ARCHIVED - Telecom Procedural Letter addressed to Distribution list
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Ottawa, 11 December 2015
Our references:
8740-B38-201507849
8740-R28-201513010
8740-T66-201513028
BY EMAIL
Distribution list
RE: Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2015-177 – Regulatory framework for wholesale mobile wireless services – Follow-up process to finalize GSM-based wholesale roaming services tariffs for the National Wireless Carriers – Clarification of Process
Dear Madams/Sirs:
This letter serves to clarify and amend the process related to tariff notices filed by the Bell Mobility, Rogers Communications Partnership (Rogers) and TELUS Communications Company (TCC) (collectively “the national wireless carriers”) for their proposed final cost-based rates for their respective domestic Global System for Mobile communications (GSM)-based wholesale roaming services. Commission staff’s intent is to provide certainty to the parties, while ensuring the most efficient and effective process to review the proposed final rates, terms and conditions for these services.
Context
On 23 November 2015 and pursuant to Regulatory Policy 2015-177, Bell Mobility, Rogers Communications Partnership (Rogers) and TELUS Communications Company (TCC) filed their proposed final cost-based rates for their respective domestic Global System for Mobile communications (GSM)-based wholesale roaming services:
Bell Mobility – TN 1B - file number 8740-B38-201507849
Rogers – TN 42- file number 8740-R28-201513010
TCC – TN 501 - file number 8740-T66-201513028
These tariff notices included the proposed cost-based rates, along with supporting regulatory economic studies. However, staff notes that such tariff notices did not include terms and conditions and that the national wireless carriers referred to the terms and conditions included in their tariff pages issued on 4 June 2015.
In Order 2015-537 dated 3 December 2015, the Commission approved on an interim basis the proposed cost-based rates submitted by the national wireless carriers, effective as of 23 November 2015. The Commission also stated that final determinations, including whether to make the final rates retroactive to 5 May 2015, will be made following the process to review the associated regulatory economics studies filed in support of the proposed rates.
In Secretary General letter dated 30 November 2015, the Commission approved on an interim basis the use of the terms and conditions (other than rates) set out in existing wholesale roaming agreements for GSM-based wholesale roaming services and encouraged all parties to focus their attention on providing comments on the proposed final cost-based rates including the terms and conditions within the context of the tariff notices filed by the national wireless carriers on 23 November 2015.
Given the novelty and complexity of the files involved, Commission staff considers that the existing process for treating these wholesale tariff applications requires amendment and clarification in order to ensure the most efficient and effective review possible. Accordingly, the Commission staff sets out the following procedure:
- Proposed Cost-based Rates with Terms and Condition
Commissions staff requests that the national wireless carriers re-file revised tariff pageswith Footnote 1 which reflect that interim rates approved in Order 2015-537 and include all proposed terms and conditions for the provisioning of GSM-based wholesale roaming services by 18 December 2015.
Commissions staff anticipates significant overlap with respect to the arguments and interventions on the three tariff notices. As such, the records of the three proceedings will be merged. Any documents filed with respect to these three tariff notices will be considered to form part of the overall record.
- Confidentiality Requests with Respect to the Tariff Notices
The Rules of Procedure provide that any interested person may request disclosure of information designated confidential within a Commission proceeding. Commission staff anticipates that such requests will be made as part of this proceeding and wishes to ensure that they can be dealt with in an efficient manner. As a result, Commissions staff amends the procedures set out in the Rules of Procedure as follows:
- Any requests for disclosure of information designated confidential by the National Wireless Carriers in their tariff notices filed on 23 November 2015 must be made by 15 January 2016.
- The National Wireless Carriers may file their response by no later than 29 January 2016
Parties are reminded to consult and follow the Commission’s Guidelines on Confidentiality (Information Bulletin 2010-961 and 2010-961-1). This includes strict adherence to the requirements with respect to the filing of abridged versions for the public record and rationale provided for designations at the time that the designation is made.
- First interventions and interrogatories by parties
In order to provide the parties with a fair and efficient opportunity to provide comments on the proposed cost-based rates, terms and condition, Commission staff sets out the following procedure:
- Interested parties may file comments by no later than 15 January 2016;
- The national wireless carriers may file reply comments by no later than 29 January 2016
- Commission staff interrogatories
Finally, Commission staff is currently reviewing the Tariff Notices and anticipates multiple rounds of interrogatories to complete the record. Commission staff will issue first interrogatories to the national wireless carriers as it completes its review of the file. Commission staff anticipates a further round of comment and reply after the interrogatory process is complete, to ensure that all parties have sufficient opportunity to comment.
Parties are asked to serve all other parties with any documents filed in this proceeding, and to send an electronic copy directly to the following Commissions staff:
Lyne Renaud, lyne.renaud@crtc.gc.ca
Lloyd, William, William.lloyd@crtc.gc.ca
Abderrahman El Fatihi, abderrahman.elfatihi@crtc.gc.ca
Sincerely,
Original signed by
Lyne Renaud
Director, Competitor Services and Costing Implementation
Telecommunication Sector
c. c.: Abderrahman El Fatihi, CRTC, (819) 953.3662, abderrahman.elfatihi@crtc.gc.ca
William Lloyd, CRTC, (819) 997-4654, william.lloyd@crtc.gc.ca
Attach. : Distribution liste
Distribution list:
Bell Mobility Inc., bell.regulatory@bell.ca
Rogers Communications Partnership, rwi_gr@rci.rogers.com
TELUS Communications Company, regulatory.affairs@telus.com
Videotron G.P., regaffairs@quebecor.com
Bragg Communications Incorporated (Eastlink), regulatory.matters@corp.eastlink.ca
Globalive Wireless Management Corp. (WIND), lisajackson@globalive.com
Ed Antecol EAntecol@WINDMobile.ca
TBayTel, rob.olenick@tbaytel.com
MTS Inc., iworkstation@mtsallstream.com
Saskatchewan Telecommunications, document.control@sasktel.com
Ice Wireless Inc., regulatory@icewireless.ca
Canadian Network Operators Consortium Inc. regulatory@cnoc.ca
lawford@piac.ca
Benjamin Klass, benjiklass@hotmail.com
Vaxination Informatique, jfmezei@vaxination.ca
Footnotes
- Footnote 1
-
The revised tariff pages would not be in force, but would simply reflect what is being proposed and reviewed by the Commission.
- Date modified: