Telecom - Staff Letter addressed to Sam Maclin (North Frontenac Telephone Corporation Limited)
Gatineau, 23 February 2026
Our Reference: 8663-N7-202501650
BY EMAIL
Sam Maclin
North Frontenac Telephone Corporation Limited
5405 Eglinton Ave. West, Unit 214
Toronto, Ontario M9C 5K6
regulatory@nftctelecom.ca
Subject: Intention of Bell Canada to enter North Frontenac Telephone Corporation Limited’s operating territory as a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) in the Sharbot Lake, Ontario exchange
Dear Sam Maclin:
The Commission received a letter dated 14 April 2025 from North Frontenac Telephone Corporation Limited (NFTC) following an expression of interest by Bell Canada (Bell) to provide competitive local services in the Sharbot Lake, Ontario exchange.
NFTC submitted a local competition implementation plan and indicated that the plan was consistent with the requirements set out in Telecom Decision CRTC 2006-14, Revised regulatory framework for the small incumbent local exchange carriers, as modified by Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2011-291, Obligation to serve and other matters, and Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2018-213, Phase-out of the local service subsidy regime.
NFTC further submitted that Bell requested local network interconnection with NFTC’s network to permit the exchange and termination of local calls and also requested that local number portability be implemented in NFTC’s territory. NFTC noted that Bell has not indicated any need for co-location or unbundled network elements.
In its 30 October 2023 letter, Bell indicated that it would complete all CLEC entry requirements prior to offering service to end-customers in the noted Ontario exchange.
Since NFTC has acknowledged Bell’s intent to enter the noted exchange as a CLEC and has requested a 180-day period (following the date of this letter) to implement local competition for Bell, Commission staff considers that Bell can begin offering its services in the Sharbot Lake, Ontario exchange upon notification from NFTC that local competition implementation is complete, including any required changes to NFTC’s tariffs, and Bell has completed the requirements to enter the exchange as a CLEC.
Commission staff reminds both companies that a Master Agreement for Local Interconnection (MALI) and a Schedule C must be signed for the Sharbot Lake, Ontario exchange. Commission staff also notes that the notification requirements for CLECs can be found in Telecom Decision CRTC 2012-396, Notification requirements for competitive local exchange carriers seeking to offer local services in new exchanges, and filing of related documents.
Sincerely,
Original signed by
Suneil Kanjeekal
Director, Dispute Resolution and Regulatory Implementation
Telecommunications Sector
c.c.:
Mitchell Gebhardt, Analyst, CRTC, 819-712-7658, Mitchell.Gebhardt@crtc.gc.ca
Mélanie Poirier, Analyst, CRTC, 873-353-9283, Melanie.Poirier@crtc.gc.ca
Philippe Gauvin, Bell Canada, bell.regulatory@bell.ca
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