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Telecom Order CRTC 2008-64 |
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Ottawa, 4 March 2008 |
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Société d'administration des tarifs d'accès des télécommunicateurs |
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Reference: Tariff Notices 44 and 45 |
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Withdrawal of La Corporation de Téléphone de La Baie |
1. |
On 10 January 2008, the Société d'administration des tarifs d'accès des télécommunicateurs (SATAT) filed two applications in which it proposed revisions to its General Tariff and its Primary Interexchange Carrier/Customer Account Record Exchange Access Customer Handbook, in order to withdraw the references to La Corporation de Téléphone de La Baie (La Baie). |
2. |
SATAT indicated that La Baie had been acquired by Téléphone Milot inc. (Milot) and that all of its assets had been transferred to Milot as of 1 September 2007. SATAT indicated that, as a result, La Baie is no longer one of its members. SATAT requested that the Commission approve its applications with an effective date of 1 September 2007. |
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Commission's analysis and determinations |
3. |
The Commission notes that since 1 September 2007, Milot has charged rates for interconnection services provided to interexchange carriers (IXCs) in La Baie's former serving territory. The Commission also notes that it has not approved those rates. |
4. |
The Commission notes that, with the exception of Direct Connection (DC) service, Milot's rates for interconnection services provided to IXCs in La Baie's former serving territory are the same as La Baie's rates were for those services. With respect to DC, the Commission also notes that Milot's rate of $0.0132 per conversation minute is lower than La Baie's rate of $0.0178. Accordingly, IXCs have not been disadvantaged by Milot charging these rates. |
5. |
The Commission notes that the rates for interconnection services provided to IXCs by Milot had been approved only for Milot in its own territory on a final basis before it had acquired La Baie. The Commission also notes that the Telecommunications Act (the Act) does not allow it to grant retroactive approval to Milot's rates for use in the former La Baie territory. However, pursuant to paragraph 25(4)(a) of the Act, the Commission may ratify the charging of a rate by a Canadian carrier otherwise than in accordance with a tariff approved by the Commission if it is satisfied that the rate was charged because of an error or other circumstance that warrants the ratification. |
6. |
The Commission considers that since all assets of La Baie were transferred to Milot, and Milot charged equal or lower rates for interconnection services in La Baie's former serving territory, it would be appropriate to ratify Milot's rates for interconnection services provided to IXCs in La Baie's former serving territory for the period during which the services were provided otherwise than in accordance with an approved tariff. |
7. |
Accordingly, the Commission approves SATAT's applications, and ratifies Milot's rates for interconnection services provided to IXCs in La Baie's former serving territory from 1 September 2007 to the date of this Order. |
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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 |