Search

Telecom - Staff Letter addressed to Philippe Gauvin (Distributel Communications Inc.)

Ottawa-Gatineau, 14 January 2025

Reference: 8740-B2-202404987

BY E-MAIL

Mr. Philippe Gauvin
Assistant General Counsel
Distributel Communications Inc.
160 Elgin street, 19th floor
Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2C4
bell.regulatory@bell.ca

Subject: Bell Canada Tariff Notice 7702 – Withdraw Digital Exchange Access Service

Dear Philippe Gauvin:

On 23 September 2024, the Commission received an application from Bell Canada proposing to withdraw Bell Canada’s General Tariff CRTC 6716, Item 5300 - Digital Exchange Access (DEA) Service.

Paragraph 28(1) (a) of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure provides that the Commission may require parties to file information or documents where needed.

Accordingly, Bell Canada is requested to provide comprehensive answers, including rationale and any supporting information, to the attached questions by 28 January 2025.

As set out in section 39 of the Telecommunications Act (the Act) and in Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2010-961, Procedures for filing confidential information and requesting its disclosure in Commission proceedings, persons may designate certain information as confidential. A person designating information as confidential must provide a detailed explanation on why the relevant information qualifies for designation as confidential and why its disclosure would not be in the public interest, including why the specific direct harm that would be likely to result from the disclosure would outweigh the public interest in disclosure.

Furthermore, a person designating information as confidential must either file an abridged version of the document omitting only the information designated as confidential or provide reasons why an abridged version cannot be filed.

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. The Commission requires the response or other documents to be submitted electronically by using the secured service “My CRTC Account” (Partner Log In or GCKey) and filling the “Telecom Cover page” located on this web page.

A copy of this letter will be added to the public record of this proceeding.

Yours sincerely

Original signed by

Michel Murray
Director, Dispute Resolution & Regulatory Implementation
Telecommunications Sector

c.c.: Christine Brock, CRTC, (873)-353-5852, christine.brock@crtc.gc.ca

Attach. (1)

Requests for Information

  1. Provide a list of current DEA Service customers providing details for each customer’s service including (i) the number of accesses, (ii) the number of public switched telephone network (PSTN) connectivities, (iii) any service features or options, (iv) the monthly charges, and (v) any other relevant service information.

  2. In the cover letter, Bell Canada indicated that the network equipment used to provide DEA Service has been manufacturer-discontinued for some time and that spare or replacement parts remain costly and difficult to source. Further, when DEA Service outages occur, it will be very difficult or impossible to effect repairs and restore service to customers in a timely manner.

    Identify for the last 12-month period

    1. the number of outages experienced; and
    2. the average time to restore service.
  3. Given the decline of customers over the past 12 months, specify whether the company can utilize equipment from service disconnections to continue to serve remaining customers. If not, explain why not.
  4. Bell Canada indicated that DEA Services customers in Ontario and Quebec may utilize the company’s Megalink or SIP Trunking Service offerings. For customers migrating to these services options, specify
    1. whether customers will be able to obtain a service that provides the same or a similar level of service;
    2. what the rate impact would be for customers migrating to these services relative to their current monthly charges under DEA service; and
    3. what other service options would be available to customers who do not have access to either of the noted alternatives.
Date modified: