On Friday, the CRTC issued a Notice of Consultation that combines two proceedings into a consultation that will look at the future of wholesale access for next generation ILEC and cable broadband networks.
The idea is to look at the evolution of broadband access given that ILECs and cablecos are upgrading their local access networks in order to enhance their high-speed retail Internet services.
The Commission had two separate processes looking at competitor access to the telco and cable networks [telco proceeding, cable proceeding] despite requests from the ILECs to merge the processes. The CRTC has apparently come around to see the benefit of considering the issues of competitive and technical neutrality between the access networks. The downside is the frustration felt by competitors seeking access to the networks; this extends the timeframes before the record is complete.
The CRTC has said that the review will be held within the context of the Essential Services decision.
this proceeding is not intended to establish a new regulatory policy framework, but rather to apply the existing regulatory framework as set out in Telecom Decision 2008-17. Accordingly, the issue of whether the provision of the high-speed access services that are the subject of this proceeding should be mandated will be addressed in the context of that framework.
No changes to the Essential Services framework – this proceeding will look at the applicability of the essentiality definitions. This will likely hinge on the examination of the question of “It is not practical or feasible for competitors to duplicate the functionality of the facility.”
The merged process includes oral hearings beginning November 16.
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