ARCHIVED - Transcript, Hearing 27 October 2011
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Volume 4, 27 October 2011
TRANSCRIPTION OF PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE CANADIAN RADIO-TELEVISION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
SUBJECT:
Proceeding to review network interconnection matters
HELD AT:
Outaouais Room
Conference Centre
140 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec
27 October 2011
Transcription
In order to meet the requirements of the Official Languages Act, transcripts of proceedings before the Commission will be bilingual as to their covers, the listing of the CRTC members and staff attending the public hearings, and the Table of Contents.
However, the aforementioned publication is the recorded verbatim transcript and, as such, is taped and transcribed in either of the official languages, depending on the language spoken by the participant at the public hearing.
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
Transcription
Proceeding to review network interconnection matters
BEFORE:
Konrad von FinckensteinChairperson
Len KatzCommissioner
Timothy DentonCommissioner
Suzanne LamarreCommissioner
Candice MolnarCommissioner
ALSO PRESENT:
Cindy VenturaSecretary
Alastair StewartLegal Counsel
Anthony McIntyreLegal Counsel
Robert MartinHearing Manager and Manager, Telecommunications Policy
HELD AT:
Outaouais Room
Conference Centre
140 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau, Quebec
27 October 2011
- iv -
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE / PARA
APPEARING ITEMS
PHASE I
PRESENTATIONS
APPEARING INDIVIDUALLY
13. Shaw Communications Inc.639 / 3787
14. Public Mobile Inc.675 / 4020
16. Mobilicity698 / 4156
Gatineau, Quebec
--- Upon resuming on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 0904
3782 LE PRÉSIDENT : Bonjour.
3783 Madame la Secrétaire, commençons.
3784 LA SECRÉTAIRE : Merci, Monsieur le Président et bonjour.
3785 We will start today with the presentation by Shaw Communications Inc.
3786 Please introduce yourselves for the record, after which you will have 20 minutes for your presentation. Thank you.
PRESENTATION
3787 MR. BRAZEAU: Thank you.
3788 Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the panel. I am Jean Brazeau, Senior Vice-President of Regulatory Affairs at Shaw Communications.
3789 I am joined today by my colleagues:
3790 - Dave Dykstra, Director, Telecommunications Systems, on my right;
3791 - Paul Cowling, Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs, on my left;
3792 - behind me is Brian Monroe, Senior Manager, Voice Networks, and Esther Snow, Manager, Regulatory Affairs.
3793 As the Commission is aware, Shaw is a large CLEC with over 1.2 million local exchange customers. We have been providing local exchange service for over six years in five provinces. Shaw is an industry leader in the use of IP voice networks. One hundred percent of our voice traffic within our network is IP and we have successfully established IP-based interconnections with several carriers in North America.
3794 In this consultation, the Commission has asked the industry to consider and propose changes to the interconnection regime in order to enhance competition and thus benefit consumers.
3795 Over the past several years, we have faced a number of challenges under the current interconnection regime. Often, ILEC interconnections that could be completed in months took years as a result of unnecessary delays. That experience certainly informed our perspective on this consultation, but we are here to ask the Commission to consider the present and future, not the past.
3796 In its review, the Commission must focus on the fact that one of the Government's core policy objectives is to make Canada a global leader in the digital economy by driving the adoption of new technology.
3797 In this context, the Commission must bring more flexibility to the current rules and their bias towards TDM interconnection, which is yesterday's technology.
3798 More specifically, the key changes that Shaw proposes are the following:
3799 - The Commission should mandate a shared-cost IP interconnection regime that provides Canadian carriers with the right to interconnect their voice IP networks to those of any other Canadian carrier.
3800 - Voice IP traffic should be exchanged over shared cost facilities on a bill-and-keep basis.
3801 - Carriers should be responsible for converting the traffic that terminates on their respective networks, when necessary.
3802 - All LECs should be in a position to accept requests for IP interconnection within six months of the Commission's decision in this consultation, and we believe interconnections could be completed within one year from receipt of a request.
3803 - Interconnection areas should be consolidated. There could be as few as two points of interconnection per ILEC per province. Even without mandated IP interconnection, the existing LIR boundaries must be expanded.
3804 We turn now to the specific questions the Commission raised in its letter of October 12.
3805 - Does the natural evolution from circuit-switched to IP interconnection facilities require regulatory intervention?
3806 Despite the fact that all parties to this proceeding have recognized that IP is the future for our industry, IP interconnection with ILECs is rare in Canada. Unfortunately, market forces are not driving migration to IP interconnection at a rate consistent with IP's prominence. This is because of the entrenched role of TDM interconnection as well as the ILECs' inertia and incentive to preserve this regime. This stalemate hinders competition and prejudices the rollout of IP technology.
3807 IP interconnection embraces and encourages IP's potential for innovation and thereby promotes Canada's digital economy in accordance with the government's goals. As noted in the government's Digital Economy Consultation Paper, next-generation networks provide "dramatic improvements in speed, functionality and integration of services."
3808 Dave.
3809 MR. DYKSTRA: Furthermore, IP interconnection will result in a cascade of efficiencies for all carriers, including lower trunking, routing, maintenance and repair costs. It also translates into more efficient competitive entry in all markets, including rural areas. This benefits consumers in the form of more competition and choice in all markets and more efficient telecommunications networks.
3810 In their submissions, the ILECs do not dispute the fact that eventually IP interconnection will displace TDM. Instead, their opposition is focused on timing. The ILECs assert that the industry's transition to IP interconnection should proceed on a timetable dictated by them. In the meantime, the ILECs do not have sufficient incentive to ensure that competitors can take full advantage of the IP platform.
3811 Given the critical importance of accelerating the transition to IP interconnection, progress must not depend on the willingness or incentive of ILECs to negotiate. Shaw submits that a transition on this basis has been and will continue to be much too slow. The lack of progress to date provides solid support for Shaw's position.
3812 Even though the CISC IP Interconnection Guidelines were approved by the Commission in 2009, there is no evidence that ILECs are willing to move to an IP-based interconnection regime. If these delays persist, there will be considerable costs to the industry and the economy in the form of inefficiencies and lost innovation.
3813 - Should the Commission mandate IP-based network interconnection and establish basic rules or should it be commercially driven?
3814 The Commission must mandate IP interconnection. This would move us beyond the stalemate that we have just described and accelerate the industry's natural transition to IP, which is the foundation of our digital economy.
3815 The current TDM regime is not technologically or competitively neutral because it clearly favours the ILECs' legacy networks over those of competitors whose voice networks are predominantly IP-based.
3816 In contrast, our IP interconnection proposal is neutral because virtually all carriers are using IP in their voice networks and agree that IP interconnection will be the default in the future.
3817 In addition, we are not advocating a mandated phase-out of TDM interconnection. We believe TDM and IP interconnections can coexist.
3818 One of the ILECs' criticisms of mandated IP interconnection is that it would impose onerous costs on the ILECs. However, IP interconnections are far more cost-efficient for ILECs and CLECs alike. At the same time, IP-based carriers should not be forced to invest in outdated TDM technologies.
3819 Under the current regime, carriers are required to interconnect at each LIR. However, these LIRs are not appropriate for IP-based networks because they are unnecessarily small and require numerous interconnection points that are costly to both interconnecting carriers.
3820 An IP interconnection regime would allow for significant consolidation of interconnection areas, which would reduce costs for all carriers. We believe as few as two points of interconnection per ILEC per province would be sufficient.
3821 Even if the Commission chooses to refrain from mandating IP interconnection at this time, existing LIRs should be reviewed for consolidation into larger TDM interconnection areas.
3822 MR. COWLING:
3823 - To what extent, if any, should the Commission forbear from the regulation of network interconnection for voice services? If so, under what conditions and within which timeframe would it be appropriate for the Commission to forbear under the Telecommunications Act and consistent with the Policy Direction?
3824 As several other parties to this proceeding have noted, the Act requires that the Commission only exercise its forbearance power in circumstances where there is sufficient competition to protect the interests of users. That is not the case today for voice network interconnection services.
3825 Currently, ILECs provide the only efficient means of access to the PSTN because of the ubiquity of their networks and their interconnection arrangements with all LECs. The record of this proceeding shows that the industry is struggling to move forward with IP in the face of resistance from ILECs. However, even after a mandated IP interconnection regime has matured, the Commission would need to find evidence of a proven and efficient substitute to any given interconnection service before it forbears.
3826 Some ILECs have asserted that the Commission should immediately forbear from TDM interconnection if mandated IP interconnection is implemented. This proposal disregards the fact that certain services, namely 9-1-1 and IXC, would still need to interconnect on a TDM basis and that certain carriers may still need to establish TDM interconnections. We believe the most neutral approach is for TDM and IP to exist in parallel as the industry transitions to IP interconnection.
3827 - Should wireless carriers be treated as equal carriers with the ILECs and therefore be entitled to shared-cost interconnection with bill and keep, and if so, under what terms and conditions?
3828 Wireless carriers should be treated as equal carriers with LECs under our proposed IP interconnection regime and they should be entitled to shared-cost interconnection with bill and keep.
3829 In Shaw's view, the current wireless interconnection regime is out of step with the reality that a substantial amount of voice traffic is terminated on wireless networks. Shaw does not believe that wireless carriers should be required to offer equal access to interexchange carriers in order to be treated as peers for interconnection purposes.
3830 - What measures need to be taken to ensure that wireless carriers have the same benefits and obligations regardless of whether they are independent or part of a vertically integrated telecommunications entity?
3831 There is no need to apply distinct obligations or exemptions based on whether a wireless carrier is part of a corporate group that provides other telecommunications services.
3832 - Would it be appropriate for the Commission to forbear from regulating wireless access service, and if so, what criteria should be applied?
3833 As we noted previously, the statutory test for forbearance requires the Commission to find, based on established facts, that competition will protect the interests of users. Shaw does not believe that this is the case for wireless access service.
