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Letter
Our file 8640-A53-200403329
Ottawa, 26 April 2004
To: CRTC lists including telephone companies, wireless service providers, other carriers, non-dominant carriers, CLECs and proposed CLECs, parties to Regulatory framework for voice communication services using Internet Protocol (Public Notice 2004-2), and to Aliant Telecom Inc. and EastLink Telephone
Re: Forbearance Application for Residential Wireline Local Services in Specified Exchanges - Aliant Telecom Inc. application dated 7 April 2004
Commission staff notes that in its above noted application for forbearance in 32 specified exchanges (the Specified Exchanges), Aliant Telecom Inc. (Aliant) asked that the Commission grant it expedited relief pending completion of the Commission's consideration of the forbearance application. Specifically, and noting its submissions with respect to the state of competition in the Specified Exchanges, Aliant requested that with respect to the Specified Exchanges the Commission grant approval, in an expedited time frame, to:
1) the removal of the 12 month no-contact period (Local Winback Rule) imposed on Aliant;
2) the removal of the suspension of residential local wireline promotions (including winback promotions) imposed on Aliant;
3) the removal of restrictions on the ability to file ex parte applications for price changes to local services imposed on Aliant; and
4) tariff changes which would allow Aliant to waive any service charges owed by residential subscribers whom Aliant wins back from a competitor.
Commission staff considers that in assessing whether to grant such relief, the Commission may need to consider, among other things, the relevant service and geographic markets as well as the degree of competition in those markets, which are also issues that need to be considered in order to make a determination on Aliant's application for forbearance.
Commission staff requests that interested parties provide comments on the appropriate process to be established for the consideration of Aliant's request for expedited relief. Specifically, Commission staff requests comments on:
a) whether the request for expedited relief should be dealt with by the Commission in a separate expedited process as requested by Aliant; or
b) whether the request for expedited relief should be considered by the Commission as part of a single process which would also consider Aliant's request for forbearance.
Interested parties are invited to file comments on this issue no later than 17 May 2004. Parties are to provide a copy of their submissions to Aliant at the time of filing. Aliant may file reply comments no later than 25 May 2004, serving a copy on those who filed comments. Parties are reminded that where a document is to be filed or served by a specific date, the document must be actually received, not merely sent, by that date.
Sincerely,
Paul M. Godin
Director
Competition Implementation & Technology
Telecommunications
Date modified: 2004-04-26
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