ARCHIVED - Telecom Commission Letter addressed to various parties interested in the Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2013-551, Review of wholesale services and associated policies – Determinations relating to scope of proceeding and process for reply comment phase

Ottawa, 23 September 2014                                                   

Our reference: 8663-C12-201313601

By e-mail

To: Distribution list

Re: Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2013-551, Review of wholesale services and associated policies – Determinations relating to scope of proceeding and process for reply comment phase

Dear Madam/Sir:

This letter addresses determination relating to the scope of the proceeding initiated by Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2013-551, as amended,^{Footnote 1} as well as the process associated with the reply comment phase.

In order to manage the above referenced proceeding (the proceeding) in an efficient manner, the Commission has determined that the following matters are excluded from the scope of the proceeding:

Small incumbent local exchange carriers (small ILECs) and Northwestel

The scope of the proceeding currently contemplates the possible application of the resulting wholesale framework and attendant determinations to the small ILECs^{Footnote 2}and Northwestel Inc.

Given their special circumstances, the Commission considers that it would be more efficient to address the possible application of the outcome of this proceeding to the small ILECs and Northwestel by way of a separate, follow-up, process. Accordingly, the small ILECs and Northwestel are excluded from the scope of the proceeding initiated by Telecom Notice of Consultation 2013-551.

Competitor Quality of Service (CQoS)

The Commission notes that, pursuant to its CRTC Thee-Year Plan 2014-2017, it has announced that it will undertake a review of the CQoS indicators and rate rebate plan for competitors in the 2015-16 timeframe. In light of the forgoing, the Commission excludes from the scope of the proceeding all issues pertaining to CQoS.

Phase II cost parameters

The Commission has decided to exclude from the scope of the proceeding the assessment of specific values of certain Phase II costing parameters, such as cost of equity, asset lives and cost increase factors.

The Commission notes that it may initiate a subsequent proceeding to review these matters, in whole or in part.

Disclosure of cost study information

Certain parties have made submissions with respect to the disclosure of information provided as part of cost studies submitted in relation to wholesale services.  The Commission notes that it has recently held a proceeding to review its policy with respect to disclosure of cost information and assumptions underlying such cost studies as well as proposed mark-ups.  This proceeding resulted in confidentiality of information used to establish wholesale service rates, Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2013-592 in which the Commission established revised guidelines for cost information, including proposed mark-ups, filed in support of all wholesale service rate-related tariff applications.  Given this recent review, the Commission does not consider it necessary to review matters relating to the disclosure of cost information submitted with respect to rate-regulated wholesale services at this time.  Accordingly, the Commission excludes these matters from the scope of the proceeding.

Reply comment phase

Parties may file reply comments with the Commission and serve copies on all other parties, by 24 October 2014. 

Conclusion

As indicated in the notice of consultation initiating the proceeding, an organization and conduct letter will be issued before the beginning of the appearing phase of the public hearing.  This letter will provide directions on procedure and order of appearance with respect to this particular phase of the public hearing, and is expected to identify specific matters that the Commission panel intends to focus on during the oral phase.

Parties who, in light of the determinations set out above, no longer wish to appear before the Commission are to inform Lynda Roy, the hearing secretary, by email at Lynda.Roy@crtc.gc.ca, by no later than 1 October 2014.

Sincerely,

Original signed by

John Traversy
Secretary General

Distribution List:

james.e.dingwell@yahoo.com; nels2510@telus.net; robin.winsor@cybera.ca; steve@openmedia.ca; reza.rajabiun@ryerson.ca; darrellkrahn@shaw.ca; chall2k5@gmail.com; heather.b.gold@ftthcouncil.org; ron.murch@haskayne.ucalgary.ca; regulatory@fibernetics.ca; jeff_mcnamee@sympatico.ca; harry.sharma@canarie.ca; cedwards@ccsa.cable.ca; regulatory@ssimicro.com; regulatory.matters@corp.eastlink.ca; rs@summer.com; corinne.pohlmann@cfib.ca; john.pecman@cb-bc.gc.ca; jpanter@auroracollege.nt.ca; regulatory@sjrb.ca; radams@coquitlam.ca; slambert-racine@uniondesconsommateurs.ca; regulatory@bcba.ca; george.burger@vmedia.ca; ctacit@tacitlaw.com; david.watt@rci.rogers.com; bell.regulatory@bell.ca; iworkstation@mtsallstream.com; regulatory.affairs@telus.com; rob.olenick@tbaytel.com; jfleger@piac.ca; dennis.beland@quebecor.com; jonathan.holmes@itpa.ca; regulatory@distributel.ca; michel.messier@cogeco.com; document.control@sasktel.com; regulatory@bell.aliant.ca; regulatory@primustel.ca; benjamin.sanders@gov.yk.ca; maryanne.bendfled@calgary.ca; blackwell@giganomics.ca; jfmezei@vaxination.ca; Derek.Leschinsky@bc-cb.gc.ca

Date modified:

2014-09-23