Telecom - Staff Letter addressed to Kevin Seplay (Saskatchewan Telecommunications)
Ottawa, 3 June 2024
Our reference: 8740-S22-202402759
BY EMAIL
Kevin Seplay
Director – Regulatory Affairs
Saskatchewan Telecommunications
2121 Saskatchewan Drive
Regina, SK S4P 3Y2
document.control@sasktel.com
Subject: Saskatchewan Telecommunications (SaskTel) Tariff Notice (TN) 382 – Telephone Directory Service – reclassification as a Group B application
Dear Kevin Spelay:
On 16 May 2024, the Commission received an application from SaskTel proposing changes to its General Tariff – Basic Services (CRTC 21411), Item 1603.10, Telephone Directory Service.
On 4 March 2024, SaskTel filed TN 380 with the intent of changing the rates for a number of tariff items in accordance with Price Cap restrictions. The company indicated that is had mistakenly included changes to rates for Non-Listed and Non-Published numbers, contained in item 160.10, which had been categorized as ‘Services with frozen rate treatment’ in Telecom Decision 2002-34,Footnote1 and should not have been changed.
In TN 382, SaskTel proposed to reverse the rate increase made to those tariff items, which had come into effect March 31. The company indicated that this action will result in all impacted customers being credited for the amount by which they were incorrectly billed (either 10 or 20 cents).
Commission staff is of the view that, while this may have been an administrative error on the part of SaskTel, since TN 380 was filed as a Group A application, it was forborne from approval and the rates came into effect on the date indicated. As a result, a Commission determination is required in order to correct this rate. Additionally, as the rate came into effect on 31 March 2024, the Commission must address the issue of rate ratification. As a result, the application does not comply with the requirements for Group A applications set out in Approval processes for tariff applications and intercarrier agreements, Telecom Information Bulletin 2010-455-1, 19 February 2016.
For efficiency, the Commission will process this application as a Group B tariff filing rather than close the file and require the company to refile it as a new application. As such, interested parties may file interventions within 30 calendar days of the date of this letter, and SaskTel may file reply comments within 10 calendar days of the deadline for filing interventions. Accordingly, the application will not come into effect 31 March 2024 as proposed by the company.
Sincerely,
Original signed by
Michel Murray
Director, Dispute Resolution & Regulatory Implementation
Telecommunications Sector
c.c.: Christine Brock, CRTC, 873-353-5852, christine.brock@crtc.gc.ca
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