GATINEAU – Bell Canada wants the CRTC to expand certain rulings announced in its recent wholesale wireline decision as it relates to two specific types of services.
(Ed note: It’s worth stating here that the company is also appealing this same decision to cabinet, and has also asked the Commission to review and vary it.)
First, it would like the Commission to treat services related to unbundled local loops (ULL) in the same manner, essentially voice services. And secondly, it says, the decision to freeze rates for legacy low-speed wireline services provided over copper should be expanded to others “traditionally provided over copper.”
The company says there are services very similar in nature to ULLs that should be governed by the same forbearance provisions as ULL. It points to ULL connecting links and line sharing as being “functional substitutes” to unbundled loops. In Telecom Regulatory Policy 2015-326, the Commission determined that ULL were no longer essential services and could thus be forborne from regulation. In exchanges where there weren’t any loops in service, forbearance was immediate. Secondly, the Commission established a three-year phase out period for loops that were in service after which they could be withdrawn or subject to a forbearance application.
“As a result of their close association with unbundled local loops, unbundled local loop connecting links and line-sharing are subject to the same market dynamics as unbundled local loops. Like unbundled local loops, they are non-essential as their continued provision is unnecessary to sustain retail competition in any local voice wireline market,” argues Bell in its November 23 Part 1 application.
With respect to legacy wireline services, the company acknowledges that TRP 2015-326 froze rates for a number of lower speed services, but those such as dry loops used for DSL, competitor digital network (CDN) and others didn’t have their rates frozen. Without a decision to freeze rates for these service, Bell fears that it discourages the adoption of next generation fibre services.
The problem, according to Bell, is that rates for these services are still interim, are subject to potential changes and carry an inflation factor. During a time of low inflation, this could translate into actual rate decreases, the company adds.
“Our request is thus not hypothetical and we are requesting a ruling on this issue before the next annual I-X adjustment is due to be implemented in June 2016,” it says.
