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Telecom - Staff Letter addressed to Philippe Gauvin (Télébec, Limited Partnership)

Ottawa, 9 August 2023

Our reference: 8661-T78-202301125

VIA EMAIL

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

Subject: Télébec, Limited Partnership – Request to restructure multi-element service charges and to waive the price floor test for number reservation for residential local exchange services – Request for information

In the referenced application, dated 24 February 2022, Télébec, Limited Partnership (Télébec) is seeking the Commission’s approval to restructure its service charges for residential customers to match the way Bell Canada bills its residential customers in its serving territory in Quebec. Télébec would also like to be exempted from the price floor test for its residential phone number reservation service and to align the conditions of this service with those of Bell Canada.

The Commission did not receive any interventions, and Télébec filed final submissions on 13 April 2023.

Paragraph 28(1)(a) of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure provides that the Commission may require parties to provide information or documents if necessary. Staff notes that Télébec’s application provides additional context regarding Bell Canada’s deployment of fibre technology in Télébec’s territory. Staff considers it appropriate to obtain further information about this project through the current proceeding.

Accordingly, Télébec is asked to provide complete responses, including justifications and all supporting information, to the attached request for information by 21 August 2023. After receiving the company’s responses, any interested party may file submissionsby 31 August 2023. Télébec will have the opportunity to respond to the submissions by 6 September 2023.

Copies of this letter and all related correspondence will be added to the public record of the proceeding. 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, 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

Michel Murray
Director, Dispute Resolution and Regulatory Implementation
Telecommunications Sector

c.c.: Josiane Lord, CRTC, 819-576-2568, josiane.lord@crtc.gc.ca

Attachment (1)

Request for Information

  1. In its application, Télébec states that it does not offer residential fibre-optic service in its traditional service areas and that, to remedy this situation, the proposed plan is for Bell Canada to deploy fibre technology in Télébec’s serving territory. Télébec adds that this fibre will be a Bell Canada asset connected to Bell Canada’s backbone network equipment and provisioning and billing systems. Following that deployment:
    1. Will Télébec offer its services over the newly deployed fibre in its traditional service areas? If so, which ones?
    2. What will be the relationship between Bell Canada and Télébec with regard to the provision of residential fibre-optic services?
    3. Will wholesale fibre services be offered to competitors wishing to provide services in Télébec’s traditional service areas? If so, by which company(ies) and under what terms and conditions?
  2. Will Télébec continue to offer Internet services in areas of its serving territory where Bell Canada’s fibre to the home (FTTH) will be available?
    1. If so, under what terms and conditions?
    2. If not, does Télébec intend to migrate its existing Internet customers to the Bell Canada network? If applicable, how would this migration be performed? Will customers be fully aware that they are switching service providers? Will they need to sign a new contract? If Télébec does not intend to continue offering Internet services in areas where Bell Canada offers fibre or to migrate its customers to fibre, will it disconnect these customers? What would be the timeline for this?
  3. Does Télébec intend to preserve, maintain and improve its copper wireline network in its serving territory?
    1. If so, for which services? Does this apply to its entire territory or only to areas where Bell Canada will not be deploying fibre?
    2. If not, does Télébec intend to remove its copper wires? And does this apply to its entire territory or only to areas where Bell Canada will be deploying fibre? What would be the timeline for this?
  4. In its application, Télébec states that, by standardizing residential phone number reservation and connection charges, Bell Canada will be able to expand its current FTTH service offering into Télébec’s territory more quickly and efficiently through simplified marketing. Télébec notes that this will simplify the marketing message and reduce customer confusion about the different rates currently available. Télébec also states that customers of the new fibre-optic network will receive a bill from Bell Canada, not Télébec, for their services.
    1. What marketing message does Télébec want to convey? Does it intend to do so under its own name or Bell Canada’s?
    2. Does Télébec plan to advertise the arrival of Bell Canada’s FTTH network to its existing customers? If so, to which customers and in what manner?
    3. Would customers of Bell Canada’s new fibre-optic network also be able to obtain services from Télébec if they so desire? If so, which ones?
    4. Will FTTH customers be aware from the outset that they are now dealing with Bell Canada and not Télébec?
  5. Télébec’s website notes that it has been integrated into the BCE family since 3 November 2014Footnote1, when BCE announced the conclusion of the privatization of Bell Aliant and the integration of its Atlantic Canada subsidiary into BCE’s national operations. Please describe Télébec’s current ownership structure, specifically as it relates to the business relationship between Télébec and BCE and its subsidiaries.
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