Telecom - Staff Letter addressed to the Distribution list
Gatineau, 28 May 2026
Our reference: 8640-B2-202506311, 8640-B2-202506329, 8640-B2-202506395
BY EMAIL
Distribution list
Subject: Bell Canada – Part 1 Applications for forbearance from the regulation of residential local exchange services in the Atlantic; Manitoba; and Ontario and Québec – Procedural request
On 25 May 2026, Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Rogers) filed a procedural request with the Commission regarding Requests for information (RFIs) sent on 15 May 2026 in the above-mentioned applications. Rogers requested that the RFIs be withdrawn or, in the alternative, that the 29 May 2026 deadline for responses be extended.
Commission staff considers that the information requested in the RFIs is required to properly assess Bell Canada’s (Bell) requests for forbearance from the regulation of residential local exchange services. Particularly the information related to whether a competitor is offering residential wireline local exchange services in the exchange, and what percentage of households it is capable of serving. Staff notes that the data required to identify the exchanges and the number of households has been included by Bell in its applications.
With regards to the questions on whether providers’ networks overlap and to estimate the extent of such overlap, Commission staff understands that parties may not have all the information from competitors to properly answer them. Staff considers that parties should try to answer to the best of their knowledge but may indicate where they cannot due to a lack of information.
Commission staff acknowledges that, because the applications cover numerous exchanges across Canada, producing the requested information may require additional time. As such, granting an extension to the deadlines set out in the RFIs is reasonable and will result in a better record to assist the Commission in its assessment of the applications.
Accordingly, the deadline to submit answers to the RFIs in the above-mentioned applications is extended to 30 June 2026 and Bell will have until 7 July 2026 to submit its reply.
Confidential information
As set out in section 39 of the Telecommunications Act and in Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2010-961, Procedures for filing and requesting disclosure of confidential information in Commission proceedings, parties may designate certain information as confidential. A detailed explanation of why the information is being designated as confidential and why its disclosure would not be in the public interest must be provided, including the reasons why the specific direct harm likely to result from disclosure would outweigh the public interest in disclosure. In addition to the confidential version, an abridged version of the document removing only the confidential information must be filed, or the reasons why an abridged version cannot be filed must be provided.
Sincerely,
Original signed by
Suneil Kanjeekal
Director, Dispute resolution and regulatory implementation
Telecommunications sector
Distribution List
Bell, bell.regulatory@bell.ca
Astrocom, billing@nrnetworks.com
Blue Sky Economic Development Corporation, susan.church@blueskyregion.ca
Clearview, htclearview@gmail.com
Cogeco, toby.harper-merrett@cogeco.com
Community Fibre Company, ben@communityfibre.ca
Eastlink, regulatory.matters@corp.eastlink.ca
Execulink, andrea.atkinson@execulinktelecom.ca
First Mile Connectivity Consortium, info@firstmile.ca
Independent Telecommunications Providers Association, regulatory@itpa.ca
Nexicom, regulatory@nexicomgroup.net
Nor-Del, markb@nor-del.com
Public Interest Advocacy Centre, tdawood@piac.ca
Rogers, regulatory@rci.rogers.com
Rural Ontario Municipal Association, clowry@mississippimills.ca
Telus Communications Inc., regulatory.affairs@telus.com
Valley Fiber Ltd, corporateaffairs@valleyfiber.ca
Vidéotron, regaffairs@quebecor.com
Westman, eastonc@westmancom.com
Jacqueline Archibald, jackietarchibald@gmail.com
Jeff Blixhavn, jeffblixhavn@gmail.com
Kaitlyn Burton, krazykate_12@hotmail.com
Steve D, xset1sd@gmail.com
Eric Davis, mredavis@hotmail.com
Marcel Deleebeeck, mdeleebeeck@kwic.com
Scott Diamond, sdiamond@csolve.net
Marion Gammon, gammonmg23@gmail.com
Richard Gould, mayor.gould@calvintownship.ca
Doris Hofer, eastcoldwellranch@hotmail.com
Ingrid-Ann and Thomas Hussey, Thussey1111@gmail.com
Andra Kauffeldt, info@bancroft.ca
Anna MacKay, annamarieveronica@yahoo.com
Connie MacDonald, conniemacdonald1979@gmail.com
Richard MacMillan, macmillr@nbnet.nb.ca
Robert MacMorran, Bob@woolmc.com
Harold MacQueen, joanne_lawrence@hotmail.ca
Ann Martin, annturnermartin@gmail.com
Marc Nanni, mn_crtc@proton.me
Tina Newlove, tina@tinanewlove.com
Keith Rasmussen, kiwikeith.r@gmail.com
Mirabel Rikkinen, joann76cdn@gmail.com
John Smith, dsomers.jsmith@gmail.com
Gwendolen Stegelmann, g.stegelmann@outlook.com
Heather n Anthony Turner, andyturner1953@gmail.com
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