CRTC denies Bell’s toll-free trunk R&V

The CRTC has denied BCE Inc.’s application for a decision requiring it to install trunk connections to carry toll-free traffic between its network and that of Rogers Communications Inc. to be rescinded. In its review and vary application, Bell argued the regulator erred by failing to apply the 2006 free market-emphasizing policy direction in its Dec. 2 decision, and by providing only 150 days from the date of the decision for Bell to implement the new one-way toll trunks. That 150 day deadline has since been extended by the CRTC by a further 90 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to August 17. In May, Rogers lodged a Part 1 application protesting that time extension. In its Wednesday decision, the CRTC said Rogers’ request for trunks to be installed was “in accordance with well-established industry rules, practices and requirements” and said Bell’s assertion that Rogers had imposed a unique obligation on it was incorrect. Currently Rogers toll-free traffic destined for Bell customers is delivered over bill-and-keep trunks, which the CRTC said was not the most appropriate arrangement, given Rogers had its own carrier identification database. The bill-and-keep trunks were the “starting point to facilitate the introduction of local competition,” the CRTC said, adding that it expected the arrangement to eventually be replaced by more direct alternatives and Bell could not expect early interconnection arrangements to remain static. The CRTC also dismissed Bell’s argument that the decision was overly intrusive, labelling it “without merit” in its decision. Further, the regulator said its expectation a toll trunk configuration could be completed within a 150-day timeframe was “realistic and based on factual information.” Bell is required to file proposed revised tariff pages indicating it will receive Rogers-originating toll-free traffic destined for its toll-free telephone number customers over the trunks deployed to Rogers switches by July 20.

CRTC denies Bell’s toll-free trunk R&V

Brief | July 15, 2020

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CRTC denies Bell’s toll-free trunk R&V

Brief | July 15, 2020

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