ARCHIVED - Letter

Ottawa, 2 June 2014

Our reference:  8663-C12-201401041

BY EMAIL

Distribution

RE: Appointment of an Inquiry Officer to review matters related to transport services provided by satellite – Requests for information

Dear Madam, Sir:

In Telecom Notice of Consultation 2014-44 ^[1], the Commission announced that Commissioner Candice Molnar will conduct an inquiry with respect to the Canadian marketplace for satellite services that are used by telecommunications service providers (TSPs) to provide telecommunications services to Canadians.

As part of the inquiry process, the Inquiry Officer is seeking information regarding satellite and related services, from various stakeholders involved in providing telecommunications services in remote areas in Canada. Accordingly, various requests for information are included as an attachment to this letter.

All parties identified in the distribution list below are to file responses to the requests for information set out in Section 1. Earth station operators are to file responses to the requests for information set out in Section 2. Satellite operators are to file responses to the requests for information set out in Section 3. Providers of telecommunications services (excluding satellite operators), such as TSPs, are to file responses to the requests for information set out in Section 4. Governments or government organizations are to file responses to the requests for information set out in Section 5.

Interested persons that have information responsive to the requests for information set out in Sections 1-5, but that are not currently parties to the inquiry, are also encouraged to provide responses to the Inquiry Officer.

As set out in Telecom Notice of Consultation 2014-44-1, issued today, all responses are to be filed with the Inquiry Officer by 23 June 2014. These responses are to be received, and not merely sent, by this date.

Yours sincerely,

Original signed by

Candice Molnar
Inquiry Officer
Commissioner, Manitoba and Saskatchewan

Distribution List

109W Satellite Communications Inc., bolsen@sympatico.ca  
Arctic Fibre Inc., doug@arcticfibre.com  
Bell Aliant, regulatory@bell.aliant.ca  
Bell Mobility, bell.regulatory@bell.ca  
Canadian Cable System Alliance Inc., cedwards@ccsa.cable.ca  
Christopher Mitchelmore, cmitchelmore@gov.nl.ca  
Ciel Satellite Group, scott.gibson@cielsatellite.ca  
Echostar Satellite Services, jennifer.manner@echostar.com  
Eeyou Communications Network, aloon@gcc.ca  
Government of Nunavut, regulatory.affairs@gov.nu.ca  
Government of the Northwest Territories, linda_maljan@gov.nt.ca  
Government of Yukon, benjamin.sanders@gov.yk.ca  
Heather Hudson, heatherehudson@gmail.com  
Hispasat S.A., vrubio@hispasat.es  
HughesNet, steve.doiron@hughes.com   
Hunter Communications Canada, brent.perrott@huntercomm.net  
Ice Wireless, regulatory@icewireless.ca
Intelsat S.A., gonzalo.dedios@intelsat.com  
Iristel, regulatory@iristel.com
Isuma Distribution International Ltd., zkunnuk@isuma.ca  
JSAT International Inc., info@jsati.com  
Juch-Tech Inc., juchniewicz@juch-tech.com  
Keewaytinook Okimakanak (K-Net), danpellerin@knet.ca   
Lynx Mobility Inc., aahmed@lynxmobility.com  
MTS Allstream, iworkstation@mtsallstream.com  
Northern Indigenous Community Satellite Network, jdumoulin@krg.ca and sramchandar@gobcn.ca   
Northwestel Inc., regulatoryaffairs@nwtel.ca  
Nunavut Broadband Development Corporation, oana@nunavut-broadband.ca  
Omnispace LLC, jbravman@omni-sat.com  
Province of British Columbia, roman.mateyko@gov.bc.ca  
Public Interest Advocacy Centre, piac@piac.ca  
Rob McMahon, rob.mcmahon@unb.ca  
Saskatchewan Telecommunications, document.control@sasktel.com
SES S.A., suzanne.malloy@ses.com  
SSi Group of Companies, regulatory@ssimicro.com  
Telesat, iscott@telesat.com  
TELUS Communications Company, regulatory.affairs@telus.com  
Town of Roddickton-Bide Arm, roddickton@nf.aibn.com  
Viasat Inc., daryl.hunter@viasat.com  
Xplornet Communications Inc., cj.prudham@corp.xplornet.com 
O.N.Tel Inc. operating as Ontera, tracy.cant@ontera.ca

BY CANADA POST
Linda Randell, P.O. Box 375, Bide Arm NL, A0K 1J0
Marlene Randell, P.O. Box 371, Roddickton-Bide Arm NL, A0K 4P0

