Telecom Decision CRTC 2024-35

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Ottawa, 12 February 2024

Public record: 8638-S1-01/98

Forbearance from the regulation of high-capacity / digital data services interexchange private line services on certain additional routes

Summary

The Commission forbears, with some conditions, from regulating high-capacity / digital data services interexchange private line services on six additional routes.

Introduction

1. In Telecom Decision 97-20, pursuant to section 34 of the Telecommunications Act (the Act) and in accordance with the framework set out in Telecom Decision 94-19, the Commission forbore in large part from regulating the high-capacity / digital data services interexchange private line (IXPL) services (IXPL services) provided by the former Stentor-member companies^{Footnote 1} on certain routes. The Commission expanded the scope of forbearance for forborne IXPL services provided by TELUS Communications Inc. (TCI) in Telecom Decision 2003-77, and for those provided by Aliant Telecom Inc. (now Bell Aliant, a division of Bell Canada [Bell Aliant]), Bell Canada, MTS Allstream Inc. (now Bell MTS Inc., a division of Bell Canada, and Allstream Business Inc.), and Saskatchewan Telecommunications (SaskTel) in Telecom Decision 2004-80.
2. In Telecom Order 99-434, the Commission directed the competitors of several incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) to file a semi-annual report identifying the IXPL routes on which the competitors provided or offered IXPL services to at least one customer, at the equivalent of DS-3 or greater bandwidth, using terrestrial facilities from a company other than the ILEC or an affiliate of the ILEC (the forbearance criterion).^{Footnote 2}
3. Also in that order, the Commission stated that upon being satisfied that one or more competitors met this forbearance criterion, it would proceed to forbear from the regulation of IXPL services on those particular routes without further process. The reports are due on 1 April and 1 October each year.
4. In October 2023, the Commission received filings from the following competitors: Acronym Solutions Inc.; Bell Canada; Bragg Communications Incorporated, carrying on business as Eastlink, on behalf of its direct and indirect subsidiaries; Ontera, a division of NorthernTel, Limited Partnership; Quebecor Media Inc., on behalf of Videotron Ltd.; Rogers Communications Canada Inc.; SaskTel; Shaw Telecom G.P.; TBayTel; TCI; and Zayo Canada Inc.

Commission’s analysis

5. The Commission has reviewed the competitors’ reports filed pursuant to Telecom Order 99-434 and finds that the above-noted forbearance criterion is met for six additional routes, which are in territories served by Bell Canada. These additional routes are listed in the Appendix to this decision.
6. Pursuant to subsection 34(1) of the Act, the Commission finds that to refrain from exercising its powers and performing its duties, to the extent specified in this decision, in relation to the regulation of IXPL services on the routes listed in the Appendix, would be consistent with the policy objectives set out in section 7 of the Act.
7. Pursuant to subsection 34(2) of the Act, the Commission finds that the IXPL services on the routes listed in the Appendix are subject to a level of competition sufficient to protect the interests of users of these services and that, to the extent specified in this decision, it is therefore appropriate to refrain from regulating the IXPL services provided on these routes.
8. Pursuant to subsection 34(3) of the Act, the Commission finds that to refrain from regulating the IXPL services on the routes listed in the Appendix, to the extent specified in this decision, would be unlikely to unduly impair the continuance of a competitive market for these services.
9. In light of the above and pursuant to subsection 34(4) of the Act, the Commission declares that the following sections of the Act, with some exceptions as noted, do not apply to the affected ILECs’ IXPL services on the routes identified in the Appendix:
   • section 24, except that the Commission directs the ILECs whose territories include one or more of the IXPL routes listed in the Appendix (the affected ILECs) to incorporate into all contracts and any other arrangements for the IXPL services forborne from regulation in this decision, where appropriate and on a going-forward basis, the existing conditions regarding the disclosure of confidential customer information to third parties. It is also appropriate for the Commission to retain sufficient powers under section 24 of the Act to specify possible future conditions upon the forborne services provided by the affected ILECs, where circumstances warrant;
   • section 25;
   • section 27, except with respect to subsection 27(3) of the Act in relation to compliance with powers and duties not forborne from in this decision;
   • section 29; and
   • section 31.
10. The Commission directs the affected ILECs to issue, within 45 days of the date of this decision, tariff pages removing the tariffs for the IXPL services on the routes identified in the Appendix, effective on the date of issuance of the tariff pages.^{Footnote 3}

Secretary General

Related documents

• Aliant Telecom, Bell Canada, MTS Allstream and SaskTel – Forbearance from section 29 of the Act for agreements related to forborne domestic toll services and forborne interexchange private line services, Telecom Decision CRTC 2004-80, 9 December 2004
• TELUS’ application for forbearance from section 29 of the Telecommunications Act with respect to forborne interexchange private line and long distance services, Telecom Decision CRTC 2003-77, 19 November 2003
• Telecom Order CRTC 99-905, 17 September 1999
• Follow-up Proceeding to Telecom Decision CRTC 97-20: Establishment of criterion and process for considering further forbearance for High Capacity/DDS interexchange private line services, Telecom Order CRTC 99-434, 12 May 1999
• Stentor Resource Centre Inc. – Forbearance from regulation of interexchange private line services, Telecom Decision CRTC 97-20, 18 December 1997
• Review of regulatory framework, Telecom Decision CRTC 94-19, 16 September 1994

Appendix to Telecom Decision CRTC 2024-35

Additional interexchange private line routes that qualify for forbearance based on the October 2023 reports from competitors, pursuant to Telecom Order 99-434

Date modified:

2024-02-12