GATINEAU — Cambridge, Ont.-based competitive local exchange carrier Fibernetics last week filed an application with the CRTC seeking relief from what it calls “unjustifiable conduct” on the part of Bell Canada related to local network interconnection (LNI) between the two companies.
In an abridged version of its application dated July 14 and posted on the Commission’s website today, Fibernetics says it has attempted to negotiate an LNI agreement with Bell for eight additional local interconnection regions (LIRs) that Fibernetics wishes to enter as a Type 1 CLEC. In April, Fibernetics provided a trunk forecast to Bell for the eight LIRs and proposed leasing inter-exchange private line (IXPL) DS-1s from Bell for the LNI for these LIRs.
According to Fibernetics, it has previously leased IXPL DS-1 facilities from Bell for LNI for various LIRs in the past, but in the case of these eight additional LIRs Bell has said it prefers an alternative method for LNI and not the use of leased facilities. Due to information being redacted in the abridged application, Cartt.ca cannot confirm the LNI method proposed by Bell.
Fibernetics says in its application its proposed method of using leased facilities for LNI, compared to the method proposed by Bell, would cost less and take less time to implement, as well as be easier to implement, operate and maintain.
“Bell is the ILEC serving the eight LIRs. There is no other ILEC Fibernetics can negotiate with to enter as a Type 1 CLEC in those LIRs,” reads the Fibernetics application. “Bell already serves customers within those LIRs and the longer Bell prevents Fibernetics from entering as a CLEC the longer Bell does not face additional competition. This can only be viewed as anti-competitive behaviour from Bell.”
Fibernetics also says Bell’s insistence on an LNI method that doesn’t use leased facilities is “completely arbitrary and unjustified, and subjects Fibernetics to significant costs, delays, and to an undue and unreasonable disadvantage.”
Fibernetics is asking the Commission to grant relief by issuing an order requiring Bell to allow Fibernetics to lease IXPL facilities for LNI for the eight LIRs identified in its application.
The deadline for interventions to Fibernetics’ application is August 19, 2020.