Section 1: requests for information directed at all parties

Competition

1.1 Telecom Notice of Consultation 2014-44 stated that the inquiry and report will focus, among other things, on potential changes to the competitive environment. The first step of assessing the competitive environment in any market is to define the relevant market. Comment on the following proposed definition of the market being examined in this inquiry:

Fixed-satellite services (FSS) used by providers of telecommunications services in the transport section of their networks that enable the provisioning of telecommunications services, such as broadband Internet, voice, and wireless (both fixed and mobile), to end-users in Canada.^[2]

In your response, address whether the definition should consider:

1. customers located north of the 60th parallel north as a sub- or separate market from those located south of the 60th parallel north;
2. different frequency bands that deliver telecommunications services (i.e. C-band, Ka-band, Ku-band) as being separate product markets, and
3. future satellite technologies, such as high throughput satellites, as being part of a different market.

1.2 Having regard to the relevant market defined in 1.1 above,

1. What characteristics would indicate, in your view, that the market is competitive, in terms of market share, demand and supply conditions, the likelihood of competitor entry, barriers to entry, and rivalrous behavior?
2. Are there any other factors that should be considered when assessing the competitiveness or other characteristics of the relevant market?

1.3 Discuss how feasible it is for a provider of telecommunications services to switch from one FSS provider to another. Provide a high-level explanation of the process and costs involved when a provider of telecommunications services switches from one FSS provider to another.  For those who purchase FSS, have you been approached or considered changing FSS providers, and if so, what was the end result (e.g. initial meetings only, service contract proposal, switched FSS providers, etc.)

Subsidies

1.4 Describe any public subsidies or funding (in terms of the amount, purpose of the funding, and any obligations associated with the subsidy) that you currently receive in connection with the provision or purchase of FSS, and when each of those sources of funding is expected to expire.

1.5 Describe any sources of public subsidies or funding connected with the provision or purchase of FSS  that are anticipated in the near future.

Relevant Literature

1.6 As announced in Telecom Notice of Consultation 2014-44, the Inquiry Officer is conducting her review, in part, through a review of relevant literature. Literature that has been referred to as part of the satellite inquiry is set out in Appendix A. Identify any additional relevant literature that you are aware of that would be useful for the Inquiry Officer to consult.  

Communities

1.7 A list of communities that are believed to receive telecommunications services (e.g. voice, wireless (both fixed and mobile), Internet) by way of FSS is set out in Appendix B. Having regard to that list, identify:

1. Any communities that receive telecommunications services by way of FSS that are not included in the list.^[3]
2. Any communities from the list that do not, in fact, receive telecommunications services by way of FSS.
3. Which communities receive telecommunications services by more than one satellite?

Section 2: requests for information directed at earth station operators

An earth station (also named ground station or satellite terrestrial station) is a ground-based receiving or transmitting /receiving station in a satellite communications system. The counterpart to the earth station is the space segment, which is the satellite in orbit, which is the "space station." Earth stations use dish-shaped antennas.

Technical performance

2.1 For each earth station you operate, identify the total FSS capacity allocated to each earth station, in terms of megabits per second (Mbps). Provide the response for: (i) the highest-cost, lowest-cost, and an average-cost community, in your serving area, located north of the 60th parallel north, and (ii) the highest-cost, lowest-cost, and an average-cost community, in your serving area, located south of the 60th parallel north.

1. If more than one community shares the same earth station's capacity, indicate the capacity made available to each community.

2.2 Can the earth station(s) you operate technologically support the provision of retail Internet service at the target speeds established by the Commission in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2011-291 (i.e. 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload)?

1. If so, describe the methodology used to meet the Commission's target speeds (e.g. the amount of satellite capacity, the oversubscription ratio used, etc.) and provide information on the quality of service (e.g. feedback you receive from consumers, etc.)
2. If not, describe the reasons why the Commission's target speeds cannot be met. Identify whether the bottleneck is due to issues with the space segment or with ground infrastructure. Indicate what speeds you currently offer.

2.3 Describe any existing technical challenges (e.g. technical limitations) related to satellite earth station technology, including particularly, the impact of those challenges on the quality and capacity of transmitted / received signals (e.g. speed, bandwidth, latency, etc.)

Efficiencies

As noted in Telecom Notice of Consultation 2014-44, the satellite inquiry is exploring technical limitations on satellite services and potential changes to technology, in that technical solutions may be able to be implemented as a means of improving efficiencies. For instance, some earth stations can operate in one band (e.g. C–band), while others can operate in dual bands (e.g. C-band and Ku-band with a 7.3M Earth Station Antenna).  

The following series of questions relates to the earth stations that you operate.

2.4 How many frequency bands can be operated at the same time by the same earth station?

1. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing more than one frequency band on the same earth station.

A variety of forms of antennas can be used for transmitting to and receiving from satellites. The most common type of satellite antenna is the parabolic reflector (dish), however this is not the only type of antenna that can be used. The actual type of antenna will depend upon the overall application and the requirements.

Ground antennas used for receiving satellite signals and transmitting to the satellites vary considerably according to their application. Again, parabolic reflectors (dish) are the most widely used, but Yagi antennas may be used on occasion. The size of the antennas may vary considerably. The parabolic reflectors used for satellite television reception are very small. However those used for professional applications are much larger and may range up to several tens of meters in size.

2.5 Some earth stations can contain 1 or 2 antennas (dishes) and others can contain more than 2 antennas, including redundant antennas. For your earth stations, is operating an earth station with multiple antennas (dishes) more cost effective than operating an earth station with a single antenna?  If so, please explain how it is more cost effective.

2.6 Presently, do you have any existing collocation arrangements or plans for such arrangements with other providers of telecommunications services on the same earth station?

1. If so, please describe your actual collocation arrangements and/or plans.
2. If not, please explain why not and indicate if you have any future plans to collocate with other providers of telecommunications services.

2.7 Describe the potential changes related to new satellite technologies and to earth station technology, along with the impact(s) on earth station performance and cost.

Section 3: requests for information directed at satellite operators

Space Segment

3.1 Based on the latest technology available in the marketplace, what is the maximum achievable speed in Mbps from a satellite transponder, by frequency band? What is the typical speed in Mbps achieved in a satellite transponder? Include assumptions and calculations in your response.

3.2 Describe how a provider of telecommunications services shares its' total FSS capacity between the communities it serves.

3.3 Provide estimated end-of-life dates for satellites that provide service to providers of telecommunications services (e.g. voice, wireless (both fixed and mobile), Internet, data) in Canada. Describe changes to FSS capacity as a satellite nears end-of-life.

3.4 Does current satellite technology limit the speeds and reliability of telecommunications services that providers of telecommunications services can offer in satellite-served communities? If so, provide a list of services offered by service providers, and/or applications that use those services, that are limited by satellite technology, and describe how satellite technology limits these services and/or applications (e.g. bandwidth, usage caps, latency, etc.).

3.5 Are there satellite frequency bands that are better suited for certain telecommunications services than others; especially when considering the prospects for high throughput satellite technology and propagation impairments in the different frequency bands?

3.6 Provide your plans to deploy new or replacement satellites which would provide coverage of Canada, including the North. Indicate whether coverage of Canada is anticipated for any or all of the frequency bands supported by the satellite, and whether satellite capacity has been presold to Canadian providers of telecommunications services who offer service in Canada. In the case of a replacement satellite, explain the plans to retain the orbital position and spectrum. Describe what impact these new or replacement satellites and associated technologies will have on the telecommunications services that can be delivered by providers of telecommunications services to end-users. Provide expected changes to pricing (e.g. offer sheet) to purchasers of FSS as a result of the introduction of new satellites.

FSS Rates

3.7 Describe the factors considered by your company in establishing rates for FSS and explain how the pricing of FSS responds to those factors.

3.8 Are the FSS rates your company charges to Canadian providers of telecommunications services different from the rates your company charges to providers of telecommunications services outside of Canada? If so, describe how and why they are different.

3.9 Describe, in general terms, how FSS rates are expected to change in the future.

3.10 At your existing rates, comment on whether your supply of C-band FSS capacity exceeds demand. If supply exceeds demand, comment on any measures that satellite operators could implement to stimulate demand for this unused capacity, including the feasibility of lowering C-band rates in order to stimulate demand.

1. Comment on how the price of C-band FSS capacity would be affected by a simultaneous increase in demand for C-band FSS capacity and a reduction of excess C-band FSS capacity. 
2. If there is unused capacity, explain why this capacity should continue to remain unused.

Efficiencies

3.11 Describe any steps undertaken by your company in recent years to reduce the costs or maximize the efficiency of FSS, explaining the extent of the efficiency improvement or capacity improvement that has occurred.

3.12 Describe how your company intends to reduce the costs or maximize the efficiency of FSS in the future. For each improvement identified, explain:

1. If and when the improvement will be implemented by the company.
2. The expected effect of this improvement on your FSS costs and capacity.

