Telecom - Secretary General Letter addressed to Derek Martin (Neighbourhood Connect) and Lori Beech (Second Story Community Homes and Services)
Gatineau, 2 July 2026
Reference: 8622-O108-202400704
BY EMAIL
Derek Martin
Neighbourhood Connect
Suite 703–43 Church St.
St. Catharines, Ontario L2R 7E1
derek@nhconnect.ca
Lori Beech
Executive Director
Second Story Community Homes and Services
111 Church St.
St. Catharines, Ontario L2R 3C9
info@bethlehemhousing.ca
Subject: Follow up to Telecom Decision 2025-132 – Imposition of regulatory measures for timely access to the multi-dwelling units operated by Second Story Community Homes and Services
Dear Derek Martin and Lori Beech,
We are writing to inform you of the Commission’s decision, further to Telecom Decision 2025-132 (TD 2025-132), to impose additional regulatory measures on Second Story Community Homes and Services (Second Story) to promote timely access under reasonable terms and conditions to three multi-dwelling units operated by Second Story. These multi-dwelling units are located at 58 Welland Avenue, 111 Church Street, and 151 James Street in St. Catharines, Ontario (collectively, the MDUs) and Telecommunication services in the MDUs are currently being provided by Cogeco and Bell Canada.
On 1 March 2024, 2621159 Ontario Inc., doing business as Neighbourhood Connect (NHC), filed an application with the Commission seeking non-discriminatory and timely access on reasonable terms and conditions to the MDUs. On 6 June 2025, the Commission issued TD 2025-132, in response to NHC’s application. In its decision, the Commission found that Second Story was denying NHC timely access to the MDUs under reasonable terms and conditions. The Commission directed both parties to enter into good faith negotiations and noted that if Second Story did not grant NHC access to the MDUs by 4 September 2025, it would consider taking further action.
Following the issuance of TD 2025-132, Second Story and NHC commenced negotiations. However, negotiations are no longer progressing. Given that NHC does not have timely access under reasonable terms and conditions, the Commission considers that additional regulatory measures are necessary to ensure that NHC has timely access to the MDUs.
Accordingly, the Commission will enforce the MDU access condition pursuant to section 24 of the Telecommunications Act (the Act), as follows:
- Effective 30 days from the date of this letter decision, neither Bell Canada, nor Cogeco, nor any other local exchange carriers (LECs) or carrier Internet service providers (ISPs) shall be permitted to provide services to any new customer, regardless of whether the customer is a new or current resident of the MDUs.
- Effective 45 days from the date of this letter decision, neither Bell Canada, nor Cogeco, nor any other LECs or carrier ISPs shall be permitted to modify or upgrade the services being provided to an existing resident and customer of the MDUs.
- If access is not granted within 60 days from the date of this letter decision, the Commission will explore all regulatory options, including issuing an order under section 42 of the Act and issuing a decision that could result in all LECs and carrier ISPs present in the MDUs not being permitted to provide any services to the residents of the MDUs.
If NHC informs the Commission that an access agreement was reached within 30 days of the date of this letter decision, but advises that the parties have not signed the agreement within 60 days of the date of this letter decision, the Commission will enforce the MDU access condition pursuant to section 24 of the Act, as follows:
- Effective 60 days from the date of this letter decision, neither Bell Canada, Cogeco, nor any other LECs or carrier ISPs will be permitted to provide services to any new customer, regardless of whether the customer is a new or a current resident of the MDUs.
- Effective 75 days from the date of this letter decision, neither Bell Canada, Cogeco, nor any other LECs or carrier ISPs will be permitted to modify or upgrade the services being provided to an existing resident and customer of the MDUs.
- If access is not granted within 90 days from the date of this letter decision, the Commission will explore all regulatory options, including issuing an order under section 42 of the Act and issuing a decision that could result in all LECs and carrier ISPs present in the MDUs not being permitted to provide any services to the residents of the MDUs.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Suneil Kanjeekal, Director, Telecommunications, at Suneil.Kanjeekal@crtc.gc.ca.
Sincerely,
Marc Morin
Secretary General and Executive Vice-President
c.c.:
Philippe Gauvin, Bell Canada, bell.regulatory@bell.ca
Toby Harper-Merrett, Cogeco Connexion Inc., Toby.Harper-Merrett@cogeco.com
Leila Wright, Vice-President, Telecommunications, CRTC, Leila.Wright@crtc.gc.ca
Noah Moser, Acting Director General, Telecommunications, CRTC, Noah.Moser@crtc.gc.ca
Suneil Kanjeekal, Director, Telecommunications, CRTC, Suneil.Kanjeekal@crtc.gc.ca
- Date modified: