OTTAWA – The CRTC is calling for comments as it contemplates creating a model municipal access agreement (MAA).
MAAs are negotiated between municipalities and telecommunication providers for access to municipal rights-of-way, such as street crossings and other municipal property, for the purposes of installing, operating, and maintaining transmission facilities.
The Commission said Friday that a model MAA would provide predictability, lower personnel costs in terms of time and money, and entry into new small markets on a more efficient basis, while allowing for a degree of customization to incorporate unique circumstances.
The CRTC has proposed developing a model MAA through a two-step process: first, a public consultation process to seek industry input on what considerations should form part of a model MAA and what policy matters the Commission must address with respect to access to public property; and secondly, the establishment of an ad-hoc CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee (CISC) working group to develop the access terms and conditions, based on the principles and guidance established by the Commission as a result of the first step in the process.
Industry stakeholders are encouraged comment on what considerations, including responsibilities and commitments, the municipality and the carrier should deal with and agree upon in order for the carrier to access public property for the purposes of constructing, maintaining, and operating transmission facilities.
These considerations could include, but are not limited to:
– agreement term;
– liability requirements;
– types of costs to be recovered;
– costing methodologies and assumptions;
– loading factors;
– public safety; and
– any other matters that may have arisen since the Ledcor principles were established in 2001 that should be included in a model MAA.
Interventions are due by November 18, 2011.