3.13 Discuss how providers of telecommunications services could reduce the costs or maximize the efficiency of providing telecommunications services by way of FSS in the future. If applicable, discuss cost savings and efficiencies that could arise from the sharing of ground infrastructure, improved provisioning of voice services by way of FSS, or the use of more efficient electronic equipment and ground station technology.

Section 4: requests for information directed at providers of telecommunications services (e.g. voice, wireless, Internet, data services) excluding satellite operators

Mapping data

4.1 A list of communities that are thought to receive telecommunications services through FSS transport services is set out in Appendix B. For each community identified in Appendix B, including any amendments to that list proposed as part of your response above, provide:

1. Its population, latitude, and longitude.
2. The number of households, businesses and government offices (e.g. schools, health clinics, government offices), as well as total population, that have access to your telecommunications services.
3. The telecommunications services that you deliver.
4. Details on plans offered in communities for residential and business consumers, including price, speeds, data caps and overage charges for broadband Internet access and rates for retail voice services.
5. The number of end-users you have, by telecommunications service (e.g. voice, wireless (separately for fixed and mobile), Internet, data).
6. The ratio (%) of traffic for business versus residential and across telecommunications services (voice, wireless (separately for fixed and mobile), data, Internet).
7. The FSS capacity used to serve each community in terms of: (i) transponders, (ii) bandwidth in MHz, and (iii) Megabits per second (Mbps). If transponders are shared amongst multiple communities, then provide the capacity required to serve a group of communities and provide a list of communities in each group.
8. Whether you provide broadband Internet access services at the Commission's target speeds of 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload.
1.  If so, indicate the total number of Internet subscribers that receive Internet services at or above the Commission's target speeds.
9. If you do not provide an Internet service plan that meets the Commission's target speeds of 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload as a result of technical limitations of satellite technology, identify the FSS capacity that would be required to offer such a plan, in terms of: (i) transponders, (ii) bandwidth in MHz, and (iii) Mbps.

4.2 Provide a list of communities included in planned service expansions where FSS would be used in the delivery of telecommunication services. For each of these communities, provide:

1. Its population, latitude, and longitude.
2. The number of households, businesses and government offices (e.g. schools, health clinics, government offices), as well as total population that have access to your telecommunications services.
3. The planned FSS capacity used to serve each community in terms of: (i) transponders, (ii) bandwidth in MHz, and (iii) Mbps. If transponders are shared amongst multiple communities, then provide the proposed capacity required to serve a group of communities and provide a list of communities in each group.

4.3 If you do not provide broadband Internet access services at the Commission's target speeds established in Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2011-291 (5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload) or can only provide such access to a limited number of subscribers, explain what role FSS play in limiting deployment of Internet access at the Commission's target speeds.

4.4 Evolution of satellite technology has led to broadband Internet access delivered directly to the end user (direct-to-home) using Ka-band spot beam technology or Ka-band high-throughput satellite spot beam technology. In order to better understand the substitutability of direct-to-home service delivery for the delivery of telecommunications services using FSS transport services, please respond to the following:

1. Are all communities served by FSS satellite transport (Appendix B) covered by satellites that have spot beam technology? If not which communities, presently served by FSS satellite transport, are not covered.
2. What telecommunications services are delivered using direct-to-home satellite technology? For Internet access services, specify whether the Commission's target speeds of 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload can be met with direct-to-home technology. What are those services that cannot be delivered using direct-to-home satellite technology?
3. Is the use of direct-to-home technology more efficient in delivering telecommunications services, including broadband Internet access, than FSS satellite transport technology? Explain.

Efficiencies

4.5 Describe any steps undertaken by your company in recent years to reduce the costs or maximize the efficiency of providing telecommunications services by way of FSS, including any steps taken to share facilities with other providers of telecommunications services.

Discuss how your company intends to reduce the costs or maximize the efficiency of providing telecommunications services by way of FSS in the future. If applicable, discuss cost savings or efficiencies that could arise from the sharing of ground infrastructure, improved provisioning of voice services by way of FSS, or the use of more efficient electronic equipment and ground station technology. For each efficiency identified, explain:

1. If and when the efficiency will be implemented by the company.  
2. The effect of this efficiency, in terms of costs and capacity, on the telecommunications services you provide by way of FSS. If there are effective limitations on the implementation of an efficiency (e.g., maximum latitude or minimum community size), then identify and explain the limitations.

