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Telecom Decision CRTC 2021-117

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Ottawa, 24 March 2021

Public record: 8662-E17-202006147

People’s Tel Limited Partnership – Implementation of local competition for Execulink Telecom Inc. in the exchange of Aberarder, Ontario

The Commission approves People’s Tel’s implementation plan for local competition, including local number portability, for Execulink, in the exchange of Aberarder, Ontario. The Commission’s decision gives customers in this exchange a greater choice of telecommunications services.

Application

  1. The Commission received an implementation plan for local competition, including local number portability (LNP) [the implementation plan], dated 18 September 2020, from People’s Tel Limited Partnership (People’s Tel), carrying on business as Eastlink. In accordance with the framework set out in Telecom Decision 2006-14 and modified in Telecom Regulatory Policies 2011-291 and 2018-213, the implementation plan was submitted in response to a formal signed expression of interest from Execulink Telecom Inc. (Execulink), which indicated that Execulink wished to interconnect with People’s Tel to provide local services as a competitive local exchange carrier in the exchange of Aberarder, Ontario.
  2. In its implementation plan, People’s Tel identified the services and network components that it planned to make available to Execulink effective 18 October 2020. People’s Tel submitted that it would file tariff applications associated with its proposed implementation plan within 60 days of the Commission’s approval of that plan.
  3. The Commission did not receive any interventions regarding People’s Tel’s application.

Commission’s analysis and determinations

  1. The regulatory framework for the implementation of local competition in the small incumbent local exchange carriers’ (ILECs) serving territories was established in Telecom Decision 2006-14, with the implementation of LNP being one of the key requirements. In that decision, the Commission directed each small ILEC to file an implementation plan with the Commission within 30 days following a formal signed expression of interest from a carrier requesting to use competitor services within a small ILEC’s serving territory. The decision stated that implementations plans should include certain details, such as when tariffs will be filed; the timing of the implementation of local competitor services; the start-up costs to implement local competition, including LNP, if appropriate, and how those costs will be recovered; and any other implementation issues that may be unique to that small ILEC.
  2. The Commission reviewed this framework, and in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2011-291 determined that local competition should continue to be introduced in the serving territories of all the small ILECs based on the existing framework, subject to the modifications set out in that decision. In Telecom Regulatory Policy 2018-213, the Commission modified certain regulatory measures related to the framework.
  3. As indicated above, People’s Tel requested Commission approval of its implementation plan for the exchange of Aberarder, Ontario, in response to a request from Execulink. The services and network components proposed in the implementation plan are similar to those that the Commission has approved for small ILECs that have implemented local competition in their serving territories.
  4. The Commission notes that although People’s Tel stated that it would file its proposed tariff application within 60 days of the Commission’s approval of its implementation plan, the Commission finds 30 days to be appropriate and in line with previous local competition decisions.
  5. The Commission considers that approving People’s Tel’s implementation plan would increase competition and benefit consumers in the exchange of Aberarder, Ontario. Accordingly, the Commission approves People’s Tel’s implementation plan, and directs the company to (i) file revised tariff pages within 30 days of the date of this decision to reflect the determinations set out in this decision, for the reasons set out above; and (ii) provide information and assistance to Execulink, as required, to implement local competition in accordance with the implementation plan.

Policy Directions

  1. The 2019 Policy DirectionFootnote 1 provides that when the Commission is exercising its powers and performing its duties under the Telecommunications Act (the Act), it should consider how its decisions can promote competition, affordability, consumer interests, and innovation.
  2. The Commission considers that approval of People’s Tel’s implementation plan for local competition in this decision is consistent with subparagraphs 1(a)(i) and (ii) of the 2019 Policy Direction, which state that the Commission should consider the extent to which its decisions
    1. encourage all forms of competition and investment; and
    2. foster affordability and lower prices, particularly when telecommunications service providers exercise market power.
  3. In particular, the Commission considers that its determination to permit local competition in the exchange of Aberarder, Ontario will (i) give customers in the affected exchange a greater choice of telecommunications service providers, and (ii) help to ensure that consumers have access to high-quality telecommunications services resulting from local competition.
  4. In light of the above, the Commission considers that its determination will promote competition, affordability and consumer interests.
  5. In addition, consistent with subparagraph 1(b)(i) of the 2006 Policy Direction,Footnote 2 the Commission considers that approval of this application advances the policy objectives set out in paragraphs 7(b), (c), (f) and (h) of the Act.Footnote 3

Secretary General

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