Telecom - Satff Letter addressed to Moses Track (Taku River Tlingit First Nation)
Ottawa, 9 April 2024
Our reference: 8740-N1-202305961, 8740-N1-202305979
BY EMAIL
Moses Track
Capital Manager
Taku River Tlingit First Nation
PO Box 132
Atlin, BC, Canada V0W 1A0
capital@gov.trtfn.com
Subject: Introduction of residential and business telephone services in Atlin, BC by Northwestel Inc. – request for information
Dear Moses Track,
This letter is to follow up on two applications the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) received from Northwestel Inc. (Northwestel) in relation to transitioning residential and business telephone services in Atlin, BC from TELUS Communications Inc. (TELUS) to Northwestel.
The CRTC approved on an interim basis Northwestel’s proposal set out below for residential and small business customers. Public documents related to Northwestel’s proposals for residential and business telephone services can also be found at this link.
- Northwestel would initially charge all existing and new residential customers the monthly rate of $26.08 for a basic residential telephone service, which is a reduction from the rates charged by TELUS, plus the price for any calling features customers wish to take. The price of $26.08 for basic telephone services would be in effect until 1 June 2024 and then would be increased annually by $3.05 plus inflation over four years until it matches the CRTC-approved price charged by Northwestel in its other communities, which is currently $38.30.
- Business telephone service customers would be provided services at Northwestel’s currently approved prices of $86.23 for single-line service or $98.04 for multi-line service and would be transferred to these services based on the level of services received from TELUS. Business customers were to receive an initial one-time credit of at least $300.
CRTC staff is continuing its analysis of these applications but is looking for information from the community to determined whether these proposals meet the needs of the community and whether there continues to be any concerns. Specifically,
- Identify any specific concerns raised by community members regarding the information provided by Northwestel to the community in relation to the transition of services from TELUS to Northwestel.
- Is the TRTFN aware of any concerns that its members have raised in relation to the Northwestel’s proposals? If so, provide a detailed summary of the specific concerns identified by community members and proposals to remedy these concerns.
- Provide any additional comments that would be useful to the CRTC’s consideration of these proposals from Northwestel, so that it takes appropriate consideration of the perspectives of residential and business customers in Atlin.
Paragraph 28(1) (a) of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure provides that the Commission may require any party to file information or documents where needed. Accordingly, the TRTFN is requested to provide its answers, including any supporting information by 24 April 2024.
To the extent that any information provided is confidential in nature, section 39 of the Telecommunications Act (the Act) and in Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2010-961, Procedures for filing confidential information and requesting its disclosure in Commission proceedings, allows persons to designate certain information as confidential. A detailed explanation should support why the relevant information should be designation as confidential and why its disclosure would not be in the public interest. Further, where information has been filed in confidence, an abridged version of the document must be filed omitting only the information designated as confidential or reasons must be provided as to why an abridged version cannot be filed.
The response to these questions will be available on the public file, as per the retention and disposition period specified for the process in which your information was collected for, or for archival if deemed historical as per the Library and Archives of Canada Act.
Should you require assistance with responding to this request for information or have questions about this process, please do not hesitate to contact Christine Brock at christine.brock@crtc.gc.ca
Yours sincerely
Original signed by
Michel Murray
Director, Dispute Resolution and Regulatory Implementation
Telecommunications Sector
c.c.: Christine Brock, CRTC, (873)-353-5852, christine.brock@crtc.gc.ca
Northwestel, regulatoryaffairs@nwtel.ca
- Date modified: