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Telecom - Staff Letter addressed to the Distribution List

Ottawa, 30 May 2024

References:  8740-B2-202302248 , 8740-T66-202303494, 8740-S22-202302230, 1011-NOC2023-0056

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Subject: Telecom Notice of Consultation 2023-56 – Denial of Bell Canada’s Request for an Extension to Deadline to Requests for Information

As part of the proceeding initiated by Notice of hearing – Review of the wholesale high-speed access service framework, Telecom Notice of Consultation 2023-56, dated 8 March 2023, the Commission directed wholesale high-speed access (HSA) service providers to file proposed tariffs and associated cost studies using the Phase II costing methodology, with supporting rationale, for fibre-to-the-premises facilities over aggregated wholesale HSA services, and to file new Phase II cost studies to establish rates for aggregated wholesale HSA services.

On 13 May 2024, Commission staff requested additional information (RFIs) from certain wholesale HSA service providers in relation to their proposed tariffs, associated cost studies, and supporting rationale. Responses to these RFIs are due 11 June 2024.

On 22 May 2024, Bell Canada requested to extend that deadline to 21 June 2024. The grounds for this request are that, owing to prior scheduled vacations, certain of Bell Canada’s staff are “not available for a portion of the timeframe” to prepare RFI responses. On 23 May 2024, Saskatchewan Telecommunications (SaskTel) filed comments in support of Bell Canada’s request on similar grounds and asked that the same extension be granted to them.

Owing to a range of factors, including the strong public interest in a timely decision on this proceeding, Commission staff denies each of Bell Canada and SaskTel’s requests.

All parties were notified via a 4 May 2023 letter that “the Commission is not predisposed to granting any further extension requests” in this proceeding. That same letter sets out that deadline extensions may be granted in rare and exceptional circumstances, and where the request is supported by sufficient evidence. An earlier denial of an unrelated Bell Canada extension request, issued on 16 June 2023, notes that “[e]ach company is expected to ensure that it has, or puts in place, the resources necessary to respond to the Commission’s directions.” Accordingly, the circumstances leading to Bell Canada’s extension request can neither be considered rare nor exceptional.

The strong public interest in delivering competitive and affordable internet access demands that both the Commission and the industry work hard to meet the deadlines in this proceeding.

Yours Sincerely,

Original signed by

Leila Wright
Executive Director
Telecommunications Sector

Distribution List:

Company; Tariff Notice Number(s); Our Reference Number Company Contact; Company Email

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