Telecom - Staff Letter addressed to Philippe Gauvin (Bell Canada)
Gatineau, 13 June 2025
Our reference: 8662-R28-202502286
BY EMAIL
Philippe Gauvin
Assistant General Counsel
Bell Canada
19th Floor 160 Elgin Street
Ottawa (Ontario) K2P 2C4
bell.regulatory@bell.ca
Subject: Application to Review and Vary Telecom Decision CRTC 2025-67 – Updated timeline for full transition to Next-Generation 9-1-1 – request for extension to the intervention filing deadline
Dear Philippe Gauvin,
We are following up on your request, dated 6 June 2025, for an extension to file an intervention on the record of the Application to Review and Vary Telecom Decision CRTC 2025-67 – Updated timeline for full transition to Next-Generation 9-1-1 (the Application), filed by Rogers Communications Inc. (Rogers) and Québecor Média Inc. (QMI).
In your letter, you indicated that Bell Canada (Bell) was unable to file its intervention in response to the Application by the 16 June 2025 deadline (the Deadline), citing the unavailability of key Bell resources, who were engaged in a separate CRTC proceeding and hearing during the week immediately preceding the Deadline. Consequently, Bell requested that the Deadline for filing interventions be extended from 16 June 2025 to 23 June 2025.
Bell’s request was supported by Saskatchewan Telecommunications, but was opposed by the Applicants Rogers and QMI on the basis that Bell has had almost a month to prepare its filing and that any delays will result in significant financial consequences for Telecommunication Service Providers and Canadian Consumers. Further, Rogers and QMI submitted that granting this extension would have the effect of postponing the reply date period. As a result, the reply period would coincide with two major civic holidays which would limit their ability to prepare a complete and detailed reply within the prescribed 10-day period.
While staff acknowledges Rogers’ and QMI’s opposition, it is of the view that the proper consideration of the matters raised in the Application requires a complete record, and that Bell’s views, as one of the Canada’s three Next-Generation 9-1-1 Service Providers, would contribute to the development of that record. In addition, staff is cognizant that Bell has been involved with numerous Commission processes during this same time period. Accordingly, staff is satisfied that an extension to the intervention deadline is justified.
Further, staff also considers that the extension request by Bell by one week is relatively a short extension and will not have a material impact on the length of the proceeding.
In light of the above, staff hereby extends the intervention deadline for all interested parties from 16 June 2025 to 23 June 2025. With respect to Rogers’ and QMI’s concerns with holidays interfering with the reply deadline, staff is of the view that it would be reasonable to them into consideration when setting the new reply deadline. Consequently, the deadline by which the Applicants may file their final replies is extended, to 7 July 2025.
Sincerely,
Original signed Philippe Nadeau for
Suneil Kanjeekal
Director, Dispute Resolution & Regulatory Implementation
Telecommunications Sector
c.c.: Étienne Robelin, CRTC, etienne.robelin@crtc.gc.ca
Howard Slawner, Rogers Communications Inc., regulatory@rci.rogers.com
Peggy Tabet, Quebecor Media Inc., regaffairs@quebecor.com
Kevin Spelay, Saskatchewan Telecommunications, document.control@sasktel.com
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