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Telecom - Staff Letter addressed to Philippe Gauvin (Bell Canada)

Ottawa, 15 June 2023

Our reference: 8621-C12-01/08

BY EMAIL

Philippe Gauvin
Assistant General Counsel
Bell Canada
Floor 19, 160 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2C4
bell.regulatory@bell.ca

Subject: Request for Information regarding Bell Canada’s temporary embargo for NG9-1-1 Onboarding and Go-Live Activities

Dear Philippe Gauvin,

On 10 March 2023, in a letter accompanying Bell Canada’s (Bell) monthly NG9-1-1 Originating Network Provider Onboarding and Migration progress report for February 2023, Bell notified Commission staff that it had implemented a temporary embargo on NG9-1-1 onboarding efforts associated with NG9-1-1 network changes and Go-Live activities, with an expectation that it would be lifted in time for the April 2023 reporting period. On 11 April 2023, in a letter accompanying Bell’s progress report for March 2023, Bell indicated that the temporary embargo was still in effect. On 2 May 2023, Commission staff received an email from Bell Canada indicating that the temporary embargo had been lifted on 1 May 2023. In order to better understand the purpose and reasoning of Bell Canada’s temporary embargo as well as to gain better insight into any impacts incurred or expected, Commission staff requests that Bell Canada provide comprehensive answers to the questions set out in the attachment, including rationale and any supporting information, by 26 June 2023.

This letter and any subsequent correspondence will be publicly accessible. 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, Bell Canada may designate certain information as confidential though 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, should Bell Canada designate information as confidential, it 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.

Where a document is to be filed by a specific date, the document must be actually received, not merely sent, by that date.

The Commission requires all documents to be submitted electronically by using the secured service “My CRTC Account” Partner Log In or GCKey and filing the “Telecom Cover Page” located on that web page.

Sincerely,

Original signed by

Michel Murray
Director, Dispute Resolution & Regulatory Implementation
Telecommunications Sector

c.c.: Etienne Robelin, Manager, Emergency Services Policy, CRTC (etienne.robelin@crtc.gc.ca)

Attach. (1)

Request for Information

In its 10 March 2023 letter, Bell Canada stated that it had “implemented a temporary embargo on continued NG9-1-1 onboarding efforts associated with NG9-1-1 network changes and “go-live” activities,” andthat it expected “that the embargo will be lifted in time for polling to resume for the April 2023 reporting period.” Staff received notice on 2 May 2023 that the embargo had been lifted.

Given this, please answer the following:

  1. Provide the reasons for the embargo including details on any specific issues or events that led Bell Canada to decide to proceed with the embargo.
  2. Provide a list of activities that were suspended during the embargo and the reason(s) for the suspension.
  3. Provide a list of the activities that were carried out by Bell Canada during the embargo specifically in relation to assessing or improving Bell Canada’s NG9-1-1 onboarding, network change or go-live process, including any findings from such activities and how those findings will inform next steps in regards to NG9-1-1 network changes, onboarding and Go-Live activities.
  4. Specify how Bell Canada communicated or intends to communicate to Originating Network Providers in its operating territory any findings or changes in relation to any assessment, network changes or other activities conducted during the embargo that may impact them.
  5. Provide details on how the temporary embargo has impacted or will impact the implementation of NG9-1-1 within Bell Canada’s territory, including any impacts on Originating Network Providers in relation to their obligations as established in the NG9-1-1 framework.Footnote1
  6. Provide details on whether Bell Canada has or intends to compensate, as a result of the embargo, Originating Network Providers with whom it has commercial agreements for the purpose of NG9-1-1 interconnection. If so, how? If not, explain why. 
  7. Specify the steps that Bell Canada has taken or intends to take to ensure that further embargos are not implemented in the future.
  8. Provide any additional details relevant to the Commission having a complete understanding of the situation not already covered by the above questions.

END OF ATTACHMENT

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