ARCHIVED - Telecom Procedural Letter Addressed to Distribution List

Ottawa, 24 April 2015

File number: 8650-C12-201501825

To: Distribution List

BY EMAIL

Re: Call for comments – Consumer safeguards for payphones ‒ Notification of rates for non-cash payphone calls

Dear Sir or Madam:

On 26 February 2015, the Commission issued Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2015-67^{Footnote 1} and called for comments on determining if the current consumer safeguards for notification of rates for non-cash payphone calls are sufficient and appropriate.

Specifically, the Commission invited parties to file comments on the following questions:

• Are the current notification requirements in relation to non-cash calls from payphones imposed on incumbent local exchange carriers and competitive payphone service providers sufficient and appropriate?
• If not, what should these requirements be?

Commission staff notes that user groups argued for the need for clearer notification of rates, particularly for long distance non-cash calls, while providers generally argued that posting rate information on payphones would be cost-prohibitive and would diminish their ability to be flexible in adjusting to the market.

Union des consommateurs proposed as one of several alternatives that, if the Commission decides to allow payphone service providers to provide information about potential rates through a menu-based interface, the option to inquire about rates should be prioritised. CAC-PIAC also favoured additional notification and submitted that “the consumer should be provided rating information before being invited to initiate a call.” Service providers did not address this specific proposal by Union des consommateurs and CAC-PIAC y comments.

Staff notes that, based on the record, it appears that rate information is often the last option in the menu presented by providers when a consumer seeks to initiate a non-cash payphone call.

Staff further notes disclaimers, such as the one by TELUS stating that:
“A failure by TELUS to address any specific assertion or allegation made by any party should not be construed as acceptance of the assertion or allegation where such acceptance would be inconsistent with TELUS’ interests.”

Commission staff, therefore, asks all parties to submit their comments on the proposal that a requirement be established so that the first option provided to consumers on the providers’ menu interface in the case of a non-cash long distance calls allow consumers to obtain a quote, detailing all costs pertaining to their calls.

Therefore, all parties may file a reply to this request no later than 8 May 2015.

This letter and all subsequent correspondence form part of a public record. As set out in Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin 2010-961, Procedures for filing confidential information and requesting its disclosure in Commission proceedings, parties may designate certain information as confidential. Parties must provide an abridged version of the document involved, accompanied by a detailed rationale to explain why the disclosure of the information is not in the public interest.

All submissions are to be made in accordance with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure, SOR/2010-277.^{Footnote 2}

Should you have any questions concerning any of the above, please contact Guillaume Leclerc by telephone at 819-934-4342 or by e-mail at guillaume.leclerc@crtc.gc.ca

Yours sincerely,

ORIGINAL SIGNED BY/ Stephen Harroun for

Nanao Kachi
Director, Social and Consumer Policy, CRTC

c.c.: Guillaume Leclerc, CRTC, guillaume.leclerc@crtc.gc.ca
Mary-Louise Hayward, CRTC, mary-louise.hayward@crtc.gc.ca

Distribution List:

Bell Canada, bell.regulatory@bell.ca
TELUS Communications Company, regulatory.affairs@telus.com, Jeffrey.smith@TELUS.com
Tbaytel, rob.olenick@tbaytel.com
Independent Telecommunications Providers Association, jonathan.holmes@itpa.ca
CAC- PIAC, jfleger@piac.ca
Union des consommateurs, slambert-racine@uniondesconsommateurs.ca

Date modified:

2015-04-25