Bell asks CRTC to reverse decision to deploy new toll trunks to all LECs

BCE Inc. is requesting that the CRTC allow it to deploy its new toll trunks only to Rogers Communications Inc., rather than all local exchange carriers (LECs), arguing that the commission was in the wrong to expand its scope without proper notice earlier this year. Bell argued in its review and vary application, posted to the CRTC website Monday, that the correct approach if the commission wants to pursue an expansion of its toll-free policy decision is to initiate a show cause or other broad proceeding to determine “whether a toll-free arrangement similar to that required of Bell for Rogers should be available to all LECs who develop toll-free dipping functionality.” It argued the CRTC could examine under what conditions that may take place, and "whether all LECs who have a toll-free dipping functionality should be required to deploy, on request, one-way toll-free trunks to other LECs with toll-free dipping services.” The company also said, “the record of a tariff approval proceeding to implement an order that was clearly on its face restricted to our arrangement with Rogers did not allow (Bell) to raise the concerns with applying the Rogers Toll-Free Decision to all LECs.” “The asymmetric nature of the new requirement, on Bell alone, violates the 2006 and 2019 Policy Directions' requirement to pursue competitive neutrality,” Bell said. In April 2019, Rogers submitted to the CRTC that Bell was “conferring an undue preference on itself” by not replacing the network interconnection arrangement between the companies for the routing of toll-free traffic. As a remedy Bell asked the commission to confirm that Rogers “is not mandated to route one-way toll free-traffic destined for Bell toll-free telephone number customers over Roger’s two-way bill-and-keep trunks;” direct Bell to deploy toll trunks to connect to Roger’s switches in order to receive from Roger’s toll-free traffic destined for Bell’s customers; and allow Rogers to start billing Bell, as of 1 April 2019, for all toll-free-related charges until it deploys its toll trunks. In December 2019, the regulator ruled that Bell’s toll-free routing arrangements with Rogers had been compliant with its regime for the routing of toll-free traffic and its approved tariff. However, it directed Bell to install trunk connections to carry toll-free traffic from Rogers network to Bell customers within 150 days. In order to comply with the ruling and deploy its trunks, Bell submitted tariff language, which was approved on an interim basis, that it will receive originating toll-free traffic from “retail end-users destined for the Company's toll-free telephone number customers over one-way toll trunks deployed” to Roger’s switches. The commission then changed the language to include all competitive local exchange carriers (CLEC) in a May decision. Bell also requested Monday that the order, in respect to other LEC’s, be stayed until the commission rules on the current application, noting the deployment of trunks would use up a lot of resources and it currently does not have any active requests from LECs for a toll-free arrangement. The commission also struck out “retail end-users” from Bell’s tariff language concluding that the restriction "was not included in the determinations” set out in its Dec. 2019 decision, it said. Bell wrote in its Part 1 that while it disagreed with the latter decision as well, it acknowledges “it was within the commission's discretion to effect since it represents the commission's interpretation of the wording of its own determination” in the 2019 decision. In April 2020, the commission extended Bell’s deadline to install trunk connections by an additional 90 days because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rogers objected to the extension, claiming it should be allowed to deduct the cost of Bell’s toll-free traffic from its calculation of the local traffic imbalance between the two companies -- a request which the commission denied. — Reporting by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca and editing by Hannah Daley at hdaley@thewirereport.ca

Bell asks CRTC to reverse decision to deploy new toll trunks to all LECs

News | July 26, 2021

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us

Bell asks CRTC to reverse decision to deploy new toll trunks to all LECs

News | July 26, 2021

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Related Stories

CRTC launches consult on challenges in broadcasting market

OPINION: More competition does not require new competitors

CAB local news plan draws support from industry, jeers from music firms

Telus’ arguments for incumbent access to wholesale regime not supported by competitors

Reuse & Permissions

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us