CRTC asks Eastlink to propose NG 911 rates and submit cost study

The CRTC has requested that several telecoms companies send it more information for the introduction of Next Generation 911 (NG 911) services after it directed all NG 911 network providers to file proposed wholesale and retail tariffs no later than Nov. 1, 2021. These tariffs are to include proposed rates supported by cost studies that reflect the incremental costs of adding new NG 911 networks, services, or functionalities, according to letters the commission sent to BCE Inc., Bragg Communications Inc.’s Eastlink, and municipally-owned telecommunications company Tbaytel (formerly the Thunder Bay Telephone Company) on Friday. Eastlink’s People’s Tel Limited Partnership and Amtelecom Limited Partnership initially proposed to the CRTC that they each use their currently approved 911 rate of $0.24 in the current general tariffs, “due to the uncertainty of the role that small incumbent local exchange carriers (SILECs) will play in the delivery of NG 911 calls to end-users,” according to Friday’s letter. Eastlink further argued that there are unknowns associated with the NG 911 service, and it did not have the resources nor expertise to complete a cost study. “The company intends to reference the wholesale and retail NG 911 rates that will be in the approved final tariff of its NG 911 network provider. Eastlink further submitted that the commission confirmed this approach as an acceptable practice in Telecom Decision CRTC 2001-756c, regulatory framework for the small incumbent telephone companies, where, in cases such as 911, the SILEC does not provide the service themselves.” Despite Eastlink’s objections, the CRTC is still requesting the company file the submission of its SILECs to include cost studies in support of the proposed tariffs. “If Eastlink chooses not to revise its submissions to include cost studies in support of the proposed tariffs filed, Commission staff request that Eastlink confirm such, along with a detailed explanation as to why a proposed proxy rate constitutes a valid proposal for the NG 911 service,” the commission wrote to the company. The commission also asked Bell to provide the calculations used to evaluate its location information, server, and additional data repository costs included in the company’s proposed NG 911 wholesale and retail rates, explain how the annual “cost driver demand forecast” for each year was estimated, and provide and explain how its “total fibre build” costs were estimated for each public-safety answering point (PSAP). The CRTC also asked Tbaytel to explain in detail how some of its costs were calculated per year, along with the methodology used, vintage of costs, source of costs, and its economic assumptions. The three companies must respond to the request for information by Jan. 31.

CRTC asks Eastlink to propose NG 911 rates and submit cost study

Brief | January 17, 2022

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CRTC asks Eastlink to propose NG 911 rates and submit cost study

Brief | January 17, 2022

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