Telecom - Commission Letter addressed to the Distribution List

Ottawa, 15 June 2022

Our reference: 1011-NOC2022-0147

BY E-MAIL

Distribution list

Re: Telecommunications in the Far North, Phase II, NoC 2022-147, Request for information #1

This letter sets out the first set of requests for information (RFIs) in Phase II of the Telecommunications in the Far North proceeding.

Your responses to the questions in this letter are due by 24 August 2022.If you anticipate being unable to respond by the deadline, please advise us by 15 July 2022.

As an exception, Northwestel Inc.’s (Northwestel) response to question 6.1 in Appendix 2 is due by 29 June 2022.

Context

On 8 June 2022, the Commission published NoC 2022-147, Telecommunications in the Far North, Phase II (the Notice). In paragraph 121 of the Notice, the Commission stated that it would issue additional RFIs to telecommunications service providers (TSPs) by 15 June 2022.

In addition, given that the record of Phase I is included in Phase II of this proceeding, some ofthe questions below seek an update on the information filed in Phase I.

Appendix 1 sets out questions for all TSPs on the distribution list. It addresses:

1. Retail contracts
2. Retail Internet contracts
3. Retail mobile wireless contracts
4. Retail home phone (local exchange) contracts
5. Contact information for concerns from Indigenous communities

Appendix 2 sets out questions for Northwestel only. It addresses:

6. Updating information from Phase I
7. Northwestel’s retail and wholesale tariffs
8. Northwestel’s service outages and network improvements
9. Northwestel’s standalone DSL (digital subscriber line) surcharge

Appendix 3 sets out questions for the specified TSPs. It addresses:

10. Services, subscribers, and revenues (for Ice Wireless, Iristel, New North Networks, SSi Micro, and Telus)
11. Infrastructure and business model (for Ice Wireless, Iristel, New North Networks, SSi Micro, and Telus)
12. Outages, services, subscribers, and revenues (for Bell Mobility)
13. Services, subscribers, and revenues (for Xplornet)
14. Wholesale services provided over the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link (for Northern Lights General Partnership and the Government of Northwest Territories)

Filing Instructions

In your responses to the questions set out in the appendices:

• Unless otherwise indicated, where a question requests annual data, please respond with respect to the calendar year (i.e., not the fiscal year).
• If specific information is not available, provide estimates and assumptions.
• Indicate whether you are reporting separately or collectively for all of your relevant brands or affiliates, as applicable.
• Responses from TSPs related to the services they offer should be restricted to the services they provide in the Far North.
• Use the following definition of “small business”: A small business is defined as one whose average monthly telecommunications bill is under $2,500.
• Use the following definition of the “Far North”: Communities in Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon, as well as 17 communities ^Footnote1 in Northern British Columbia and Fort Fitzgerald, Alberta.
• Use the following definition of “mobile wireless services”: services that provide the ability to access voice, text, and data services on a mobile basis. Mobile wireless data services include, but are not limited to, data plans for smartphones and tablets as well as mobile Internet plans used with Internet hubs, sticks, keys, and MiFi or similar devices. These services do not include fixed wireless, wireline, or Wi-Fi services, which either do not provide mobility, or only provide mobility in the immediate area where the service is provided.

Confidential information

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, parties may designate certain information as confidential.

A party designating information as confidential must provide a detailed explanation on why the designated information is 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 party 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.

Accessible formats for people with disabilities

The CRTC requires regulated entities and encourages all parties to file submissions in accessible formats (for example, text-based file formats that enable text to be enlarged or modified, or read by screen readers) for this proceeding.

To provide assistance in this regard, the CRTC has posted on its website guidelines for preparing documents in accessible formats.

In the event where submitted documents have not been filed in accessible formats, interested parties may contact the Public Hearings group to request that CRTC staff obtain those documents in accessible formats from the party who originally submitted the documents in question in an inaccessible format.

A copy of this letter will be placed on the public record of this proceeding.

Yours sincerely,

Original signed by

Lisanne Legros
Director, Telecommunications Networks Policy
Telecommunications Sector

c.c.:
Nicolas Gatto, CRTC, nicolas.gatto@crtc.gc.ca
Celia Millay, CRTC, celia.millay@crtc.gc.ca
Simon Wozny, CRTC, simon.wozny@crtc.gc.ca
Iva Jurisic, CRTC, iva.jurisic@crtc.gc.ca

Attach. (3)

Distribution List:

• Bell Mobility: bell.regulatory@bell.ca;
• Iristel: regulatory@iristel.com;
• Ice Wireless: regulatory@iristel.com;
• Northern Lights G.P. sales@northernlightsgp.com;
• Government of Northwest Territories: susan_martin@gov.nt.ca
• Northwestel: regulatoryaffairs@nwtel.ca;
• New North Networks: tom@newnorth.ca;
• SSi Micro: regulatory@ssicanada.com; regulatory@ssimicro.com;
• Telus: john.mackenzie@telus.com; regulatory.affairs@telus.com;
• Xplornet: carl.macquarrie@corp.xplornet.com; xplornet.legal@corp.xplornet.com;

Appendix 1: Requests for information for distribution list

1. RETAIL CONTRACTS – ALL

1.1. Provide the amount (#) and percentage (%) of your current retail contracts that are:

1. Internet contracts (includes fixed wireless);
2. Mobile wireless contracts;
3. Home phone or local exchange contracts; and,
4. Other retail contracts and specify.

2. RETAIL INTERNET CONTRACTS

2.1. Provide the amount (#) and percentage (%) of your retail Internet contracts that are:

1. Terrestrial; and
2. Satellite.

2.2. Provide a copy of your template retail terrestrial Internet contract(s) and satellite Internet contracts. If your template retail contracts vary further by community served, underlying transport technology, underlying access technology, or otherwise, please provide a copy of each distinct template retail contract.

2.3. Summarize the changes your company has made since 2019 to become compliant with the Internet Code, if applicable.

2.4. Provide the indicated information in Table 2.4. If specific information is not available, provide estimates. If your template retail contracts vary further by community served, underlying transport technology, underlying access technology, or otherwise, please specify, and add a column to the table for each additional type of Internet contract.

Table 2.4: Differences between your terrestrial, satellite, and other Internet contracts

2.5. Provide the amount (#) and percentage (%) of your retail Internet contracts that are:

1. individual contracts,
2. small business contracts, and
3. other contracts.

2.6. Provide the indicated information in Table 2.6. If specific information is not available, provide estimates.

Table 2.6: Differences between your small business and individual contracts

3. RETAIL MOBILE WIRELESS CONTRACTS

3.1. Provide the amount (#) and percentage (%) of your retail mobile wireless contracts that are:

1. Individual contracts;
2. Small business contracts; and,
3. Other contracts.

3.2. Provide the indicated information in Table 3.3. If this specific information is not available, provide estimates.

Table 3.3: Differences between your small business and individual mobile wireless contracts

4. RETAIL HOME PHONE (LOCAL EXCHANGE) CONTRACTS

4.1. Provide the amount (#) and percentage (%) of your retail home phone or local exchange contracts that are:

1. Individual contracts;
2. Small business contracts; and,
3. Other contracts.

4.2. Provide a copy of your template retail home phone local exchange contract(s).

4.3. Provide the indicated information in Table 4.3. If this specific information is not available, provide estimates.

Table 4.3: Differences between your small business and individual local exchange contracts

5. CONTACT INFORMATION FOR CONCERNS FROM INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

5.1. Provide the following information for the person(s) at your company that are responsible for addressing concerns from Indigenous communities in the Far North about provision of services on their traditional territories.

1. Name
2. Title
3. How they can be reached directly (e.g. email, phone number)

Appendix 2: Requests for information to Northwestel

6. UPDATING INFORMATION FROM PHASE I

6.1. During Phase I, Northwestel submitted a map of its network and an overview of the communities it serves in the Far North.^Footnote2 Refer to those documents to:

1. Provide an updated map that reflects any changes to Northwestel’s network.
2. Provide an updated overview of the communities that Northwestel serves in the Far North.
3. Confirm whether Northwestel (i) provides any telecommunications services in Atlin, B.C. and if so, specify which services, and/or (ii) connects to Atlin via telecommunications facilities that it owns, and if so, specify the telecommunications facilities.

6.2. During Phase I, Northwestel filed responses to an RFI issued on 27 November 2020 (Phase I, RFI-1) and to an RFI issued on 25 March 2021 (Phase I, RFI-3).

1. Provide updates to Northwestel’s responses to the following questions for each RFI, providing the most recent data available. In particular, for any question where annual data was requested and where data for 2020 or 2021 has not previously been provided and is now available, also provide data for these years. For Phase I, RFI-1, questions: 1, 2, 3, 4. For Phase I, RFI-3, questions: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11.
2. In addition, provide: a summary of all changes to the information; and amended copies of any documents that have been updated. Where documents have been amended and updated, indicate changes by formatting the document using strikethrough to indicate deletions, and underline to indicate additions.

6.3. For Northwestel’s retail residential Internet services provided over terrestrial transport facilities, provide the number of subscribers and revenues, by community and by speed tier, for the years 2016 to 2021, inclusive. Also, provide projected data for 2022 and 2023. For each speed tier, disaggregate subscriber and revenue data by plan data usage type (capped or unlimited). Provide this information for the following speed tiers: 0 – 5 Mbps; 5.01 – 20 Mbps; 20.01 - 50 Mbps; 50.01 - 100; 100.01 - 125 Mbps; 125.01 – 250 Mbps; 250.01+ Mbps. Provide the data using the format in the attached “Sheet 6.3”.

7. NORTHWESTEL’S RETAIL AND WHOLESALE TARIFFS

7.1. Provide an overview of all changes to Northwestel’s retail tariffs that Northwestel has requested since November 2020.

7.2. Provide an overview of all changes to Northwestel’s wholesale tariffs that Northwestel has requested since November 2020.

8. NORTHWESTEL’S SERVICE OUTAGES AND NETWORK IMPROVEMENTS

8.1. RFI-3, question 4 requested certain information regarding outages from 2015 to 2017. Provide the same information requested in Phase I, RFI-3for 2018 to 2021, inclusive. In relation to each outage reported from 2015 to 2021, also indicate the corresponding amount of refunds provided to retail and wholesale customers.

8.2. In Northwestel’s response to questions 1 and 2 of Phase I, RFI-3, Northwestel referred to its annual practice of preparing a detailed budget in Q3 for the next year’s capital plan “based on customer demand, bandwidth upgrades, network reliability improvements, mandatory expenditures (example, environmental compliance), and the introduction of new products and services. In addition to the base capital forecast, we have overlays to meet other legal, regulatory and customer requirements.”

Provide for the years 2016 to 2021, inclusive:

1. The annual capital plan, as referenced above;
2. Is the annual capital plan submitted to Northwestel’s shareholders for review and approval? If so, also provide any related briefing information provided to Northwestel’s shareholders, and the version of the capital plan approved by Northwestel’s shareholders;
3. If not already addressed in the annual capital plan, a schedule of all distributions of corporate profits made to shareholders;
4. Are distributions of corporate profits made to shareholders submitted to shareholders for review and approval? If so, also provide any related briefing information submitted to Northwestel’s shareholders.

9. NORTHWESTEL’S STANDALONE DSL SURCHARGE

9.1. As per Northwestel’s General Tariff, Item 1735, Northwestel may charge $20 per month to customers of standalone residential DSL Internet service in certain high-cost communities, unless they also purchase home phone service. ^Footnote3

1. Provide the number of customers that paid this surcharge for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021, and 2022 to date.
2. What would be the financial impact to Northwestel of ending this surcharge, and what would be the corresponding impacts to Northwestel’s retail pricing for home phone and DSL services?