3834 Finally, with respect to the Commission's proposed modifications to the existing wireless interconnection rules in small ILEC territories, we do not believe they are necessary or appropriate.
3835 MR. BRAZEAU: In conclusion, the Commission should promote and facilitate the adoption of IP technologies for the future of Canada's digital economy. We believe IP interconnection is critical to fully realize the potential of IP voice networks. Yet, we are unable to overcome the ILECs' insufficient willingness and incentive to move forward with IP interconnections.
3836 Limiting mandated interconnection to TDM will force us to continue allocating scarce resources to TDM at the expense of rolling out next-generation services, which favours the ILECs over carriers whose networks are predominantly IP. This is inconsistent with the Commission's mandate regarding interconnection under the Policy Direction to balance the interests of all carriers and enable competition from new technologies.
3837 In contrast, if the Commission adopts Shaw's interconnection proposal, this would accelerate the industry's transition to IP, thereby freeing up investment resources, encouraging innovation, reducing costs and increasing efficiencies for all carriers, all of which will provide considerable benefits to consumers.
3838 This concludes our remarks. We are certainly open to your questions.
3839 THE CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much. A very succinct and concise presentation.
3840 Your suggestion on interconnection for IP, is it just -- there are no conditions? We heard from both Rogers and Cogeco who sort of put a little rider on it, Cogeco more than Rogers, that basically where you are capable of interconnecting. I think Cogeco said where you already are providing interconnection for IXC carriers or for your own wireless or whatever.
3841 If I understood you correctly, you basically say mandate it and it will happen. There's no precondition?
3842 MR. BRAZEAU: Well, I think that's correct.
3843 What we are recommending is for mandated negotiations and I think we can negotiate these -- most of these issues. And I think the roadmap -- the Commission may be able to provide some parts of the roadmap, but I think we can, through negotiations, complete that roadmap.
3844 And we believe that most of the carriers are already there, already have IP, and because we're looking at a very few interconnections per province, I think we could get there fairly easily and cost-effectively for both carriers.
3845 THE CHAIRPERSON: But your opening assumption is they are all there, they can provide IP-to-IP interconnection, they're just not doing it in order to protect their investment in TDM?
3846 MR. BRAZEAU: I am not sure what the logic is, and Dave may want to add to this, but certainly, we believe that they're all IP-based and they could do IP interconnections today.
3847 MR. DYKSTRA: Today in the business world we're selling IP business phone service, we're using it internally in our networks. The investment is already being made. They are delivering IP. We simply want to take advantage of the economies of scale and be able to interconnect at them so that our customers can take advantage of IP advances.
3848 THE CHAIRPERSON: On the data side, they use IP interconnection already?
3849 MR. DYKSTRA: Yes.
3850 THE CHAIRPERSON: Now, the other point you made was consolidation of the LIRs.
3851 Are you suggesting that we basically set rules for minimal points of interconnection or are you suggesting it should be an industry process or sort of be this process or how do we get -- I mean I think this week everybody agrees with you there are too many LIRs, but how do we get there, what's the process that you suggest we adopt here?
3852 MR. COWLING: Well, under an IP interconnection regime, we think it's almost self-evident that it would be -- it could be one or two POIs per province per ILEC.
3853 If we're talking about the current --
3854 THE CHAIRPERSON: Let's assume it's IP, let's assume we take your suggestion and mandate IP, you say it's self-evident, it may not be self-evident to the ILECs, so therefore how do we get there?
3855 MR. COWLING: Well, I think it could be -- it certainly could be confirmed through an industry process.
3856 But I just wanted to also make the point that if we're consolidating the POIs under the existing TDM regime, then I think it's a question of reviewing the network architecture and updating the LIRs to reflect those updates.
3857 THE CHAIRPERSON: But I'm a regulator, I feel somewhat ill at ease telling Bell, you know, your network isn't as efficient, you don't need 20 LIRs, you can live with five or whatever. So how do we get there?
3858 MR. COWLING: Right. I guess that would be part of the review that I would be suggesting, is that you would be reviewing the ILECs' network architecture to update it since the last review, which took place, I think, prior to 2004.
3859 THE CHAIRPERSON: But a review means we start a process and at the end of the day we impose?
3860 MR. COWLING: That's correct.
3861 THE CHAIRPERSON: That's what you're suggesting. Okay, thank you.
3862 Suzanne, you have some questions?
3863 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: I have a few questions. Thank you very much.
3864 Starting off with a point of clarification, throughout your presentation and also your submission you use the words "consumers" and "users." Are they interchangeable?
3865 MR. BRAZEAU: Yes.
3866 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: Yes, they are. Okay. I'm just making sure that "users" did not mean other carriers in your submission.
3867 Now, you're asking us to mandate and you're actually going as far as suggesting some timelines. So let's look at that.
3868 On page 2 of your presentation you say that if we were to mandate IP interconnection that an ILEC should be in a position to accept requests for IP interconnection within six months of the Commission's decision. So that's the first timeline. And you believe that interconnection could be completed within one year from receipt of a request.
3869 Now, how did you arrive at those timelines and how do they factor in the volume? Like if it's just Shaw coming out within six months with a request to TELUS or Bell, maybe we could expect that, but if it's not just Shaw, if it's everybody and their brother that comes in with requests, how are we going to manage that?
3870 MR. BRAZEAU: Well, as we mentioned earlier in our opening remarks, we've had quite a bit of experience negotiating interconnection arrangements. In B.C. and Alberta, I think we negotiated something like 35 of these arrangements. So we have some experience and we understand what the timelines are under that regime.
3871 We think that the IP regime for interconnection is well known. We've done it. We're not reinventing the wheel here. So, you know, given that experience, I think the timelines that we are proposing are reasonable, but, you know, these timelines can certainly be revisited.
3872 And the reason why we're suggesting that the Commission needs to get involved here is that, again, in our experience in negotiating TDM interconnections, we found ourselves in a situation where all the timelines are dictated by the ILEC and we really don't have a lot of say in those timelines, and we just want to make sure that we have a more equal role in establishing the timelines and ensuring that there's efficient use of resources and we can do this as quickly as possible.
3873 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: So if you say that you would want an increased role in setting the timelines, would you be willing to consider that the timeline actually be negotiated and justified, like explained? Because, you know, in some cases eight months may make sense, in other cases two years would still be a stretch.
3874 MR. BRAZEAU: We understand that. We understand there's always resource constraints, et cetera. So I think your suggestion would certainly be a reasonable suggestion.
3875 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: At the same time you make the point that TDM interconnection is yesterday's technology. At one point in time IP is also going to be -- in the future IP is going to be the future's yesterday's technology. I'm sure you get what I'm saying here.
3876 So it's yesterday's technology but it's still working today and massive investments have been made so that the voice interconnection is done properly for the benefit of all citizens in Canada, and we have to balance it out, as you so rightly pointed out at the end of your presentation, we have to balance out the interests of all carriers.
3877 How can we be so sure that the expense that is going to be put out by the fact that we may be retiring working equipment sooner than the end of its natural life is going to be balanced out by savings or by improved efficiencies?
3878 MR. BRAZEAU: Certainly the equipment we are talking about is equipment that was introduced in 1992 as a result of the Commission's decision on IXC competition. So we are assuming that most of these costs have been recovered by now.
3879 But if they are a stranded investment, that is part of our business. All of us experience stranded investment. We are experiencing stranded investment in the TDM technology -- or equipment that we need to buy.
3880 So I think it is just part of doing business in the business we are in.
3881 I think that Cogeco, yesterday, was mentioning about the efficiencies and the cost savings, for both sides, with fewer interconnections and with IP interconnection. So, if you did a cost-benefit analysis of those efficiencies and those cost savings, I think they would probably overwhelm any stranded investment or anything like that that the incumbents would have to face as a result of this.
3882 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: So there is partly a leap of faith still in this.
3883 MR. BRAZEAU: No, I think we understand what the costs are for connecting at the IP, and if you consolidated the interconnections to two per province versus the 30-odd that we have today --
3884 In order to have the last 5 percent of our customer base interconnected, we still need to do something like 14 interconnections. So all of that is very, very costly for both sides.
3885 I think the efficiencies are there. I don't think it's a leap of faith at all.
3886 MR. DYKSTRA: I would like to add, as well, that if we go to the smaller points of interconnect, say, two per province, it really allows us to build gateways between each other, and it doesn't force the ILECs themselves to have to go out and replace all of the equipment that lies within their architecture.
3887 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: When we are talking about taking full advantage of the IP platform -- and it was through your submissions, your presentation this morning -- keeping in mind that what we are mandating at this point in time, and what we are looking at -- looking forward, we are still talking just about voice. But when we talk about the full advantage of the IP platform, and the industry's natural transition to IP, which is the foundation of our digital economy -- and I don't disagree at all -- aren't we, at a certain degree, falling into -- on confound les genres un peu?
3888 Isn't there confusion here?
3889 Because, basically, we are mixing the issues. It is obvious that going toward IP interconnection -- all of the benefit is not just going to be for voice, it's going to be for much more than that, and it is going to be at a cost for the system.
3890 So, should we really be looking at that at this point in time, or should we just be forbearing from all of it and let the industry take care of it?
3891 MR. BRAZEAU: That's a tough question.
3892 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: The answer is tougher.
3893 MR. BRAZEAU: We don't even have one IP interconnection in Canada with the ILECs, so I think that forbearance is a little premature right now. Let's put that aside for now.
3894 And Dave can add to this.
3895 I think there are a slew of services out there that will be IP-based that are voice driven -- HD voice, high-quality conference calling, et cetera -- that are there for -- once we roll out an IP platform.
3896 So I think the innovations will certainly be there, and I think the benefits to consumers will be significant.
3897 Also, if you can reduce the interconnection cost -- whatever costs we have to bear are passed on to consumers. When there are savings, consumers benefit also.
3898 So I think it is time for us to move forward. I think all we need here is a little nudge, because everybody's network is moving to an IP platform.
3899 I think all that is really required from the Commission is a little nudge to say: Guys, you have to sit down, you have to negotiate, and you can't take five years to do that, you have to do it within a reasonable timeframe.
3900 I think, at the end of the day, that is all we are asking for.
3901 MR. DYKSTRA: With respect to the services, it is more than just voice, it is the next generation of voice, which converges different services with it.
3902 So, as we move to that IP world, like Jean said, high-quality video calling -- there is video calling on Apple iPods and iPhones today. We would like to see where we would extend that: I can do that from my home, and it's not Skype quality, it's toll quality voice and toll quality video.
3903 So, when we talk about the services, that's what we see moving forward.
3904 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: As to the question regarding wireless, forbearing from regulating wireless access services, at paragraph 22 you mention that the test for forbearance requires that the Commission finds, based on established facts, that competition will protect the interests of users, and you do not believe this is the case right now.
3905 So, in your opinion, what specific facts should we be looking for in order to come to the conclusion that the users are currently protected or not?
3906 MR. COWLING: The service that we are talking about is a network interconnection service.
3907 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: Yes.
3908 MR. COWLING: And I think the proposal, or the argument that was made for forbearance by the ILECs on this one was, if you have a CLEC present in the market, then that would be sufficient evidence, I suppose, of market forces protecting the user, so that you could forbear.
3909 In our view, that would not be sufficient evidence, because, as we have pointed out elsewhere in the presentation, the ILECs still provide a single point of access, which is really the only efficient and economical way of accessing the PSTN, and it would be unreasonable, and it would not protect the users, to require a new CLEC entering the market to go around interconnection arrangements with all of the other CLECs, when it would have this efficient means of accessing the PSTN through the ILEC.
3910 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: What would be sufficient?
3911 MR. COWLING: What would be sufficient is an economically viable alternative to that efficient access to the PSTN.
3912 MR. BRAZEAU: What we are envisioning here is that there might be some CLECs, once IP interconnection is well established, that could provide that kind of universal access to the PSTN for other parties.
3913 So I think that as we roll out IP interconnection, some CLECs might think that's a business they want to be in.
3914 So I think that is when the Commission could be pretty confident that consumers would be well protected, if there is a second party providing similar types of services, or access to the PSTN down the road.
3915 I think that will evolve. I think that will evolve with the IP interconnection.
3916 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: So, at this point in time, you cannot tell me with certainty what you would like to see as a test, as opposed to what the ILEC is proposing as a test.
3917 MR. BRAZEAU: I think you already have a test. All we are suggesting is, let's use that test.
3918 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: Okay. My mistake.
3919 Those are all my questions. Thank you.
3920 THE CHAIRPERSON: Len...
3921 COMMISSIONER KATZ: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
3922 Good morning. I think you have already answered the first part of this question. In paragraph 2 you indicate that you have successfully established IP-based interconnections with several carriers in North America.
3923 I was going to ask you whether any are in Canada. I think I heard you say a minute ago that there are none?
3924 MR. DYKSTRA: One is in Canada.
3925 COMMISSIONER KATZ: One is in Canada.
3926 MR. BRAZEAU: The none was ILECs.
3927 COMMISSIONER KATZ: And that one in Canada is working well?
3928 MR. DYKSTRA: Yes.
3929 COMMISSIONER KATZ: How long has it been in operation?
3930 MR. DYKSTRA: Six months.
3931 COMMISSIONER KATZ: Are you on compatible technologies?
3932 We heard yesterday -- I think it was Cogeco saying that they interconnect, as well, on an IP basis, and one of the parties has a softswitch from Nortel and one has a Cisco.
3933 Are you on a similar platform or different platforms?
3934 MR. DYKSTRA: Internally, in our network, we have two different softswitches. As, I believe, Cogeco or Vidéotron mentioned yesterday, they use the session border controllers, sort of that IP gateway that does any conversions necessary between different platforms.
3935 COMMISSIONER KATZ: Do you use the same session border controllers?
3936 MR. DYKSTRA: Yes, we do.
3937 COMMISSIONER KATZ: And you have had no problems?
3938 MR. DYKSTRA: No.
3939 COMMISSIONER KATZ: Do the optional services, the value-added services, all work equally well?
3940 MR. DYKSTRA: To date, from the value add, we haven't done a lot. We have been up and operational for over a year using the session border controllers with other carriers.
3941 COMMISSIONER KATZ: In your presentation this morning you moved toward the digital economy and the government's agenda with regard to the digital economy and suggested that the evolution toward IP will actually help to enhance that initiative.
3942 Are you aware of any correlation that exists in the U.S. or elsewhere between the evolution toward an IP regime and the success in the digital economy and the strengthening of innovation and creativity by virtue of that?
3943 MR. BRAZEAU: If I could point to a study? No.
3944 But I think it is self-evident that -- and we talked about a few of the services that could be rolled out in an IP environment, where, for a business user, there would be significant gains in efficiency.
3945 I think it is pretty self-evident that it would certainly reinforce the move to the digital economy.
3946 COMMISSIONER KATZ: I note your notion about efficiencies, as well, and I was commenting to somewhere earlier that in the old days, whenever we would make an awful lot of these statements in previous Commission proceedings, there would be a slew of analyses done, with cost benefits, improving economics and everything. Now we tend to take things at face value.
3947 The statements you are making, for example, in paragraph 13, about the cost efficiencies for ILECs and CLECs, alike, that would be borne by a rapid transition to IP, is that just your gut feeling, or have you seen studies, or have you done some analysis to substantiate these statements?
3948 MR. DYKSTRA: If we go to the previous statements about the number of LIRs that we have had to interconnect to, there is lots of network that has to go in, there is lots of time and effort that both the ILECs and we put in to get those turned up and running.
3949 If we moved to a more simplified model that was IP, we could use existing fibre facilities, and then it would just be a matter of configuring new equipment to turn up different accesses in different LIRs.
3950 So that, in itself, to us, shows the cost savings, from an equipment perspective and from a manpower perspective.
3951 COMMISSIONER KATZ: Remind me, how did we get to the multiple LIR infrastructure?
3952 Was that something that the ILECs did on their own? Was that a construct of the CRTC, in concert with parties?
3953 How did we get to all of these multiple ones that you now want to consolidate?
3954 MR. BRAZEAU: I think it was the latter, and it was based on the network configurations of the ILEC.
3955 I think it was pointed out earlier, too, that new entrants wanted multiple POIs in order to reduce transport costs, things of that nature, because leasing circuits and trunks was expensive.
3956 So I think it was a combination of those elements that created the regime that we are currently in.
3957 COMMISSIONER KATZ: So a number of years ago, in order to facilitate competition, we created multiple POIs, and now that we have a lot of competition and we can become more efficient, we are looking at consolidating those.
3958 Is that right?
3959 MR. BRAZEAU: That is part of it, but, also, there have been significant changes in consumer demand, and also in technology. This IP technology is having a huge impact on all of us.
3960 COMMISSIONER KATZ: My last question. In paragraph 4 you make the statement that the Commission must bring more flexibility to the current rules and their bias toward TDM interconnection.
3961 I always thought that the Commission was technologically neutral.
3962 What gives you the impression that we have a bias toward TDM?
3963 MR. BRAZEAU: Maybe that was a poor choice of words.
3964 What we meant is that, today, TDM is the standard, and that's how we interconnect today. We would just like to broaden that to say TDM and IP.
3965 COMMISSIONER KATZ: Thank you, those are my questions.
3966 THE CHAIRPERSON: Tim...
3967 COMMISSIONER DENTON: Good morning.
3968 Hi, Jean.
--- Laughter
3969 COMMISSIONER DENTON: There has been some talk of stranded investment, but I sort of had a brain flash that really what you are asking for is that the translation job of IP to TDM be done by the party receiving the IP traffic, and behind that translator they can have all of the obsolescent TDM they want. Right?
3970 So you are not asking for a replacement. What is implied by what you are asking for is not a replacement of TDM on some accelerated schedule, it is that the costs of translation be borne by those who persist in using TDM.
3971 MR. BRAZEAU: Yes, and nor do we need fibre to the home, so you are right.
3972 COMMISSIONER DENTON: Okay. That's it. Thank you.
3973 THE CHAIRPERSON: Candice...
3974 COMMISSIONER MOLNAR: I just want to make sure that I understand. You had proposed here mandating IP interconnection, accept interconnections within six months, enable them within a year. Then I heard you say: Well, we just want you to give them a nudge.
3975 Those don't seem to align, in my view, as to whether or not this is a nudge or this is a real heavy push.
3976 We have had other parties here -- virtually everybody agrees that IP interconnection is the way of the future, and that we need to get there.
3977 So it is a question for me as to what is the most reasonable means of getting there.
3978 And, from a regulator's perspective, what is our role in getting the industry there.
3979 We have some parties who suggest that enabling voluntary negotiations for IP-to-IP interconnection is a good first step.
3980 If we made it clear that IP interconnections were both enabled and encouraged, and as a first step we would like to see what the industry could negotiate, what do you think of that as an alternative to mandating in the timeframes that you have suggested?
3981 MR. BRAZEAU: I certainly think it is a good start. The only caveat that I would provide is that, again, our experience in negotiating our interconnections has been, at times, frustrating, again because we have very little control over the timelines.
3982 If, somehow, there could be some assurances that this was not going to drag out forever, then I think we are certainly prepared to have those discussions and negotiations.
3983 That would be the only caveat that I would put out there.
3984 COMMISSIONER MOLNAR: So if that was combined with a follow-up that said that within -- and we have heard timeframes of two years to two and a half years, that that would be a good time to re-look this and look at the progress that has been made by the industry.
3985 What do you think about something like that, that we enable this timeframe within which industry participants can seek to negotiate arrangements?
3986 Potentially, with that, as well, you could seek to negotiate what are the most reasonable POIs amongst yourselves, instead of us mandating new points of interconnection, and see where that could go over a timeframe.
3987 I am interested in your thoughts on that timeframe, as well as -- is that enough of a spur to see what could happen?
3988 MR. BRAZEAU: What if, in two and a half years, there is still no interconnection?
3989 I mean, that would be a very big concern of ours.
3990 I think we have provided some reasonable timelines. Can we revisit those and have some flexibility there? Sure, but just to leave it to best efforts and hope for the best -- again, we have experienced this in the past, and it is very challenging -- very, very challenging.
3991 Again, I am not trying to say that there is some conspiracy to keep us out of the market. I think it is more corporate inertia than anything else.
3992 We just need to move beyond that.
3993 COMMISSIONER MOLNAR: Just tell me, then -- you said that you have proposed reasonable timeframes. So you think that six months is the timeframe within which we should let the markets try to negotiate?
3994 Is that what you are saying?
3995 What is that reasonable timeframe, and what is the step that you would have us, as a regulator, do? Is there something that you want us to do -- have reports -- report these interconnection arrangements to us, report the status of negotiations?
3996 What is it that we can do without jumping in and mandating and directing this ourselves?
3997 MR. BRAZEAU: I think that there is a process for TDM interconnection, there are tariffs, there are whole procedures. I think that the system is there, now we need to incorporate the possibility of IP interconnection into that system.
3998 I don't think there needs to be a whole slew of changes here, except to say that this will apply not only for TDM interconnection, but it will also apply for IP interconnection.
3999 THE CHAIRPERSON: Let me follow that up and come at it from a different point of view.
4000 There is a natural disincentive for ILECs to do this, because they have stranded investment, et cetera -- and to do it at their pace, et cetera.
4001 You want to do it now and, as you pointed out, it makes sense in terms of getting Canada, as a nation, to the digital age, et cetera.
4002 How could one incentivize the ILECs to do this faster?
4003 Because you are saying: Mandate them and let them eat the cost of the stranded investment.
4004 That's what it boils down to.
4005 And, obviously, they are going to drag it out and do it as slowly as possible. They will do it at the rate that makes sense for them, from their perspective, not from Shaw's.
4006 Have you given any thought to how one could build an incentive into it, besides mandating, so that Bell could say, "Hey, there is actually something in it for us, so let's do it faster," or TELUS, or whoever the ILEC is?
4007 MR. BRAZEAU: I haven't given a lot of thought to how you could use a carrot versus a stick.
4008 I think that there are certainly internal incentives for them to move to IP as quickly as possible, as we start rolling out products and services that are IP-based and that customers really want.
4009 So I think that there is a market incentive for them to roll out more IP technology.
4010 As for interconnection, again, our experience has been fairly frustrating to try to negotiate these agreements, and we don't see that changing, unfortunately.
4011 THE CHAIRPERSON: I would ask you and everybody over the weekend to think about that, because I think we have very nicely isolated what the issue is and what are the possible solutions, but, as always, we try to find something that is fair for everybody, not just one side.
4012 Thank you very much.
4013 Before we move on to the next intervenor, let's take a five-minute break.
--- Upon recessing at 0948
--- Upon resuming at 0959
4014 THE CHAIRPERSON: Okay. Before we start I have been asked to make the following clarification which I find strange, but anyway. We asked for information requirements from all parties.
4015 So Madam Secretary, to CLECs I said "No, LECs", L-E-Cs. LECs includes SILECs in my view. Apparently some people have had doubts. So the information requirements that we asked applies to all LECs. I hope this clarifies the matter now.
4016 So commençons, Madam Secretary.
4017 THE SECRETARY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
4018 We will now proceed with the presentation by Public Mobile Inc.
4019 Please introduce yourselves for the record, after which you will have 20 minutes for your presentation. Thank you.
PRESENTATION
4020 MR. BORON: Thank you, Madam Secretary.
4021 Good morning Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, and Commission staff.
4022 Public Mobile is pleased to participate in this consultation before the Commission related to important matters concerning the interconnection of telecommunications networks. My name is Bob Boron, and I am Vice President of Legal & Regulatory Affairs at Public Mobile.
4023 With me today is Brian O'Shaughnessy, to my right, our Chief Technical Officer and Vice President of Network.
4024 Supporting us are Tony McCarthy, Manager of Inter-Carrier Operations, Jamie Greenberg, Manager of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, and Sharon Ledwell, our Consultant on this matter.
4025 By way of introduction, Public Mobile is a wireless telecommunications carrier offering voice, text and data services in Canada's two largest markets. We operate as an independent wireless service provider, or WSP. We adhere to the terms and conditions of the WSP interconnection regime mandated by the Commission.
4026 In 2008, Public Mobile acquired 10 MHz of PCS spectrum covering about 19 million Canadians in Ontario and Quebec. We currently provide wireless coverage in the Greater Toronto and Greater Montreal Areas. We have plans to eventually build out much more extensively within our licensed territory.
4027 We provide services on a simple unlimited, pay-in-advance basis with no term contracts. We offer mobile phone service to Canadians who never before had reasonable access, without risking their pay cheque.
4028 Companies like Public Mobile have, in a very short period of time, stimulated market growth and driven significant price reductions. Our presence has without doubt supported the Commission's objective to ensure reliable and affordable wireless services for Canadians.
4029 In this presentation, we will submit that:
4030 - The Commission maintain its "light touch" to the regulation of the wireless market;
4031 - The Commission mandate the development of IP tariffs to ensure a timely evolution to IP-based interconnection;
4032 - The Commission continue its regulatory oversight of wireless interconnection services, whether in the context of wireless access service or IP tariffs, and;
4033 - The Commission modify the WSP regime to address issues of fairness and competitive equity by leveling the playing field vis-à-vis the benefits currently enjoyed by the vertically-integrated carriers.
4034 Public Mobile will address the issues set out in the Notice of Consultation and the Commission's October 12th letter in light of the inadequacies of the current regime and the government's policy direction to the Commission.
4035 We submit that the Commission's light touch to the regulation of the wireless should continue because to do otherwise, particularly for new wireless entrants who do not have market power, would be contradictory to current policy. Equal access and other CLEC Obligations need not be mandated for WSPs. Doing so would only serve to impose additional regulatory costs on wireless entrants and would offer no new benefits to consumers.
4036 We propose that the Commission mandate IP interconnection to ensure a timely evolution to IP, which is where the rest of the developed world has gone or is going quickly. We will also comment on the detrimental effect that forbearance of WSP interconnection would have at this juncture.
4037 The current WSP regime no longer reflects current market conditions. It perpetuates inequities as between independent and affiliated WSPs which are not justified or supported by public policy. Rather than consolidating the LEC and WSP regimes, we propose modifying the WSP regime so that interconnection costs are shared equally. That would serve two purposes.
4038 First, it would remove a loophole and create a level playing field for independent WSPs relative to affiliated WSPs.
4039 Second, it would remove the implicit subsidy that WSPs provide to LECs.
4040 This pernicious situation is an unintended artefact of an antiquated regime which should not be maintained. Making this change would allow wireless entrants to direct more investment towards expanding network reach, enhancing service and price innovation, and enabling greater competition at the low end of the market.
4041 As one of only two independent WSPs participating in this consultation, Public Mobile's perspective on the current regulatory regime is different than at least some WSPs operating within vertically-integrated companies.
4042 In our view, the current regime where WSPs pay 100 percent of the interconnection costs, including 100 percent of costs required to terminate LEC and affiliated WSP-originated traffic, is not equitable. It has resulted in an implicit subsidization of LECs by WSPs. It has also created a loophole where independent WSPs are singled out as the sole class of local carriers unable to share interconnection costs equally.
4043 Given that there is no public policy rationale to support this situation, we submit it is an unintended consequence of an antiquated regime that must be changed. All WSPs should be able to access a shared-cost facilities and bill and keep.
4044 In 1984, the Commission determined that wireless was a specialized, discretionary service. At that time, in a nascent market, wireless carriers connected to ILECs using line-side trunks, shared central office codes administered by the ILECs, and originated far more traffic than they terminated.
4045 Today, WSPs connect using services equivalent to those used by the LECs. They originate and terminate roughly equal amounts of traffic. They obtain their own CO codes, administer their own telephone numbers, and participate in number portability. Independent WSPs therefore connect as peers in all ways -- except economically.
4046 To be frank, under the current regime, independent WSPs are getting hosed.
4047 As noted in paragraph 26 of our intervention, currently WSPs can pay up to 20 times more than LECs for an equivalent interconnection service. This situation is unfair and creates a barrier to competition particularly for WSPs seeking to serve the low end of the market.
4048 Affiliated WSPs, such as Bell, Rogers and TELUS avail themselves of an effective loophole in the current regime by virtue of their integrated operations. The wireless business units of such integrated carriers, which operate under the WSP regime, benefit by taking advantage of a more favourable LEC interconnection regime and cost allocation without adhering to CLEC Obligations.
4049 Any interconnection fees paid by these WSPs to their affiliated LEC business units are effectively intercompany transfers and are neutral on a real cost basis for the integrated enterprise.
4050 Fido is an interesting case study. Microcell received wireless CLEC status for Fido's operations more than 10 years ago. Rogers, since it acquired Fido in 2004, as we understand it, has continued to operate Fido as a CLEC. This has allowed Rogers to leverage the wireless CLEC operations to interconnect its WSP traffic outside its cableco serving territory which gives Rogers an extensive geographic area where its WSP operations has access to the benefits of the LEC interconnection regime.
4051 It is only fair that the WSP regime be modified so that equal sharing of interconnection costs be available to independent WSPs.
4052 With respect to forbearance, it is important to note that Decision 2008-17 made wireless to wireline interconnection mandatory and subject to a Phase II "plus" costing. In Public Mobile's submission there is currently no justification to vary from this determination, whether for wireless access service tariffs or for future IP interconnection tariffs.
4053 Today, vertically-integrated carriers hold about 95 percent of the wireless market. New wireless entrants compete against dominant incumbent wireless carriers whose affiliated ILECs provide about 95 percent of interconnection services to wireless entrants.
4054 Given the market concentration and the dynamic that exist today, and which will continue for some time, it is reasonable to conclude that forbearing would increase costs and complexity of interconnection for wireless entrants to the detriment of consumers.
4055 New entrants have no market power and cannot effectively negotiate reasonable interconnection terms with affiliates of their major and dominant competitors.
4056 The record of this consultation shows that many of the largest CLECs who have integrated wireless business units do not currently offer interconnection services to independent WSPs.
4057 Taking all these circumstances into account, forbearing from regulating interconnection services could have significant negative effects. These would include higher interconnection costs, increased administrative complexities, and perhaps forestalling competitive entry into certain regions altogether.
4058 We submit that the broad regulatory policy and structural issues of the current WSP regime should be resolved before forbearance of interconnection tariffs is considered. Furthermore, regulatory oversight is necessary to manage the potential for integrated carriers to abuse their market power by imposing barriers on wireless entrants.
4059 We submit that the current level of regulation applied to the WSP market is appropriate. Order-in-Council 2006-1534 directs the Commission to rely on market forces to the maximum extent possible, and it would be contrary to the policy direction to impose additional regulation on WSPs.
4060 In this respect many of the CLEC Obligations stem from sections of the Telecommunications Act relating to the filing tariffs and agreements. These need not apply to the wireless market.
4061 There is no public policy justification to require WSPs to support equal access, to file tariffs, or to submit agreements for approval as pre-conditions to accessing a regime with equal sharing of interconnection costs. Public Mobile and other WSPs already adhere to many CLEC obligations, including those respecting issues of customer protection and safety, and we are not suggesting that that should be changed.
4062 Further, no logical or legitimate underpinning exists for a "regulatory bargain" related to the increased regulatory burden of CLEC Obligations in order to access shared-cost facilities and bill and keep. It does not exist.
4063 In Decision 97-8, the Commission decided to provide shared-cost facilities on the basis that it removes barriers to entry by reducing the potential and incentives to inflate costs. Similarly, the Commission deemed that bill and keep removes barriers to entry by reducing administrative costs and complexity related to the billing of interconnection services.
4064 Interestingly, Fido's status as a wireless CLEC is illustrative of why the Commission need not mandate equal access in a revamped WSP regime.
4065 Fido, as a CLEC, has supported equal access since 2001, presumably with significant costs to implement and to support. However, the record of this proceeding indicates that Fido's equal access penetration is only 0.7 percent of its long distance traffic.
4066 Clearly, in an environment of commoditized and bundled long distance, and with the increasing availability of over-the-top domestic and international long distance options, equal access should not be a concern for the Commission in a revamped WSP regime.
4067 By way of example, today any customer of Public Mobile who purchases one of our voice plans (which can purchased for as little as $15 a month) receives free unlimited in province calling, can purchase unlimited domestic calling anywhere else in Canada for $5 per month, and unlimited U.S. long distance anywhere in the U.S. for $10 per month. And we generally offer the lowest international rates of any carrier.
4068 With competition market discipline will protect consumers. A WSP's decision to offer equal access should be a business decision.
4069 Mandating equal access on WSPs would increase the regulatory burden and add costs which would be passed through to customers. Further, independent WSPs have no market power and could never get away with uncompetitive long distance rates.
4070 Public Mobile submits that at the very least any obligation for equal access should be waived for independent WSPs. This matter could be re-evaluated by the Commission in the future if deemed necessary.
4071 At this point, Commissioners, I would now like to hand it over to Brian O'Shaughnessy.
4072 MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY: I would like to address the lack of neutrality in the current interconnection regime which is implicitly biased towards TDM technology.
4073 Public Mobile agrees with the preponderance of intervenor submissions in this proceeding that support the evolution to IP interconnection. The percentage of voice services that utilize IP is large and growing steadily. Most wireless and cableco voice networks are already predominantly IP. The ILECs offer IP-PBX services to business customers and are deploying fibre-to-the-home access technology where voice services are offered via VoIP. Further, IP networks have been deployed to support the large volume of internet traffics to the vast majority of homes and businesses via DOCSIS, various DSL, and fixed wireless or other technologies.
4074 We conservatively estimate that at least 23.5 million, or 53 percent of wireline and wireless subscribers in Canada, are currently IP-enabled.
4075 I would like to bring your attention to Exhibits 1 and 2 that we distributed to the hearing secretary earlier today on those two matters.
4076 With the majority of traffic already being IP-enabled, it is more costly and less efficient for the industry as a whole, to convert such traffic back to TDM at the point of interconnection.
4077 Traffic should be handled through IP interconnection. To do otherwise would mean that carriers and ultimately consumers unnecessarily incur the costs of operating and maintaining dual architectures, being TDM and IP, merely to facilitate PSTN interconnection.
4078 It is worth noting that virtually all of Public Mobile's long distance traffic is connected via IP using a variety of service providers with different vendor equipment. The only traffic on TDM today is local PSTN traffic exchanged with LECs.
4079 The ILECs argue that the trigger for IP interconnection should be their wireline and wireless access technologies upgrades such as fibre-to-the-home and voice over LTE which are required to enable their retail IP services. We submit that waiting for incumbent retail readiness stifles innovation in the market.
4080 In Public Mobile's view we are at the tipping point and the current regime needs to be modified. This will ensure that the industry and consumers benefit from the efficiencies to be gained from IP technology, and avoids Canada falling behind other global carriers given that ILECs in the U.S., Asia and Europe have deployed IP networks with voice over IP as a major part of their service offering.
4081 Currently, no interconnection tariffs exist and bilateral -- no IP interconnection tariffs exist and bilateral agreements exist only for toll services and select wireless interconnections.
4082 To ensure regulatory symmetry, these services should be widely available to all carriers under clear terms and conditions. This is best achieved through the implementation of IP interconnection tariffs which must co-exist with TDM tariffs for a period of time.
4083 To do otherwise would leave Public Mobile and others who have limited negotiating power at the whim of the ILECs as to the terms and timing for the availability for these services.
4084 In conclusion, we respectfully submit:
4085 - That there is no need to increase regulation of WSPs by mandating equal access or other CLEC obligations. Doing so would be unnecessary and contrary to stated policy;
4086 - That it is necessary to mandate the development of IP tariffs to ensure a timely evolution to IP-based interconnection. We propose that the Commission direct the CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee to address any unresolved technical matters and establish clear timelines for the development of the IP tariffs;
4087 - That the Commission continue its regulatory oversight of wireless interconnection services for both wireless access service and IP tariffs, and finally;
4088 - That the Commission modify the WSP regime to address issues of competitive equity by extending shared-cost facilities and bill and keep to independent WSPs, thereby levelling the playing field currently biased toward integrated companies and removing an implicit LEC subsidy.
4089 Before concluding, I would like to point out to the Commission that we have filed with the hearing secretary an exhibit that provides Public Mobile's responses to the questions posed by the Chairman in his opening remarks.
4090 Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman and Commissioners, for the opportunity to present to you today on these important matters. We would be pleased to take any questions you might have.
4091 THE CHAIRPERSON: Thank you. You mentioned that the wireless service providers are treated in a very old-fashioned way as customers, et cetera and you want them to be treated like CLECs.
4092 We have heard here that most wireless service providers have made deals with CLECs to basically get all the benefit of a CLEC without alternate arrangements they usually call it, et cetera.
4093 Have you made such alternate arrangements?
4094 MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY: Public Mobile's interconnection arrangements are that we have deals with LECs today, bilateral deals for interconnection.
4095 We also have arrangements with ILECs for interconnection under tariff purposes.
4096 Then we also have direct arrangements with third party long distance carriers where we connect on an IP basis.
4097 THE CHAIRPERSON: Yeah, but I mean all I was talking about was the WAS. You're not using WAS to interconnect. You couldn't connect with a CLEC, I presume.
4098 MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY: I see. Yes, we have both. We have -- most is through a LEC on a bilateral arrangement.
4099 THE CHAIRPERSON: Right.
4100 MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY: But we also have interconnection with the ILEC.
4101 THE CHAIRPERSON: Okay. In terms of IP interconnection deals you have some right now, I understand, but none with an ILEC. They are all with IXCs. Is that --
4102 MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY: Correct. They are all with long distance carriers whether for domestic, North American or international long distance traffic.
4103 THE CHAIRPERSON: Are there any you have with other wireless carriers?
4104 MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY: No, not at this time.
4105 THE CHAIRPERSON: Okay. You mentioned one thing and we heard that from everybody, that equal access is really yesterday's remedy and doesn't apply to today and shouldn't be imposed upon you. And there are all sorts of other alternate means available.
4106 Just it piqued my curiousity. I always see these ads on TV you know for long distance dial 10-10 and some number. Does that work on a Public Mobile phone too?
4107 MR. BORON: Sorry, are you asking how a Public Mobile customer would --
4108 THE CHAIRPERSON: You know would that work? I mean if I am a Public Mobile customer can I actually avail myself on one of those services?
4109 MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY: Today if you dial a standard telephone number -- you can dial around but in terms of dialing a short code it would not.
4110 THE CHAIRPERSON: But you know what I'm talking about? You see on --
--- Pause
4111 MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY: Right. So what we do support is dialing around if you dial a traditional telephone number. That's what we support -- or calling card type number or anything.
