OTTAWA – Given the timelines involved in relation to other proceedings already under way, one wonders why the CRTC is even bothering with its latest telecom public notice.
On Thursday, the Commission called for comments on Bell Canada’s application on introducing Bell Digital Voice (PN #2005-9). Thing is, it’s already been approved and there are much bigger fish to fry – some of which are already frying.
Bell Digital Voice is the VOIP (voice over IP) service the company launched in Quebec months prior to the CRTC’s May 12 decision on the matter which said, in part, that incumbent telcos like Bell still had to apply for tariffs for VOIP products, while newcomers such as cable companies, do not.
Right after the decision, Bell applied for tariff approval. The Commission quickly approved it on an interim basis on June 14th, telling the industry it would issue a public call for comments later. Later has arrived.
Bell’s application requests the tariff be confidential and that it couldn’t offer 9-1-1 as normal among other limitations. It also submitted a minimum and maximum rate range for Commission approval, so that the company could alter its pricing within that range without having to re-apply for another tariff. Finally, Bell told the Commission it could not at this time, provide equal access to other carriers in the region it is offering VOIP.
“The company requested that the confidential status of the minimum and maximum rates be maintained after approval,” reads the PN. “Bell Canada indicated that for all future price changes within a range, it would issue new tariff pages on the effective date and provide, in confidence, copies to the Commission 48 hours in advance.
Bell advised the Commission that “the caller’s location and telephone number are not automatically transmitted with a 9-1-1 call. The caller must orally provide the information to an operator answering the call.”
According to the CRTC, VOIP delivered 911 must work the same as regular 911 and transmit the location and telephone number of the caller.
Further, “Bell Canada indicated that equal access was not available with Bell Digital Voice service at the present time,” it continued. “Bell Canada was of the view that the CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee (CISC) should be mandated to identify issues associated with the implementation of equal access in relation to VoIP services, and to report back to the Commission with its conclusions, including possible solutions and timelines, within a period of 12 months from the time the Commission would issue directives to CISC.”
Meantime, the VOIP decision mandates that all carriers make room for third parties wishing to provide VOIP services.
The “why bother” aspect of this is that the respective deadlines to respond to the PN start in July and extend to September, given the back and forth volleying of regulatory reply and response.
While that’s going on, the Commission and the telecom and cable industry will have most of its focus on the local forbearance hearings, which will touch upon every issue raised by this public notice – and will probably be resolved more quickly since CRTC chairman Charles Dalfen has promised a decision on local forbearance by March 2006.
Plus, this doesn’t even mention the appeals of the VOIP decision which have already been launched by the Saskatchewan government and will soon be filed by Bell and Telus.
– Greg O’Brien
