OTTAWA – The CRTC has revised the framework for expanded local calling areas (LCA) in markets that contain only regulated exchanges.
The Commission issued a call for comments in June 2008 on whether and how the expanded LCA regulatory framework should be modified to take into consideration the fact that local residential and business services have been forborne from regulation in many exchanges.
Citing “significant developments” in the telecommunications industry in both competition and technology, the CRTC eliminated the expanded LCA regulatory framework in markets that include at least one forborne exchange. It did, however opt to retain the expanded LCA regulatory framework in markets that contain only regulated exchanges.
Commissioner Louise Poirier offered a dissenting opinion, citing “procedural fairness” and saying that some communities still need a regulatory framework to obtain an expanded local calling area for the purposes of that community’s economic and social development.
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