4112 THE CHAIRPERSON: Yeah, right.
4113 Now, a last thing, why do you feel you need -- at your closing you said we should mandate a tariff. I understand that -- you make a very eloquent argument why we should mandate IP-to-IP interconnection, but why should we set a tariff as well?
4114 MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY: Our belief is a company such as ours without any market power we will not be able to negotiate a tariff in a simple way with the incumbents. It will one, take time; and two, we would not be able to negotiate a fair arrangement.
4115 THE CHAIRPERSON: Okay.
4116 MR. BORON: And just to add to that, Mr. Chairman, I guess the situation which we found in negotiating agreements with the incumbent vertically-integrated carriers, an example that is sort of near and dear to my heart is negotiating roaming arrangements with the incumbents.
4117 Although that's not a matter for the Commission's concern, but it's just that when you are dealing with a party that is a dominant provider in the market that we provide retail services is also effectively a monopoly or dominant provider for the service that we're talking to them about it makes -- when you're a small player like us, it makes for a very difficult and protracted series of negotiations.
4118 THE CHAIRPERSON: Tim, you have some questions?
4119 COMMISSIONER DENTON: No, I do not have questions.
4120 THE CHAIRPERSON: Okay.
4121 Len...? Suzanne...?
4122 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: Merci, Monsieur le Président.
4123 Page 3 of your presentation, and I went and had a look at your site here, when you're talking about the current coverage you're covering Greater Toronto, Greater Montreal Areas and you have plans to eventually build out much more extensively within your licensed territory.
4124 What's your licensed territory?
4125 MR. BORON: Our licensed territory is the vast majority or at least where the vast majority of people live in Ontario and Quebec. That covers slightly over 19 million people.
4126 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: Okay.
4127 MR. BORON: It's essentially the Quebec City to Windsor corridor.
4128 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: Okay.
4129 MR. BORON: It's more than that but that's where the majority of the population is.
4130 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: And largely Quebec City to Windsor corridor.
4131 MR. BORON: That's right.
4132 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: So if you plan to expand, at one point in time you're going to be expanding within small ILEC territory. How do you foresee your arrangements once you expand to those territories?
4133 MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY: I am sorry, just a clarification. You're saying how we interconnect -- expand our interconnection arrangements as we move to other territories? Yes.
4134 We would continue to work with the companies we are already interconnecting with and look to interconnect with others, whether it be -- in some markets the only place you can go is the ILEC. In other markets there are obviously independent carriers that we would enter into business negotiations with, including the SILECs. That's what I mean by independent carriers.
4135 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: So do you have any concerns about the issues that were raised by the SILECs?
4136 That is more the rebuts file, but you may want to keep that in mind, because if you plan to expand up to Quebec City and in large territories you are going over all the SILEC territories in Quebec. And if you go down south Windsor, you are also going to be covering over at least some of those territories.
4137 So, you know, just keep it in mind for the rebuttal phase. So I know it is looking forward, but that is exactly the exercise we are having today.
4138 MR. BORON: And very quickly, I won't get into any detail, but we have certainly focused in the way that we've thought about this proceeding on not the SILECs, on the ILECs, just because that is our immediate focus. But I guess --
4139 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: If you cold give it some thought or --
4140 MR. BORON: We will give it some thought in rebuttal and I think we will come to the Commission with some ideas as to how there shouldn't be additional inefficiencies introduced, but thank you.
4141 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: Thank you, those are all my questions.
4142 THE CHAIRPERSON: Okay. Before I let you go, you peaked my curiosity when you mentioned roaming agreement. I understood that you are a special frequency. Are your handsets such that when you roam you in effect switch frequency and you are riding then on Rogers' frequency let's say or something?
4143 MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY: The way our handsets work is obviously we do have a unique frequency in our territory that we build on and it is part of the PCS band and is being used or planned to be used by Sprint in the United States as well.
4144 All our handsets, however, work in both the cellular band and all the other PCS bands. So when we do roam on other carriers it switches and uses their frequency.
4145 THE CHAIRPERSON: Then automatically as a user I don't have to do anything. It is a soft --
4146 MR. O'SHAUGHNESSY: Exactly. You would not know the difference. As a matter of fact, the frequency is irrelevant to the end-user, they would not see that there was nay difference.
4147 THE CHAIRPERSON: Okay, thank you very much. Those are our questions.
4148 And then let's move on, Madame le Secrétaire. I think WIND Mobile is next?
4149 UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: No, they were up.
4150 THE CHAIRPERSON: Oh, they were up?
4151 THE SECRETARY: I would invite Mobilicity to come forward. Thank you.
4152 THE CHAIRPERSON: Oh, WIND was Yak. Yak and WIND were combined, yes.
--- Pause
4153 THE SECRETARY: We will now proceed with the presentation by Mobilicity.
4154 Please introduce yourselves for the record, after which you will have 20 minutes for your presentation.
4155 Thank you.
PRESENTATION
4156 MR. THOMPSON: Madam Secretary, Mr. Chairman, Commissioners, my name is Stewart Thompson, I am in Carrier Relations at Data & Audio-Visual Enterprises Wireless Inc. doing business as Mobilicity.
4157 With me today is Gary Wong, Legal Counsel for Mobilicity.
4158 Mobilicity is a new entrant standalone public mobile service provider. We launched our services in May, 2010, approximately 18 months ago. We hold spectrum licences for high-frequency AWS spectrum covering a population of over 18 million Canadians.
4159 Through our unlimited talk, text and data services we continue bring more competitive choice in mobile wireless services to Canadian consumers.
4160 Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to share with you our view on network interconnections issues.
4161 Based on what we have heard and seen to date on the record, our position on the issues in this proceeding may be summarized as follows. At the option of wireless carriers, wireless carriers should be permitted to interconnect with LECs on a shared-cost and bill-and-keep basis.
4162 All LECs should be mandated to provide in their tariffs for shared-cost interconnection and bill-and-keep treatment of local voice traffic exchanged between the LEC and the wireless carrier.
4163 No new or additional obligations should be imposed on wireless carriers beyond those already observed by wireless carriers.
4164 Notwithstanding the extremely high rates in the ILEC WAS tariffs, these should continue to be mandated and wireless interconnection services should continue to be part of the model CLEC tariff. It would not be appropriate to forbear from regulating these baseline interconnection services.
4165 IP to IP interconnection should be mandated for any carrier that has at least one such arrangement in place with any third party, including any affiliated entity.
4166 A model IP interconnection agreement with model tariffs reflecting the framework principles that will be established by the Commission in this proceeding should be developed.
4167 A party that is mandated to provide IP to IP interconnection must negotiate a mutually agreeable point of interconnection and other network configuration and interface issues in accordance with established framework principles. These principles could be based on so-called default rules proposed by Rogers with a few modifications, as discussed below. Wireless carriers should not be required to establish direct connections wit SILECs.
4168 We will now respond to each of the seven questions set out in the CRTC's organization and conduct letter dated October 12th, 2011 beginning with the Commission's four questions on wireless interconnection issues.
4169 Should wireless carriers be treated as equal carriers with the ILECs and therefore be entitled to shared-cost interconnection with bill-and-keep and, if so, under what terms and conditions?
4170 Yes, it is time for wireless carriers to be recognized as co-carriers along with the LECs. The regime for wireless carrier interconnection with an incumbent local exchange carrier was established almost 30 years ago when mobile wireless services occupied a much different place in people's lives.
4171 Today, however, the number of wireless connections exceeds wireline by more than $7 million. Mobile wireless telecommunication services are ubiquitous and a substitute for traditional wireline and IP-based voice telephony services.
4172 Among other things, wireless carriers have access to central office codes, provide 911 services and offer local number portability. Local wireline services are, in large part, deregulated, in many causes due in part to the presence of a wireless carrier. In these circumstances, it is hard to understand how wireless carriers cannot be considered co-carriers.
4173 Parties suggest that standalone new entrant wireless carriers can become CLECs. It is no answer to state that wireless carriers have the option to be come wireless carrier CLECs. The regime has been a failure. Fido, formerly owned and operated by Microcell, is currently the only registered WSP-CLEC.
4174 It is also selected that standalone wireless carriers should attempt to replicate the model of vertically integrated wireline/wireless carriers adopted by the ILECs and certain other market participants by creating affiliated CLECs.
4175 It is interesting to note that in 2000 when Microcell filed its wireless carrier CLEC tariffs it incorporated a non-CLEC affiliate to whom it planned to resell mobile wireless services.
4176 The established players at the time vehemently objected that Microcell was attempting to circumvent the CLEC obligations and, in particular, the obligation to provide equal access. Microcell was prevented from using an affiliate to avoid the equal access obligations.
4177 And yet, as we make clear in responses to Mobilicity interrogatories, the fact is that today equal access is not provided on the wireless networks of the ILECs or Rogers and there is no material demand for directory listing services on wireless.
4178 Equal access on wireless networks is offered today only by Fido. And as Mr. Watts stated on Tuesday, it accounts for only about 1 per cent of the total toll traffic on the Fido Network. There does not appear to be any material consumer demand or benefit to consumers associated with equal access. There are so many alternative long-distance options available, such as prepaid cards, local access numbers and over-the-top applications.
4179 Not only is there little apparent consumer benefit, equal access and directory listing services on wireless networks would represent significant added costs. We identified many of the cost items that would be associated with implementing equal access in a response to CRTC-2.
4180 Quebecor Media expressed serious doubts about the ability to recover investments in equal access if forced to make them. Rogers noted on Tuesday that imposing equal access on wireless would lead to higher prices for consumers. This effect would be even more pronounced for new entrant wireless carriers.
4181 In short, over time the equal access obligation, like the directory listing service obligation, has become a rule without a reason. These obligations are outmoded, particularly when it comes to wireless networks. And no party in this proceeding has rushed to defend them as being required to maintain or enhance consumer benefit. On the contrary, the imposition of equal access will likely lead to reduced consumer benefit in the form of higher prices.
