Telecom - Commission letter addressed to Stan Thompson (Northwestel Inc.)

Ottawa, 17 August 2020

Our reference: 8740-N1-202003276

BY EMAIL

Mr. Stan Thompson
Chief Financial Officer & Vice-President
Northwestel Inc.
P.O. Box 2727
Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 4Y4
regulatoryaffairs@nwtel.ca
bell.regulatory@bell.ca

Re: Northwestel Inc. Tariff Notice 1084 - Request for Information

Dear Mr. Thompson:

On 1 June 2020 the Commission received Northwestel Inc.’s (Northwestel) Tariff Notice (TN) 1084, to increase the usage allowance in certain residential and business digital subscriber line (DSL), cable and fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) Internet packages between 7% and 100%, without any corresponding increase in the retail rate. The Commission received 48 interventions from individual subscribers on this application to which Northwestel has responded. Northwestel filed its reply on 13 July 2020.

In exercising its powers and performing its duties under the Telecommunications Act, the Commission must implement the Canadian telecommunications policy objectives set out in section 7 of that Act, including to render reliable and affordable telecommunications services of high quality accessible to Canadians in both urban and rural areas in all regions of Canada.
Accordingly, Northwestel is to provide a comprehensive answer, including rationale and any supporting information, to the following question:

  1. Refer to paragraph 7 of Northwestel’s reply, which provides highlights of the company’s proposals if it is successful in its Broadband Fund bid.

With respect to item d), which is not specifically part of the company’s Broadband Fund proposal, provide the following:

  1. a description of the initiative including which communities will benefit from the proposal; and
  2. the anticipated timeframe by which consumers can expect to have access to the unlimited data options.

Commission staff requests that Northwestel provide this information by 28 August 2020

As set out in section 39 of the Telecommunications Act and in Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2010-961, Procedures for filing confidential information and requesting its disclosure in Commission proceedings, persons may designate certain information as confidential.

A person designating information as confidential must provide a detailed explanation on why the relevant information qualifies for designation as confidential and why its disclosure would not be in the public interest, including why the specific direct harm that would be likely to result from the disclosure would outweigh the public interest in disclosure. Furthermore, a person designating information as confidential must either file an abridged version of the document omitting only the information designated as confidential or provide reasons why an abridged version cannot be filed.

On receipt of Northwestel’s response, interested parties may file comments within 10 days and Northwestel may file reply comments within 5 calendar days thereafter.

Commission staff note that on 17 July 2020, Mr. Daniel Sokolov requested leave to file a response to the Northwestel’s 13 July 2020 reply. Mr. Sokolov may file his comments within the 10 days following Northwestel’s reponse to this letter.  
Where a document is to be filed or served by a specific date, the document must be actually received, not merely sent, by that date.
The Commission requires the response or other documents to be submitted electronically by using the secured service “My CRTC Account” (Partner Log In or GCKey) and filling the “Telecom Cover page” located on this web page. 

A copy of this letter and all subsequent replies will be added to the public record of this proceeding.

Sincerely,

Original signed by

Michel Murray
Director, Dispute Resolution & Regulatory Implementation
Telecommunications Sector

c.c.: wendy.mcclintock@crtc.gc.ca; yanik.daigle@gmail.com; kathmac71@yahoo.ca; tammerzone@gmail.com; collynlovelace@gmail.com; justjim1986@gmail.com; danh.cel@gmail.com; staceburnard@gmail.com; aimeeechase@gmail.com; tobias.barth@gmail.com; reigh_leigh@yahoo.com; debbie.wight1@gmail.com; smarsher@gmail.com; upnorth@upnorthadventures.com; sam@coldboot.tech; sylvieleonard@gmail.com; wquarton@gmail.com; telekrogan@gmail.com; averykatie@hotmail.com; be.elliot@gmail.com; misha_hampl@yahoo.ca; ashley.renwick.13@gmail.com; asadursk@ualberta.ca; rennoc117@gmail.com; davidalandibbs@gmail.com; jennifer.brooker0101@gmail.com; tanyab0508@gmail.com; mfancie@gmail.com; kaitlynsilvester@gmail.com; snardella@me.com; beverly_greek@hotmail.com; mparsons2810@yahoo.ca; rwcarveth@gmail.com; jesseajohnston1@gmail.com; keving@northwestel.net; daniel@falco.ca; blakeschallock@gmail.com; tennisjeff@hotmail.com; linneasr@gmail.com; nasamam@hotmail.com; paularthorne@gmail.com; hdundas@gmail.com; lianne.maitland@gmail.com; blake.rogers@tiayukon.com; syvannacooke@hotmail.com; strangerintheland@hotmail.com; chosenfrozen@northwestel.net; lommerse@northwestel.net; abbykosmenko@gmail.com

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