OTTAWA and GATINEAU — The Competitive Network Operators of Canada (CNOC) are asking the CRTC for expedited and temporary relief from Rogers Communications’ recent move to phase out new activations of DOCSIS 3.0 modems used by third-party Internet access (TPIA) service providers leasing Rogers’ networks. Rogers wants its TPIA customers to transition to DOCSIS 3.1 modems.
In a Part 1 application filed February 16 and posted to the Commission’s website on February 22, CNOC asks the Commission to determine that competitors using Rogers’ TPIA service be allowed to continue to activate DOCSIS 3.0 modems, when ordering download speed tiers up to 300 Mbps, for a period of two years.
In June 2020, Rogers began notifying CNOC members who are Rogers TPIA customers that, effective January 4, 2021, Rogers would stop activating on DOCSIS 3.0 modems with less than eight upstream channels and, effective June 1, 2021, Rogers would stop activating on all DOCSIS 3.0 modems. Instead, Rogers will permit only DOCSIS 3.1 modems to be activated, when ordering any speed tier, effective June 1, 2021.
According to a copy of the Rogers notification attached to CNOC’s application, Rogers said existing end customers provisioned with DOCSIS 3.0 modems with less than eight upstream channels would continue to receive support if the modem was active on January 4, 2021 or a modem activation request had been received on or before January 3, 2021. Similarly, all end customers with an active DOCSIS 3.0 modem will receive continued support after June 1, 2021, if the modem was active by that date or the customer’s modem activation request was received on or before May 31, 2021.
According to CNOC’s application, Rogers sent follow-up notifications in December 2020 and on January 8, 2021 to confirm its changes to minimum modem standards.
“CNOC members, in line with the broader industry, are gradually upgrading to DOCSIS 3.1 modems,” reads CNOC’s application. “Crucially, however, DOCSIS 3.1 modems are in very short supply (with delays of up to one year) and the certification processes are expected to take many months. Furthermore, DOCSIS 3.0 modems are mid-lifecycle, and suitable for all but the highest speed tiers (up to a maximum of 300 Mbps downlink). Requiring secondary ISPs to upgrade in a constrained supply environment is therefore unjustified.”
CNOC says in its application that its predominant concern is with Rogers, although other TPIA providers have begun or are expected to begin to take similar steps.
CNOC also notes a number of its members have a significant inventory of DOCSIS 3.0 modems and “they should be permitted the opportunity to earn a return on their inventory. This is especially so given certain customer segments can be adequately served using those modems, and the cost of a DOCSIS 3.1 modem is generally $60-80 more per unit than the cost of a DOCSIS 3.0 modem,” reads CNOC’s application.
“DOCSIS 3.0 modems allow competitors to provide lower and medium speeds at lower prices, and therefore allows CNOC members to serve an important market segment. While CNOC indeed seeks access to the highest speeds available on primary ISPs’ networks, CNOC members should continue to be able to serve those customers seeking lower speeds and lower costs.”
CNOC has asked for an expedited decision from the Commission. Interested parties have until March 24, 2021 to submit interventions to the file.