4182 As a result of their inability to obtain co-carrier status, the inequities of the CLEC regimes and the high cost of ILECs' WAS tariffs wireless carriers, such as Mobilicity, have had no choice but to enter into interconnection arrangements with CLECs.
4183 Under such arrangements, Mobilicity still pays for all incoming traffic terminated on our own network while our CLEC gets compensated through bill-and-keep by the ILEC, and we have to pay them for this service as well.
4184 More to the point, it is a false choice to offer up WSP-CLEC status, affiliation with a CLEC or commercial interconnection arrangements with CLECs as an option for wireless carriers when more fundamentally there is no good reason to deny wireless carriers co-carrier status.
4185 What measures need to be taken to ensure that wireless carriers have the same benefits and obligations regardless of whether they are independent or part of a vertically integrated telecommunications entity?
4186 We propose that wireless service providers be recognized as co-carriers and, as such, be permitted to interconnect on a shared-cost facility and bill-and-keep basis with LECs under Commission-approved tariffs and agreements.
4187 Wireless carriers are already mandated to provide e911 and LNP. There is no need for any additional obligations. The evidence shows that there is no material consumer benefit in imposing additional obligations on wireless carriers.
4188 In particular, Mobilicity submits that the following so-called CLEC obligations, in particular, would represent additional obligations that should not be imposed on wireless carriers: the provision of equal access; provision of directory listing services; and, the provision of details of all service options with applicable prices.
4189 With respect to the third listed element above, in the current wireless context, providing details of all service options would simply be too onerous and would likely be a wasted effort, given how quickly and often service options are modified. At most, if this type of obligation is imposed on wireless carriers, it should be limited to the provision of then current web-published service options.
4190 Regarding the establishment of shared-cost interconnection facilities, we support Rogers' request in this proceeding, that the Commission clarify that the shared-cost principle extends to the use of leased facilities. We understand that there should be an end to the practice of some ILECs charging 100 per cent of the facilities' tariff rates to the interconnecting carrier.
4191 Regarding the appropriate point of interconnection, Mobilicity would not object to a minimum interconnection area of the LIR consistent the wireline LEC-to-LEC regime with express permission to establish a more highly aggregated point of interconnection for LEC to wireless carrier interconnection.
4192 Where a wireless carrier and a LEC cannot agree on more highly aggregated point of interconnection, Mobilicity notes that section 40 of the Telecommunications Act grants jurisdiction to mandate the connection of telecommunications facilities within such time and subject to such conditions as the Commission determines to be just and expedient.
4193 Would it be appropriate for the Commission to forbear from regulating wireless access service and, if so, what criteria should be applied?
4194 No, ILES WAS tariffs should continue to be mandated and wireless interconnection services continue to be part of the model CLEC tariff.
4195 As noted by Rogers and Videotron, there are circumstances in which WAS serves a role as the most technically efficient and expedient means of interconnection.
4196 For example, particularly with new entrant wireless carriers, it will not be economically feasible or practical to established shared-cost interconnection facilities in all cases. In such situations, there must continue to be a way for wireless carriers to terminate traffic with every LEC.
4197 Wireless carries, including established carriers such as Rogers, have provided evidence that continue to require WAS in areas where the establishment of a shared-cost facility is not justified. This would be important to new entrant wireless carriers to build scale and scope.
4198 Furthermore, Mobilicity notes from experience that the situation for wireless carriers it that there are very few suitable CLECs qualified and willing to handle mobile wireless voice traffic.
4199 For example, a small CLEC focused on offering VoIP termination or origination services may not be in a position to offer the quality of service and reliability or demonstrate the financial stability required by a wireless carrier. Suitable CLEC alternatives in many cases are likely to be integrated carriers with whom we compete.
4200 Given the foregoing factors, one cannot presume that forbearance would not lead to higher interconnection costs. There is no evidence supporting the view that ILECs will continue to offer competitive WAS services at competitive rates if forborne, other than to themselves. We believe that forbearance could result in higher costs and reduced consumer choice.
4201 As unacceptably high as the tariffed WAS rates are, they do provide a baseline and a guaranteed means of interconnecting should a suitable CLEC not be available or prepared to provide interconnection services to new entrant wireless carriers.
4202 Should existing rules be modified to require wireless carriers in small ILEC territories to establish direct network interconnection arrangements with the small ILECs, unless the two parties agree to alternative arrangements?
4203 No. Mobilicity would be concerned about any regulatory rules that would make it more costly for it to enter new markets, such as the typically underserved markets served by SILECs. In Mobilicity's view, the SILEC proposal would inevitably lead to higher costs and, therefore, higher prices or a disincentive to entering.
4204 IP to IP interconnection matters. Mobilicity operates a TDM-based access network with IP-based transmission technology in the core of its network. We are, in relative terms, a small new entrant carrier. However, we can say that we are currently actively engaged in exploring IP-based toll interconnection arrangements.
4205 We anticipate that we will have multiple IP interconnection arrangements in place in late-2012 and some as well in the first quarter of 2012.
4206 It is clear from the record that a number of parties have entered into IP to IP interconnection arrangements with affiliated and unaffiliated third parties. This means that they have the capability within their networks to exchange traffic on an IP to IP basis.
4207 Thus, given our own experience and the evidence of the emergence of IP to IP interconnection arrangements in Canada, we believe that technical issues, if any, do not stand in the way of achieving widespread IP to IP interconnection arrangements in the short to medium-term.
4208 We know from our own experience that large carriers lack incentives to enter into commercial arrangements with smaller carriers. We have some experience with mandated right, but negotiated term regimes, and it has not been positive.
4209 Thus, in our view, leaving the development of IP interconnection to negotiations will delay implementation of IP interconnection and the Canadian telecommunications IP infrastructure will have less chance to develop seamlessly and in an orderly fashion.
4210 What is revealing is the evidence on the record of this proceeding, that the two larges cable companies in Canada have sought and been refused IP-based interconnection presumably by one or more ILECs.
4211 We believe that IP to IP interconnection should be mandated and required to be provided under tariff by any carrier that had entered into an IP interconnection arrangement with at least one affiliated or unaffiliated third party.
4212 Similar to interconnection under the current TDM-based regime, the basic principles could be enshrined in a model tariff and model IP to IP interconnection agreement.
4213 The basic principles that should be enshrined in a tariff and model IP to IP interconnection agreement include:
4214 A mandate to provide IP-based interconnection imposed on any LEC or wireless carrier that has already entered into an IP to IP arrangement with at least one third party;
4215 Only one or two, for redundancy, points of interconnection per province between the parties;
4216 The cost of IP to TDM conversion should be borne by the terminating carrier;
4217 IP to IP interconnection standards guidelines should reflect ongoing compliance with current internationally accepted industry standards, including minimum message set guidelines;
4218 Any new interconnection facility should be established on a shared-cost basis;
4219 Traffic should be exchanged on a bill-and-keep basis, like for current TDM-based LEC to LEC interconnection regime. However, traffic imbalance payment rates, one would expect, would be lower than current traffic imbalance rates on TDM;
4220 Term, termination and other provisions found in MALI and other mandated wholesale agreements.
4221 Mobilicity does not totally exclude the need for negotiations. For example, Mobilicity anticipates that the location of a mutually agreeable point of interconnection or other network configuration and interface issues may be more efficiently and flexibly be dealt with through direct negotiations between the parties.
4222 As for off-tariff arrangements Mobilicity notes that in our interrogatory responses filed in this proceeding we stated that we were opposed, in principle, to off-tariff arrangements being reached in relation to interconnection matters.
4223 Having heard the submissions of the parties, we are reconsidering our position in this regard and we will come back next week with a more considered view.
4224 This concludes our prepared statement. We would be pleased to address any questions that you may have.
4225 THE CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very much for your presentation.
4226 Now, I found it interesting to say that you operate a TDM-based access network with IP-based transmission technology in the core of its network.
4227 MR. THOMPSON: Yes.
4228 THE CHAIRPERSON: So you have right now no IP interconnections --
4229 MR. THOMPSON: Today we have no IP interconnections --
4230 THE CHAIRPERSON: -- you connect everybody TDM-based?
4231 MR. THOMPSON: That is correct.
4232 THE CHAIRPERSON: Even with IXC carriers and so on?
4233 MR. THOMPSON: And that is what we are working on. We really spent the first year, year and a half, focused on providing service domestically to our customers. We have been somewhat satisfied with our long-distance carriers today who are TDM-based.
4234 But what we have found is that when we are looking to enter into new IXC arrangements, basically everybody says you have to deliver traffic to us IP. Nobody is interested in TDM interconnection anymore, in particular, for international long-distance traffic.
4235 So we are undertaking a project, as we speak, to implement the ability to terminate IP-based traffic and we will start with international toll.
4236 THE CHAIRPERSON: I am just surprised that, as a new entrant, you chose to do all your access through TDM rather than -- it seems to me the other new entrants all go totally IP and then, for access purposes, sort of downgrade to TDM"
4237 MR. THOMPSON: Well, our switch is IP-enabled, so it can support both TDM, and we used TDM obviously for local access interconnection. And there is the opportunity to do it for toll traffic, as an example.
4238 But we are just acquiring a session border controller. You have heard about session border controllers? So we can get SIP compliant with that --
4239 THE CHAIRPERSON: Explain that to me so that I can understand what it means. I hear the word, I have no idea what you are talking about.
4240 MR. THOMPSON: Well, what session border controllers in effect do is they can take varying standards of IP and they basically convert them into standard.
4241 There is different SIP standards, there is SIP-I, there is SIP-T. Some wireless carriers have SIP-T, some have SIP-I. The common standard is SIP-I. But if we are SIP-T, a session border controller could convert that such that we can hand off the traffic to a SIP-I-enabled carrier.