Appendix 3: Requests for information for specified TSPs

10. SERVICES, SUBSCRIBERS, AND REVENUES FROM ICE WIRELESS, IRISTEL, NEW NORTH NETWORKS, SSI MICRO, AND TELUS

10.1. During Phase I, the indicated TSPs were asked to file responses to an RFI issued on 25 March 2021 (Phase I, RFI-3). Generally, RFI-3 related to their existing retail telecommunications services, subscribers, and revenues. Address the following:

1. Update your company’s responses to all of the questions asked in RFI-3, providing the most recent data available.^Footnote4 In particular, for any question where annual data was requested and where data for 2021 has not previously been provided and is now available, also provide data for 2021. For question 2 iv., also include subscriber numbers for the speed tier 0 – 4.99 Mbps.
2. In addition, provide a summary of all changes to the information; and amended copies of any documents that have been updated. Where documents have been amended and updated, indicate changes by formatting the document using strikethrough to indicate deletions, and underline to indicate additions.

10.2. For retail residential Internet services and mobile wireless services provided over terrestrial transport facilities, provide disaggregated information for subscribers and revenues by community and by speed tier for the years 2016 to 2021, inclusive. Also, provide projected data for 2022 and 2023. Provide this information for the following speed tiers: 0 – 5 Mbps; 5.01 – 20 Mbps; 20.01 - 50 Mbps; 50.01 - 100; 100.01 - 125 Mbps; 125.01 – 250 Mbps; 250.01+ Mbps. Provide the data using the format in the attached “Sheet 10.2”.

Note that in TRP 2021-130, Review of mobile wireless services, the Commission distinguished between the product markets for mobile wireless services, and fixed wireless services (see paragraphs 41 to 47). Therefore, even if the underlying network technology is mobile technology, ensure that the requested information is provided separately for a) fixed or stationary wireless services, and b) mobile wireless services.

11. INFRASTRUCTURE AND BUSINESS MODEL FROM ICE WIRELESS, IRISTEL, NEW NORTH NETWORKS, SSI MICRO, TELUS, BELL MOBILITY, AND XPLORNET

11.1. For each retail residential Internet or mobile wireless service that your company provides in the Far North over terrestrial transport facilities, for each community, discuss the infrastructure and underlying technology that it depends on. Your response is to include the following:

1. A list of any communities where telecommunications infrastructure that you own is used to provide retail residential telecommunications services.
2. A discussion of the telecommunications infrastructure that you own within your network(s) and the telecommunications infrastructure that you access via other means.
3. A discussion of the underlying technology or technologies that you use to provide retail residential telecommunications services, and the communities where that technology or those technologies are used.
4. A discussion of any wholesale services that you rely on to provide retail residential telecommunications services, and the provider of the wholesale services.
5. Provide network diagrams for all of your networks that are relevant to this question.

11.2. Discuss your company’s business plan with respect to each community in the Far North in which it provides retail residential Internet and mobile wireless services over terrestrial transport facilities. Address the following, by community, including all assumptions used:

1. The communities and markets in which you are operating, how large they are, and what relevant trends are affecting them;
2. Who are your customers and how your services address their needs;
3. Who are your competitors and how do you distinguish your services from theirs;
4. How you plan to compete with Starlink and other potential new entrants to the market that will provide telecommunications services using low Earth orbit satellite technology;
5. For 2020 and 2021, provide your company’s total operating revenues and total operating expenses, by community and by service. Categorize operating expenses by major category (such as labour, marketing, billing and administration, network, wholesale services you access, and other categories you may wish to specify), and discuss any anticipated significant changes to your operating expenses and revenues over the next two years;
6. With respect to investment in telecommunications facilities, by community, a breakdown of your company’s capital expenditures for the years 2016 to 2021 inclusive, and plans for future capital expenditures.

