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Our File Number: 8623-C12-09/09
Ottawa, 21 May 2009
To: Distribution list (attached)
BY TELECOPIER
Re: Release of certain information filed in confidence
This year, as part of the Commission's annual monitoring activities, facilities-based TSPs were requested to provide, in an electronic format, maps of their operating territory that identify where broadband Internet access service was available as of 31 December 2008 or, if not available, other suitable data from which the TSP's broadband coverage can be determined. This data was submitted by the TSPs on the “Geographic residential broadband Internet access coverage and subscriber” form (Form 256) under the heading “Filed in Confidence”.
In Telecom Circular CRTC 2005-4 the Commission introduced a number of administrative changes to better coordinate and streamline a number of activities it undertakes in order to regulate and monitor the Canadian telecommunications industry. Among these, TSPs were no longer required to make a formal claim of confidentiality for all of the data submitted, as most of the forms in the Data Collection System, including Form 256 were amended to include the heading "Filed in Confidence". This change provided greater administrative efficiency for the Commission and simplified reporting for the TSPs.
In the past, data regarding broadband Internet access service availability was published in the annual CRTC Communications Monitoring Report , aggregated at the provincial and national level, to provide a measure as to the extent to which broadband Internet access service was available to Canadian households.
This year, Industry Canada has requested that the CRTC provide geographic service availability data submitted on Form 256 to assist in the administration of its $225 million broadband deployment initiative program as part of the federal government's economic incentive to expand the availability of broadband Internet access in Canada . Industry Canada would prefer to display this data on their website on a map of Canada indicating where broadband service is available by type of technology (i.e., DSL and cablemodem) rather than at an aggregate level.
Commission staff is of the preliminary view that this data is not confidential as it may be obtained from publicly available sources such as Internet websites of the TSPs.
In light of the above, facilities-based TSPs that were issued Form 256 are to reply to this letter by 29 May 2009, if they consider the geographic service availability data submitted on Form 256 to be confidential. In this reply, the TSPs are to provide justification as to why this information is appropriately designated confidential under subsection 39(1) of the Telecommunications Act .
Should you have any questions, you may contact Steve Malowany at 819-953-2167.
Sincerely,
Steve Delaney
Director
Industry Analysis
Distribution List
Bell Canada
Bell Aliant Regional Communications, Limited Partnership
Bragg Communications Incorporated
Cogeco Câble Canada inc.
MTS Allstream Inc.
Northwestel Inc.
Rogers Communications Inc.
Saskatchewan Telecommunications
Shaw Cablesystems G.P.
TBayTel
Télébec, Société en commandite
TELUS Communications Company
Vidéotron ltée
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