4242 THE CHAIRPERSON: But let's say if Bell tomorrow said, yes, we offer IP interconnection, et cetera, you would avail yourselves of that, would you?
4243 MR. THOMPSON: Yes. Oh, are you talking about for local?
4244 THE CHAIRPERSON: I am just wondering if -- your core you are telling me is IP, so I would assume that the sooner you can convert --
4245 MR. THOMPSON: We couldn't do it today, but --
4246 THE CHAIRPERSON: You couldn't?
4247 MR. THOMPSON: Well, we are in the process of establishing that capability, so --
4248 THE CHAIRPERSON: But that is where you want to go?
4249 MR. THOMPSON: That is absolutely where we want to go.
4250 THE CHAIRPERSON: And then your position on the POIs. You seem to sort of equivocate from having them prescribed by us as two per province to negotiate it under a mutually agreed basis. So where exactly are you landing on this one?
4251 MR. THOMPSON: Well, the current standard today is at a local interconnection region.
4252 THE CHAIRPERSON: Yes.
4253 MR. THOMPSON: And if we fell into that regime, we're okay with that. But like many parties here, we think there can be further consolidation of points of interconnection, both for TDM and for IP.
4254 We think it's more efficient. The fewer connections you have, the more cost effective it is, so what we're basically stating is if it prescribed that we need to do it on a local interconnection region basis, we're okay with that, but what we'd really support is larger regions for interconnection.
4255 THE CHAIRPERSON: So -- okay. So paragraph 32, sub (b):
"Only one or two (for redundancy) points of interconnection per province between the parties."
4256 I'm trying to figure out, is that what you would like us to mandate, that's where you want to arrive with the parties through negotiations, or is this basically an objective without any enforcement?
4257 MR. THOMPSON: All right. What we're suggesting is we don't mandate where the location is. The parties can mutually agree to where it is appropriate to establish those points of interconnection.
4258 But what we do believe is that there -- we should minimize the number of points of interconnection require.
4259 THE CHAIRPERSON: So you would like us to set it as --
4260 MR. THOMPSON: For IP in particular, we think that would make sense, yes.
4261 THE CHAIRPERSON: So go away from the LIR regime and --
4262 MR. THOMPSON: Yes.
4263 THE CHAIRPERSON: -- to performance.
4264 And the other point I -- I mean, your list is very clear. At the end, I'm just -- you're coming down where Cogeco come down, basically. If there is an ILAC that doesn't have IP to IP interconnection, they don't have to offer it. But if they already have demonstrated the ability by offering it to either an affiliate or to an IXE, et cetera, then there is no reason why they shouldn't offer it to you.
4265 MR. THOMPSON: That's correct.
4266 THE CHAIRPERSON: Yeah.
4267 MR. THOMPSON: Going back to the example of today where we're IP between our switches but we're not capable at this very moment of interconnecting on an IP basis. We're working towards it.
4268 THE CHAIRPERSON: Yeah. No, no. Okay.
4269 I think the rest of your presentation is eminently clear and straightforward, so you're beating to death the horse of equal access --
4270 MR. THOMPSON: Right.
4271 THE CHAIRPERSON: -- as everybody else has done.
4272 MR. THOMPSON: Can't leave anything to chance.
--- Laughter
4273 THE CHAIRPERSON: Okay. So thank you.
4274 Do my colleagues have any questions? Suzanne?
4275 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: Merci, monsieur le président.
4276 Correct me if I'm wrong. You have licence spectrum in Ontario, but you do not have licence spectrum in Quebec.
4277 MR. THOMPSON: That is correct.
4278 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: That's correct. Okay, thank you.
4279 Now, going back at the last page of your presentation, paragraph 33, speaking of IP to IP interconnection, you do make the point that Mobilicity does not totally exclude the need for negotiations.
4280 So I'll take it that, in a general sense, Mobilicity is for negotiation, whatever the subject. I'll take that as a premise.
4281 MR. THOMPSON: Okay.
4282 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: Okay. First, okay?
4283 Going back to the interconnection with SILECs, when you're saying on paragraph 26 considering that you do make the point that you want as little interconnection points as possible, I mean, your answer there is consequential. That's one of the reasons why you don't want us to modify the rules so that wireless carriers in small ILEC territories need to establish interconnection in each of the territories.
4284 Now, you answer the question -- there are two parts to the question. The first part --
4285 MR. THOMPSON: Okay.
4286 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: -- relates to interconnection. The second part is unless the two parties agree to alternative arrangements.
4287 What would you think if, while not mandating interconnection in each of the territories, the Commission mandated the negotiations between wireless providers and the small ILEC?
4288 You can think about it and come back next week.
4289 MR. THOMPSON: I think I'd prefer to do that. Thank you.
4290 COMMISSIONER LAMARRE: Thank you. That's all my questions.
4291 THE CHAIRPERSON: Tim?
4292 COMMISSIONER DENTON: Excellent presentation. Thank you.
4293 I have at paragraph 28 an opportunity for you to expand and explain the following sentence:
"Thus, given our own experience and the evidence of the emergence of IP-to-IP interconnection arrangements in Canada, we believe that technical issues, if any, do not stand in the way of achieving widespread IP-to-IP interconnection arrangements in the short to medium term."
4294 Two questions. What are those standards, and what do you mean by short -- "we believe that technical issues". What are those technical issues? And secondly, what do you mean by "short to medium term"?
4295 If you could expand on that, I think that would be --
4296 MR. THOMPSON: Sure.
4297 COMMISSIONER DENTON: -- of benefit.
4298 MR. THOMPSON: Well, the standards are based on SIP, and basically what happens is the ITU -- through the ITU, they're called RFCs. They're Requests for Comments that become approved, and they become standards for various minimum message set standards, so it would be easy to specify a list of RFCs which any carriers need to be compliant with that are generally accepted around the world.
4299 So that's what we'd be looking for, something --
4300 COMMISSIONER DENTON: Okay. That --
4301 MR. THOMPSON: -- that indicates basically that these are the standards, the minimum standards that IP providers must meet.
4302 COMMISSIONER DENTON: Okay. So perhaps --
4303 MR. THOMPSON: Session border controllers certainly facilitate that because session border controllers basically state what the RFCs are that they support.
4304 COMMISSIONER DENTON: Well, in your reply comments why don't you just give us a sample of those RFCs? It would be of assistance --
4305 MR. THOMPSON: Okay.
4306 COMMISSIONER DENTON: -- so we don't have any excuse not to understand.
4307 And I believe it's the IETF that makes those RFC --
4308 MR. THOMPSON: Excuse me, IETF. Thank you.
4309 COMMISSIONER DENTON: Now, the next one is, what do you mean by "short to medium term" because that may have different connotations for different minds?
4310 MR. THOMPSON: M'hmm. Well, you know, what we'd like to see is a regime put in place as soon as possible with respect to tariffs in the model agreement, and then once that's in place, then we're certainly supportive of IP to IP arrangements being made.
4311 COMMISSIONER DENTON: So in other words, by your answer, I can take out "short to medium term" and substitute "as soon as possible"?
4312 MR. THOMPSON: I think that would work.
4313 COMMISSIONER DENTON: Okay.
4314 Thank you. Those are my questions.
4315 THE CHAIRPERSON: Okay. Before I let you go, would you clarify to me what paragraph 19 -- what you're talking about?
4316 I mean, why -- you want us to endorse Rogers' request in this proceeding to clarify that the shared cost principle extends to the use of leased facilities. What are they -- what are ILECs doing presently?
4317 MR. THOMPSON: Well, again, we don't have experience with this because we don't have access to shared cost facilities today. But what we heard from Rogers was that, typically, there may be interconnection on a fibre basis and each party goes to a meet me point and basically the cost is shared of that fibre interconnection.
4318 But in some cases, such as ourselves, it may make more sense in the interim to use a leased facility rather than do a fibre build.
4319 That leased facility effectively should only pay half -- for half of that. The ILEC should be paying for the other half as their obligation to deliver the interconnection to us.
4320 So if it's $1,000 connection, we pay half and -- because we shouldn't be paying for the full facility.
4321 THE CHAIRPERSON: And do ILECs have a different position?
4322 MR. THOMPSON: Well, again, what we heard from Rogers was that there may be ILECs that are not interpreting or applying that understanding.
4323 THE CHAIRPERSON: I'm sure Rogers will review that on Monday, okay.
4324 I think those are all our questions for you. Thank you very much.
4325 Madam Secretary, we will resume on Monday with the rebuttal phase. All right?
4326 THE SECRETARY: Yes, I just have --
4327 THE CHAIRPERSON: Before you make your announcement, let me just finish.
4328 I would like parties very much to reflect on what was said during this week and I think what we all collectively learned. Some people have changed their position, and also come back to sort of the issue that we all are struggling with, the key issue, the IP interconnection, how do we do this in a way that's fair and equitable to both the ILECs and the new entrants, or the people who already have FP interconnection.
4329 I mean, it's -- I think this is the key issue not only for this hearing, but the consequence of that for the nation in terms of our progress towards a digital economy. And so I would like you -- I'm looking for help and inspiration from you to find the right solution for it. And we look forward to hearing from you on that point on Monday.
4330 Madam le secrétaire.
4331 THE SECRETARY: Merci, monsieur le président.
4332 As the Chairman noted, rebuttal phase will begin October 31st at 9:00 a.m. Parties should be present, as they may be called upon or want to contribute to the debate.
4333 Finally, given the two changes to the schedule this week, we have revised the order of appearance, and copies are available at the back table.
4334 Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
4335 THE CHAIRPERSON: That terminates today's session. Thank you.
--- Whereupon the hearing adjourned at 1058, to resume on Monday, October 31, 2011 at 0900
REPORTERS
Johanne Morin
Karen Paré
Jennifer Cheslock
Monique Mahoney
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