4.7 Discuss how providers of FSS could, in the future, reduce the costs or maximize the efficiency of FSS. For each improvement identified, explain the likely effect on the telecommunication services offered to your subscribers. In addition and if applicable, comment on the feasibility and expected effects of peering and caching.

4.8 Does current satellite technology limit the speeds and reliability of telecommunications services that you provide by way of FSS? If so, provide a list of the telecommunications services you offer that are limited by satellite technology, and describe how satellite technology limits these services.

4.9 If applicable, explain how you have segregated your use of satellite transponders between voice and broadband Internet services. Comment on whether or not separate voice and broadband/data networks are an efficient method of providing telecommunications services to end-users by way of FSS.

4.10 If you operate more than one network in a single service area, indicate whether or not the FSS capacity for these networks is pooled. If the FSS capacity for these networks is not pooled, explain why and discuss what additional efficiencies could be realized if all capacity in a given service area were pooled.

4.11 If you operate more than one network in a single service area, and do not pool FSS capacity for these networks, identify:

1. Each separate network that you operate in the single service area.
2. The total FSS capacity that is allocated to each network.
3. The traffic volume (in Kbps, Mbps, or Gbps) during the peak hour for each network.
4. The time(s) of day that the network reaches its peak traffic. 

TSP's average costs of delivering 1 Mbps of capacity by way of FSS

4.12 Provide a high-level description of the network configuration you use to provide telecommunications services by way of FSS, from the gateway earth stations up to, but not including, the distribution network in the community.

1. Describe the extent to which you rely on FSS to provide telecommunications services.

4.13 Refer to the tab titled "Expense Information" on the attached spreadsheet.

1. In terms of delivering 1 Mbps of capacity to a community by way of FSS, identify the highest-cost, lowest-cost, and an average-cost community located north of the 60th parallel north that you deliver telecommunications services to by way of FSS. Further, identify the highest-cost, lowest-cost, and an average-cost community located south of the 60th parallel north that you deliver telecommunications services to by way of FSS.
2. Complete the table by providing the average cost of delivering 1 Mbps of capacity by way of FSS to each of the six communities identified in a) above. You may also provide the average cost of delivering 1 Mbps of capacity by way of FSS for any other community of your choosing. For each expense identified, provide the following:
1. A description of the items included in the expense line.
2. The methodology and assumptions used to determine the expense.
3. If applicable, explain the factors that cause differences in expenses between satellite dependent communities located north of the 60th parallel north and those communities located south of the 60th parallel north.

Section 5: requests for information directed at government organizations

5.1 A list of communities that are thought to receive telecommunications services through FSS is set out in Appendix B. For each community identified in Appendix B, including any proposed amendments to that list, provide:

1. Its population and number of households, number of businesses and government users for these communities.

5.2 Provide the names of the TSPs serving each satellite served community.

5.3 What capacity is used by government users (e.g. schools, health clinics, government offices)?

1. As a whole?
2. Per community?

5.4 Identify whether government users in these communities have a dedicated FSS link to a government-operated earth station, or whether they rely on a provider of telecommunications services for the provisioning of telecommunications services.

Appendix A

Relevant Literature

Broadband via Satellite, Canada Connects on Broadband, n.d. <http://www.canadaconnects.ca/broadband/main/1113/>

Satellite Communications & Broadcasting Markets Survey: Forecasts to 2022, Euroconsult, 1 September 2013
<http://www.euroconsult-ec.com/shop/satellite-communications/43-ws2-2.html>

Annual Report and Analysis of Competitive Market Conditions with Respect to Domestic  and International Satellite Communications Services, Federal Communications Commission, 26 March 2007
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-34A1.pdf>

Second Annual Report and Analysis of Competitive Market Conditions with Respect to Domestic and International Satellite Communications Services, Federal Communications Commission, 16 October 2008 <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-247A1.pdf>

Third Report and Analysis of Competitive Market Conditions with Respect to Domestic and International Satellite Communications Services, Federal Communications Commission, 13 December 2011
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-11-183A1.pdf>

2013 Futron Forecast of Global Satellite Services Demand, Futron Corporation, 12 December 2013
<http://www.futron.com/2013_Futron_Forecast.xml>

Decisions on the Licensing Framework for Fixed-Satellite Service (FSS) and Broadcasting-Satellite Service (BSS), Implications for Other Satellite Services in Canada, and Revised Fee Proposal, Industry Canada, 5 November 2013
<http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf10602.html>

RP-008 - Policy Framework for Fixed-Satellite Service (FSS) and Broadcasting-Satellite Service (BSS), Industry Canada, 21 November 2013
<http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf01693.html>

List of Satellites Approved to Provide Fixed-satellite Services (FSS) in Canada, Industry Canada, 6 March 2014
<http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf02104.html>

A Practical Introductory Guide on Using Satellite Technology for Communications, Intelsat, n.d. <http://www.intelsat.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/5941-SatellitePrimer-2010.pdf>

National C-Band Public Benefit Working Group, K-Net, n.d. <http://smart.knet.ca/satellite/?body=http://smart.knet.ca/satellite/>

Aboriginal Connectivity Strategy (AANDC), K-Net, n.d. <http://meeting.knet.ca/mp19/mod/book/view.php?id=4053?body=http://meeting.knet.ca/mp19/mod/book/view.php?id=4053>

Fundamentals of Satellite Communications, Part 1, MITEQ, Inc., 29 May 2008 <http://www.ieee.li/pdf/viewgraphs/fundamentals_satellite_communication_part_1.pdf>

The Future of High Throughput Satellites for Service Providers, Newtec, 27 November 2013 <http://www.newtec.eu/article/article/the-future-of-high-throughput-satellites-for-service-providers>

Northern Connectivity Ensuring Quality Communications, Nordicity, 1 January 2014 <http://northernconnectivity.ca/resources/ncis_wg_report.pdf>

Wireless Backhaul, Trunking and Video Offload via Satellite, 8th Edition, Northern Sky Research, 1 May 2014
<http://www.nsr.com/research-reports/satellite-communications/wireless-backhaul-trunking-and-video-offload-via-satellite-8th-edition/>

NORTHWESTEL INC. NETWORK MODERNIZATION PLAN FOR YEARS 2013 TO 2017, Abridged Version, Northwestel Inc., 31 March 2014 <http://www.crtc.gc.ca/otf/eng/2014/8638/C12-201400499.htm>

Northern Connections: Broadband and Canada's Digital Divide, Public Policy Forum, 1 February 2014 <http://www.ppforum.ca/sites/default/files/Background%20report%20-%20discussion%20paper%2C%20February%2018%202014.pdf>

Earth Station Performance Requirements, SES WORLD SKIES, n.d. <http://www.ses.com/3829592/es_performance_requirements.pdf>

Pre Feasibility Telecommunications Study High Capacity Network Options in Nunavik, Salter Global Consulting Incorporated, 1 September 2013 <http://www.krg.ca/images/stories/docs/Tamaani%20Reports/SGC%20Nunavik%20Final%20Report%20v15%20Public.pdf>

Executive summaries of market trends and opportunities in key market segments and regions worldwide, Satellite Markets & Research, 1 May 2014 <http://www.satellitemarkets.com/pdf2014/canada-marketbrief-2014.pdf>

An Assessment of the Socioeconomic Impact of Internet Connectivity in Nunavut, Strategic Networks Group, 31 March 2012 <http://www.qfile.ca/p/42424/Workspaces/web_docs/An%20assessment%20of%20the%20socioeconomic%20impact%20of%20Internet%20connectivity%20in%20Nunavut%20-%20FInal%20Report.pdf>

TELESAT CANADA - FORBEARANCE FROM THE REGULATION OF RF CHANNEL SERVICES, Telecom Decision CRTC 98-24, 17 December 1998

TELESAT CANADA - TRANSITIONAL REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AND FORBEARANCE FOR FIXED SATELLITE SERVICES, Telecom Decision CRTC 99-6, 25 May 1999

Appointment of an Inquiry Officer to review matters related to transport services provided by satellite, Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2014-44, 6 February 2014

Northwestel Inc. - Regulatory Framework, Modernization Plan, and related matters, Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2013-711, 18 December 2013

Mapping the Long-Term Options for Canada's North: Telecommunications and Broadband Connectivity, The Conference Board of Canada, 1 August 2013 <http://www.conferenceboard.ca/e-library/abstract.aspx?did=5654>

Rising Transponder Prices Mask Regional Disparity, de Selding, Peter B., 23 August 2012
<http://www.spacenews.com/article/rising-transponder-prices-mask-regional-disparity>

iDirect Ka-band Satellite Strategy, iDirect, 1 July 2011
<http://www.idirect.net/~/media/Files/White%20Papers/KA-band_Dave_Bettinger01162012.ashx>

National Satellite Initiative, First Nations Emergency Services Society of BC, n.d. <http://fness.bc.ca/satellite/?body=http://fness.bc.ca/satellite/>

Appendix B

NOTES:

Note