Telecom - Procedural Letter addressed to the Distribution List

Ottawa, 2 August 2022

Multiple references

BY EMAIL

Distribution List

RE: Introduction of Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) Service – Request for extension to deadlines

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (the Commission) is in receipt of letters requesting extensions of the deadline for the filing of responses to the requests for information (RFI) contained in the Commission staff letter issued on 18 July 2022 from the current 5 August 2022 filing date, as follows:

• Letter from the Independent Telecommunications Providers Association (ITPA) on behalf of its member Small Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (SILECs), dated 20 July 2022, requesting a revised deadline for the filing of responses to the RFI from the current 5 August 2022 filing date to a revised filing date of 2 September 2022;
• Letter from TELUS, dated 20 July 2022, requesting a revised deadline for the filing of responses to the RFI from the current 5 August 2022 filing date to a revised filing date of 12 August 2022, and that the same extension granted by the Commission be applied to all parties subject to the RFI; and
• Letter from Bell Canada, dated 21 July 2022, requesting a revised deadline for the filing of responses to the RFI from the current 5 August 2022 filing date to a revised filing date of 6 September 2022, and that the same extension granted by the Commission be applied to all parties subject to the RFI.

The ITPA stated its extension request is due to the complexity of the questions in the RFI and the need to consult with its members and outside expert resources, as well as limited availability of staff during the summer. The ITPA submitted that its extension request would not unduly impact the other parties to the RFI, whom it stated, would likely be in the same position as the ITPA members.

TELUS submitted that it would also benefit from an extension to the filing date, given the summer vacations of its key resources. However, TELUS stated that a one-week extension to 12 August 2022 would suffice. TELUS requested that the same extension apply to all parties subject to the RFI, so that no party would be prejudiced.

Bell Canada submitted that it fully supports an extension of the filing date, seeking an extension to 6 September 2022. Bell Canada’s rationale for seeking an extension include absences during the summer of critical resources who worked on its cost study, as well as the length of time it requires for updating and validating its cost study.

In order to ensure a complete and robust record upon which the Commission can base its deliberations, Commission staff is of the view that an extension of the date to file responses to the RFI of 18 July 2022 would be appropriate. Staff further considers that it would be appropriate to establish additional process associated with these RFIs.  Finally, Commission staff considers that it would be administratively convenient for both the Commission and interested persons for the process associated with the various NG9-1-1 tariff filings to be aligned with each other.  As such, the process associated with the applications identified in Attachment 1 is amended as follows:

• The applicants are to file responses to the RFI issued to them on 18 July 2022, serving a copy on all parties, by 6 September 2022.
• Parties can submit comments with respect to responses to the above-noted RFIs, serving a copy on all parties, by 20 September 2022.
• Applicants may file replies to the above noted comments by 27 September 2022.

All documents filed and served must be received, not merely sent, by the date provided.  Parties are to send an electronic copy of all documents to Commission staff copied on this letter.

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 the Commission’s website.

A copy of this letter and all related correspondence will be added to the public record of the related proceedings.

As set out in section 39 of the Telecommunications Act^Footnote1 and in Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2010-961^Footnote2 , 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 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 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.

Sincerely,

Original signed by

Chris Noonan
Director, Competitor Services & Costing Implementation
Telecommunications Sector

c.c.:  Stais Armstrong, CRTC, 819-775-0401, stacey.armstrong@crtc.gc.ca;
Daniel Cardozo, CRTC, 819-962-5720, daniel.cardozo@crtc.gc.ca;
B. Natraj (Nat Natraj), CRTC, 819-953-5081, nat.natraj@crtc.gc.ca

Attach. (1) Distribution List

Distribution List

Date modified:

2022-08-02