ARCHIVED - Letter
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Ottawa, 1 May 2012
Mr. Robert Hersche
Director, Regulatory Affairs
Saskatchewan Telecommunications (SaskTel)
2121 Saskatchewan Drive
12th Floor
Regina, Sk
S4P 3Y2
Email: document.control@sasktel.sk.ca
Dear Mr. Hersche:
Re: Use of Deferral Account funds to improve access to telecommunications services for persons with disabilities and to expand broadband services to rural and remote services
I am writing in response to your two letters dated 15 February 2012 and 27 March 2012, submitted to the Commission pursuant to Telecom Decision 2008-11 regarding the status of SaskTel’s Deferral Account initiatives to improve telecommunications services to persons with disabilities (accessibility initiatives).
In its 15 February 2012 letter, SaskTel provided information pertaining to two accessibility initiatives. In its 27 March 2012 letter, SaskTel stated that it was awaiting Commission approval of the following three accessibility initiatives, detailed in the letter’s attachment, filed with the Commission in confidence pursuant to section 39 of the Telecommunications Act. The attachment included the two accessibility initiatives referenced in its February letter. The initiatives are as follows:
- Association of Regina and District Association of Community Living Partnership (the RACL initiative) – A proposal to provide deferral account funding to RACL to improve access to telecommunications products and services for persons with cognitive and intellectual disabilities.
- Provincial Government Partnership – Within this partnership, a proposal for infrastructure upgrade to specified Multi-Dwelling Units (MDUs) (the MDU initiative) designated for persons with disabilities to improve their access to telecommunication products and services. SaskTel provided a list of the MDUs in confidence to the Commission.
- A Website Accessibility initiative.
Commission staff has reviewed the proposed accessibility initiatives and is of the view that additional information is required. A request for information is attached. SaskTel is to provide the requested information no later than 4 June 2012.
Also in reviewing the documents provided by Sasktel, staff notes that the proposals were not submitted in accordance with Rule 20 of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure (the Rules). Staff requests that Sasktel file these proposals as applications under the Rules, serving them on the enclosed list of parties to Decision 2008-1 who commented on the accessibility-related issues in that proceeding, on or before 4 June 2012.
Sincerely,
ORIGINAL SIGNED BY /
Nanao Kachi
A/Director, Social & Consumer Policy
Policy Development and Research
Nanao.Kachi@crtc.gc.ca
cc. mary-louise.hayward@crtc.gc.ca
Encl: Distribution list for parties to Decision 2008-1 who commented on the accessibility-related issues
[1] Telecom Decision CRTC 2008-1. Use of deferral account funds to improve access to telecommunications services for persons with disabilities and to expand broadband services to rural and remote communities.
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