12. OUTAGES, SERVICES, SUBSCRIBERS, AND REVENUES FROM BELL MOBILITY

12.1. During Phase I, Bell Mobility filed responses to an RFI issued on 25 March 2021 (Phase I, RFI-3). Generally, RFI-3 related to outages, as well as Bell Mobility’s existing retail telecommunications services, subscribers, and revenues. Address the following:

1. Update Bell Mobility’s responses to all of the questions asked in Phase I, RFI-3, providing the most recent data available. In particular, for any question where annual data was requested and where data for 2021 has not previously been provided and is now available, also provide this data for 2021.
2. In addition, provide a summary of all changes to the information, and amended copies of any documents that have been updated. Where documents have been amended and updated, indicate changes by formatting the document using strikethrough to indicate deletions, and underline to indicate additions.

12.2. Clarify whether Bell Mobility provides fixed wireless Internet access in Nunavut, or if Bell Mobility only provides mobile wireless services in that territory.

Note: Bell Mobility indicated in response to question 4 of the above-noted RFI that it only provides mobile wireless services. However, a press release published by BCE in 2019 appears to indicate that Bell Mobility also provides fixed wireless Internet services in 21 Nunavut communities.

12.3. For retail residential Internet services and mobile wireless services provided over terrestrial transport facilities, provide disaggregated information for subscribers and revenues by community and by speed tier for the years 2016 to 2021, inclusive. Also, provide projected data for 2022 and 2023. Provide this information for the following speed tiers: 0 – 5 Mbps; 5.01 – 20 Mbps; 20.01 - 50 Mbps; 50.01 - 100; 100.01 - 125 Mbps; 125.01 – 250 Mbps; 250.01+ Mbps. Provide the data using the format in the attached “Sheet 10.2”.

Note that in TRP 2021-130, Review of mobile wireless services, the Commission distinguished between the product markets for mobile wireless services, and fixed wireless services (see paragraphs 41 to 47). Therefore, even if the underlying network technology is mobile technology, ensure that the requested information is provided separately for a) fixed or stationary wireless services, and b) mobile wireless services.

13. SERVICES, SUBSCRIBERS, AND REVENUES FROM XPLORNET

13.1. List your company’s existing retail telecommunications services available for each community your company serves in the Far North. Provide the data using the format in the attached “Sheet 13.1”. Add any communities not included in the sheet provided to the list. For all that apply to your company, using the sheet provided, list current subscriber numbers, by community, for the following lines of business:

1. Residential local exchange service (i.e. Residential NAS, including VoIP);
2. If applicable, number of residential customers that subscribe to only wireline telephone service (i.e. standalone wireline telephone subscribers);
3. Business local exchange service (i.e. Business NAS, including VoIP);
4. Residential Internet access service, by speed;
5. Business Internet access service; and,
6. Mobile wireless services (pre-paid and post-paid).

13.2. Provide your company’s revenues for each line of business above, for each of the years 2016 to 2021. In addition, provide total revenues generated by your company for the provision of telecommunications services, retail, wholesale, or otherwise, in the Far North, for each of the years 2016 to 2021.

13.3. Does your company plan to stop providing or phase out any of its existing telecommunications services in the future? If so, provide an explanation.

14. WHOLESALE SERVICES PROVIDED OVER THE MACKENZIE VALLEY FIBRE LINK FROM NORTHERN LIGHTS GENERAL PARTNERSHIP AND THE GOVERNMENT OF NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Note: Northern Lights General Partnership (Northern Lights) and the Government of Northwest Territories may wish to coordinate their response to these questions. If so, it is acceptable for both parties to agree upon a single response for submission.

14.1. Provide any documents or agreements that establish the rights and obligations between Northern Lights and the Government of Northwest Territories with respect to:

1. The ownership, operation, and maintenance of the MVFL; and,
2. Managing arrangements with service providers that access wholesale services through the MVFL, including with regard to setting the terms, conditions and rates for services provided by the MVFL.

14.2. Provide the terms, conditions, and rates for each service provided by the MVFL.

Date modified:

2022-06-15