Telecom - Staff Letter addressed to the Distribution list
Ottawa, 5 November 2024
Our reference: 8000-C12-202400282, 8663-T66-202402246
BY EMAIL
Distribution list
Subject: TELUS Communications Inc., Part 1 Application to propose long-term connectivity options in three regions in British Columbia, Request for information and new submission to the public record – 5 November 2024
On 16 October 2024, Commission staff issued Requests for Information (RFIs) in relation to this proceeding. Recipients filed their responses to the RFIs by 29 October 2024.
This letter sets out one follow-up question for TELUS Communications Inc. (TELUS) to its RFI response. That question is at Appendix 1.
Further, Commission staff has added a new submission to the public record of this proceeding from Michael Grenier, Director, Electoral Area J, Copper Desert Country, Thompson Nicola Regional District.
TELUS is required to respond to the question at Appendix 1 by 8 November 2024.
Parties may then file comments in response to the response from TELUS, as well as the new submission, by 13 November 2024.
TELUS will then have an opportunity to file a reply by 18 November 2024.
For further information regarding filing instructions, please refer to the letter issued by Commission staff on 16 October 2024.
A copy of this letter will be placed on the public record of this proceeding.
Yours sincerely,
Original signed by
Lisanne Legros
Director, Telecommunications Networks Policy
Telecommunications Sector
c.c.: Simon Wozny, CRTC, simon.wozny@crtc.gc.ca
Loïc Yves Abena Fouda, CRTC, loicyves.abenafouda@crtc.gc.ca
Iva Jurisic, CRTC, iva.jurisic@crtc.gc.ca
Jordan Wegner, CRTC, jordan.wegner@crtc.gc.ca
Attachment (2) Appendix and Distribution list
Appendix 1: Questions for TELUS
- [TELUS] In its response to question 3 of the RFI issued by Commission staff on 16 October 2024, TELUS stated that it is in early discussions with satellite providers:
… to explore a potential wholesale arrangement that could reduce retail rates for satellite internet services for consumers in the impacted communities. TELUS is pursuing these efforts in good faith to support the impacted communities. However, without CRTC assistance, TELUS cannot guarantee the success of these discussions, as this remains a commercial negotiation.
Please answer the following questions in relation to the above:
- Provide details regarding the arrangement that is being explored, including what wholesale services TELUS would access and what retail services it would provide.
- Provide an estimated timeline for when retail services could become available for impacted communities as supported by the arrangement referenced above. Include each proposed step and a time estimate for each.
- Explain how this arrangement could result in more affordable services, and how much more affordable they might be compared to the cost of accessing satellite VoIP supported by Starlink Internet access. Note that Starlink indicated in its RFI response that the equipment to access Starlink is provided for $499 and the monthly service fee for the residential product is $140/month.
- What specific CRTC assistance would TELUS request to support this initiative?
Distribution List:
TELUS: molly.samuelson@telus.com; regulatory.affairs@telus.com
Bell: bell.regulatory@bell.ca
PIAC: piac@piac.ca; jlawford@piac.ca
- Date modified: