The CRTC has asked Rogers and Cogeco to continue to provide competitors access to their networks as the regulator moves to address the impact of copper decommissioning on the wholesale internet market.
On the same day the regulator released its wholesale rate decision, the CRTC sent a letter to various large and regional telecoms Tuesday notifying them that it is asking Rogers and Cogeco to continue to provide competitors access to its older facilities as they move toward pure fibre.
Rogers and TekSavvy asked the CRTC in June to suspend a Part 1 application filed by the independent telecom because the parties came to an agreement to maintain access to two Toronto buildings and because some issues emerging out of the wholesale rate decision on Tuesday would address some of TekSavvy’s concerns. The CRTC had already asked Cogeco to maintain service in other locations for TekSavvy as it similarly transitioned to fibre.
In Tuesday’s wholesale rate decision, the CRTC said it would be embarking on a proceeding to determine the broader impact of copper decommissioning on wholesale competitors who rely on coaxial facilities to deliver services to their customers. If the cable companies are allowed to transition to pure fibre through to the premises, then the only option competitors will have to connect to the facilities is through the economically difficult disaggregated regime, in which they must get their own transport mile to access the last mile of the cable companies.
The CRTC reinforced its view Tuesday that while the large incumbent telephone companies must provide bundled – or aggregated – transport and last mile fibre access, the cable companies do not because those builds are relatively new and few to make a real impact.
That leaves competitors in a pickle if cable companies begin converting their hybrid networks to pure fibre, as it would lock them out of the mandatory aggregated access regime.
“Given that issues related to decommissioning practices will be subject to additional process, consideration of TekSavvy’s application, which included a request for the Commission to launch a proceeding to consider the decommissioning practices of incumbents, remains suspended,” the CRTC said in Tuesday’s letter. “As such, Cogeco is required, for the time being, to maintain competitive wholesale HSA access to all premises at the identified sites.”
The letter similarly requested that “TekSavvy and Rogers maintain their current agreement until that process can be resolved.”
