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Telecom Decision CRTC 2018-248

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Ottawa, 18 July 2018

Public record: 8620-M22-201801085

Groupe Maskatel LP – Implementation of wireless number portability for TELUS Communications Inc.

The Commission approves Groupe Maskatel LP’s (Maskatel) plan for the implementation of wireless number portability (WNP) in the exchanges of Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil and Sainte-Rosalie, Quebec. The Commission directs Maskatel to, within 90 days of the date of this decision, (i) implement WNP in these exchanges; and (ii) provide a proposal for the recovery of its WNP implementation costs to the Commission, should the company seek to recover these costs.

Introduction

  1. The Commission received a wireless number portability (WNP) implementation plan on 23 February 2018, from Groupe Maskatel LP (Maskatel). The plan was filed in response to a formal signed expression of interest from TELUS Communications Inc. (TCI) in obtaining WNP in the exchanges of Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil and Sainte-Rosalie, Quebec, where Maskatel is the small incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC).
  2. The Commission did not receive any interventions regarding the plan.

Background

  1. WNP enables customers to keep the same telephone number when changing service providers and is an integral component of retail competition in the local exchange market.
  2. In Telecom Decision 2008-122, the Commission set out the framework for WNP implementation in the territories of the small ILECs. That decision included directives the small ILECs must follow when submitting their implementation plans.
  3. The Commission reviewed this framework and determined, in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2011-291, that WNP and local competition would continue to be introduced in the territories of the small ILECs based on the existing frameworks, subject to the modifications set out in that decision.Footnote 1
  4. In Telecom Regulatory Policy 2012-24, the Commission determined that implementation of WNP in a small ILEC’s territory is to be conditional on the wireless carrier directly interconnecting with the small ILEC, unless otherwise negotiated.

Should the Commission approve Maskatel’s WNP implementation plan?

  1. In its implementation plan, Maskatel indicated that it would require 90 days following the Commission’s approval of its plan to implement WNP. Maskatel also indicated that it would submit its proposal to recover its costs with respect to TCI’s WNP implementation request by September 2018.

Commission’s analysis and determinations

  1. The Commission considers that Maskatel’s proposed WNP implementation plan, including the proposed timeline, is reasonable and meets the criteria set out in Telecom Decision 2008-122, as modified in Telecom Regulatory Policies 2011-291 and 2012-24, with one exception discussed below.
  2. In Telecom Decision 2008-122, the Commission determined that the recovery of costs related to WNP should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis as part of each small ILEC’s proposed WNP implementation plan. However, Maskatel has not yet provided its proposal for the recovery of its WNP costs as part of its implementation plan for TCI.
  3. WNP implementation by Maskatel in the exchanges of Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil and Sainte-Rosalie, Quebec, will enable wireless customers in these exchanges, within a reasonable time period following approval of the company’s WNP implementation plan, to retain their telephone numbers if they decide to switch service providers. The Commission considers that this ability will lead to greater choice for these customers, as they will have the opportunity to benefit from choosing among the services, options, and prices offered by different service providers. Accordingly, the Commission considers that approval of Maskatel’s WNP implementation plan would be consistent with the Policy DirectionFootnote 2 and would advance the policy objectives set out in paragraphs 7(b), (f), and (h)Footnote 3 of the Telecommunications Act.
  4. The Commission considers, therefore, that allowing the implementation of WNP in Maskatel’s operating territory within 90 days of the date of this decision, instead of waiting for Maskatel to submit its proposal for the recovery of its WNP costs, would enable customers in Maskatel’s operating territory to start benefiting sooner rather than later from WNP.
  5. However, Maskatel’s proposal for the recovery of its WNP costs should be made by a specific deadline. Given that Maskatel proposed to implement WNP within 90 days following the date of this decision, the Commission considers that by that time, Maskatel should be in a position to have an accurate estimate of its implementation costs.

Conclusion

  1. In light of the above, the Commission
    • approves Maskatel’s proposed WNP implementation plan; and
    • directs Maskatel, within 90 days of the date of this decision, to (i) implement WNP in the exchanges of Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil and Sainte-Rosalie, Quebec; and (ii) provide a proposal for the recovery of its WNP implementation costs to the Commission, should it seek to recover these costs.
  2. In Telecom Regulatory Policy 2018-213, the Commission stated that effective the date of that decision, it would no longer accept new applications from small ILECs for additional subsidy for residential network access services they no longer serve or for the recovery of ongoing costs related to local competition or WNP.Maskatel is to take into account the Commission’s determinations in that decision should it seek to recover its WNP costs.

Secretary General

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