TN 18
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In this Public Notice, the Commission invites comments on applications received from Bell Canada and Bell Aliant Regional Communications, Limited Partnership to integrate the residential service connection charge with the residential Primary Exchange Service rates.
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Background
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1.
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The Commission received an application by each of Bell Canada and Bell Aliant Regional Communications, Limited Partnership (Bell Aliant) (collectively, the Companies), dated 7 July 2006, proposing to eliminate the service connection charge (SCC) of $55.00 that applies to new and moving residential customers and to increase the monthly rates for Residential Primary Exchange Service by $0.80 for all customers. The Companies submitted that the net effect of their proposals would be revenue neutral.
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2.
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The Companies submitted that this would align their pricing practices with those of their competitors, and thus to better position their residential services in the competitive marketplace. The Companies argued that they were the only provider of residential local telephone services in their respective territories that applies a service charge to connect new or moving customers. The Companies submitted that the elimination of the SCC would remove an economic barrier for certain customers to initially obtain service or to maintain service when they move. They added that it would simplify their contacts with their customers by reducing the number of pricing elements to be explained and eliminating the need for affordability programs, such as the instalment payment option associated with these service charges.
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3.
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The Companies indicated that they would notify customers of their proposals via a short information message during the period 1 August 2006 to 28 August 2006.
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4.
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The Commission received comments from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), dated 21 July 2006, requesting that the Commission issue a public notice on the Companies' applications and Bell Canada's reply comments, dated 26 July 2006, in which the company requested that the Commission deny PIAC's request.
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5.
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The Commission is of the view that a public notice would provide the appropriate forum for the parties to comment on the issues raised by the applications.
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6.
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The Commission hereby issues a public notice to address these issues.
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Call for comments
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7.
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The Commission invites parties to provide comments on any aspect of Bell Canada's and Bell Aliant's applications.
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Procedure
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8.
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Bell Canada and Bell Aliant are made parties to this proceeding.
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9.
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Other parties wishing to participate fully in this proceeding (including receiving copies of all submissions) must notify the Commission of their intention to do so by filling out the online form, or by writing to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N2, or by faxing at: 819-994-0218 by 18 August 2006 (the registration date). Parties are to provide their email addresses, where available. If parties do not have access to the Internet, they are to indicate in their notice whether they wish to receive disk versions of hard-copy filings.
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10.
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The Commission will issue on its website, as soon as possible after the registration date, a complete list of interested parties and their mailing addresses (including their e-mail addresses, if available), identifying those parties who wish to receive disk versions.
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11.
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Any person who wishes merely to file written comments in this proceeding, without receiving copies of the various submissions, may do so by writing to the Commission by 25 August 2006 at the address or fax number noted above, or by filling out the online form.
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12.
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The Commission will not formally acknowledge comments. It will, however, fully consider all comments and they will form part of the public record of the proceeding.
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13.
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The Commission will be issuing interrogatories to the Companies shortly.
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14.
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Parties may address interrogatories to Bell Canada and Bell Aliant. Any such interrogatories must be filed with the Commission and served on the Companies by 1 September 2006.
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15.
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Responses to interrogatories are to be filed with the Commission and served on all parties by 14 September 2006.
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16.
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All parties may file written comments with the Commission on any matter within the scope of this proceeding, serving copies on all other parties by 25 September 2006.
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17.
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Bell Canada and Bell Aliant are to file their reply comments with the Commission, serving a copy on all other parties by 5 October 2006.
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18.
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The Commission expects to issue a decision within 90 days after the record closes.
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19.
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Where a document is to be filed or served by a specific date, the document must be actually received, not merely sent, by that date.
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20.
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Parties can file their submissions electronically or on paper. Submissions longer than five pages should include a summary.
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21.
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Electronic submissions should be in HTML format. As an alternative, those making submissions may use "Microsoft Word" for text and "Microsoft Excel" for spreadsheets.
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22.
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Each paragraph of submissions should be numbered. In addition, please enter the line ***End of document*** following the last paragraph. This will help the Commission verify that the document has not been damaged during transmission.
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23.
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The Commission also encourages parties to monitor the record of this proceeding (and/or the Commission's website) for additional information that they may find useful when preparing their submissions.
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Important notice
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24.
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Note that all information that you provide as part of this public process, except information granted confidentiality, whether sent by postal mail, facsimile, e-mail or through the Commission's web site at www.crtc.gc.ca, becomes part of a publicly accessible file and will be posted on the Commission's web site. This information includes your personal information, such as your full name, e-mail address, postal/street address, telephone and facsimile number(s), and any other personal information you provide.
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25.
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Documents received electronically or otherwise will be put on the Commission's web site in their entirety exactly as you send them, including any personal information contained therein, in the official language and format in which they are received. Documents not received electronically will be available in PDF format.
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26.
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The personal information you provide will be used and may be disclosed for the purpose for which the information was obtained or compiled by the Commission, or for a use consistent with that purpose.
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Location of CRTC offices
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27.
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Submissions may be examined or will be made available promptly upon request at the Commission offices during normal business hours:
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Toll-free telephone: 1-877-249-2782
Toll-free TDD: 1-877-909-2782
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Central Building
Les Terrasses de la Chaudière
1 Promenade du Portage, Room 206
Gatineau, Quebec J8X 4B1
Tel: 819-997-2429
Fax: 819-994-0218
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Metropolitan Place
99 Wyse Road, Suite 1410
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B3A 4S5
Tel: 902-426-7997
Fax: 902-426-2721
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205 Viger Avenue West, Suite 504
Montréal, Quebec H2Z 1G2
Tel: 514-283-6607
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55 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 624
Toronto, Ontario M4T 1M2
Tel: 416-952-9096
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Kensington Building
275 Portage Avenue, Suite 1810
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2B3
Tel: 204-983-6306 - TDD: 204-983-8274
Fax: 204-983-6317
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Cornwall Professional Building
2125 - 11th Avenue, Suite 103
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3X3
Tel: 306-780-3422
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10405 Jasper Avenue, Suite 520
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3N4
Tel: 780-495-3224
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580 Hornby Street, Suite 530
Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3B6
Tel: 604-666-2111 - TDD: 604-666-0778
Fax: 604-666-8322
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Secretary General
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This document is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined in PDF format or in HTML at the following Internet site: www.crtc.gc.ca
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Date Modified: 2006-08-25