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

Ottawa, 12 July 2023

Our reference: 8621-C12-01/08

VIA EMAIL

Philippe Gauvin
Assistant General Counsel
Bell Canada
19th Floor- 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 15 June 2023, Commission staff issued a request for information to Bell Canada (Bell) regarding Bell’s embargo on next generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) onboarding efforts from 10 March 2023 to 1 May 2023.

Commission staff has reviewed Bell’s responses and is generally satisfied with the responses. However, the Commission expected Bell to provide it and the telecom service providers (TSPs) working to interconnect with Bell’s NG9-1-1 network more timely, detailed and transparent communication regarding the embargo, including the reasons for the embargo, the expected duration, and the impacts on the NG9-1-1 onboarding process. Should any 9-1-1 network provider or TSP need to take similar future action to protect or enhance the reliability, resiliency, and security of Canada’s 9-1-1 services, it should provide the Commission and all stakeholders with timely and detailed notice, including all relevant justification, timelines, and impacts.

Commission staff reminds all 9-1-1 network providers and TSPs that the obligations set out by the Commission in Telecom Decision 2021-199 remain in place. Commission staff’s response to Bell’s answers to the request for information should not be viewed as permitting any failure to fulfill applicable Commission-mandated obligations. If this time frame is not met, the Commission will consider using all the tools at its disposal to ensure compliance with its framework.

Yours sincerely,

Original signed by

Michel Murray
Director, Dispute Resolution & Regulatory Implementation
Telecommunications Sector

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

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