Cochrane Telecom requests CRTC forbearance

Cochrane Telecom Services has submitted an application to the CRTC requesting that the commission refrain from regulating its residential services in Cochrane, Ontario. The company filed a Part 1 with the CRTC Tuesday, requesting the forbearance in the 705-272 exchange area of the town. If accepted, the commission would not regulate the company’s pricing and terms in that area. CRTC approval would no longer be required before launching or changing services and rates, according to documents submitted by the company. Cochrane Telecom, which offers internet, home phone, and television services, claims evidence it provided as part of its application shows it has met the criteria for residential local forbearance. It said the CRTC would consider market definition, a competitor presence test, an 18-month grace period, and competitor quality of service in order to grant local forbearance in the territories of a small incumbent local exchange carrier (SILEC). An abridged version of the application, which does not include information that “would provide existing and potential competitors with market-specific information that would enable them to develop more effective business strategies and would result in specific direct harm” to Cochrane, claims its competition for wireline facilities-based local service serving the 705-272 exchange is Bragg Communications Inc.’s Eastlink. The four wireless service providers serving the Cochrane area are Rogers Communications Inc., Telus Corp., BCE Inc., and Eastlink. If the CRTC accepts the forbearance, Cochrane said each customer would receive information through bill inserts or other means explaining what forbearance means, how they would be affected and explanations of how pricing and most terms for local residential telephone services would no longer be regulated by the CRTC, rather by its own terms of service. The deadline for submissions on the application is June 3.

Cochrane Telecom requests CRTC forbearance

Brief | May 7, 2021

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Cochrane Telecom requests CRTC forbearance

Brief | May 7, 2021

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