Fido Solutions Inc. – Withdrawal of equal access and destandardization of casual calling arrangements
1. The Commission received an application from Fido Solutions Inc. (Fido), dated 4 July 2012, proposing revisions to its Access Services Tariff to
- withdraw elements related to equal access[1] arrangements, pursuant to changes to the network interconnection obligations for wireless competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) set out in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2012-24;
- destandardize existing casual calling[2] arrangements with long distance service providers, including billing and collection services for such arrangements; and
- withdraw the multi-frequency (MF) signalling[3] option for interconnection circuits.
2. The Commission received comments from Yak Communications (Canada) Corp. (Yak). The public record of this proceeding is available on the Commission’s website at www.crtc.gc.ca under “Public Proceedings” or by using the file number provided above.
3. Fido noted that Yak was the only long distance service provider that had entered into an equal access arrangement with Fido, and that both parties had reached an agreement to terminate the arrangement. Fido also noted that it had notified the long distance service providers with which it has casual calling arrangements of its application. Fido further noted that no long distance service provider has ever requested MF signalling, and that its network equipment will soon be unable to support it.
4. Yak supported the proposed revisions, submitting that it was no longer economic for it to offer wireless equal access and wireless casual calling services to Fido customers.
5. The Commission notes that in Telecom Regulatory Policy 2012-24, it determined that a wireless carrier should not be required to support equal access to qualify as a CLEC.
6. The Commission also notes that Fido has informed customers with which it has casual calling arrangements of its application.
7. The Commission further notes Fido’s submission that its equipment will soon be unable to support MF signalling, and that no long distance service providers currently use Fido’s MF signalling option.
8. The Commission considers that Fido’s proposals comply with the requirements set out in Telecom Decision 2008-22, in which the Commission revised its procedures for dealing with applications to destandardize and/or withdraw tariffed services.
9. In light of the above, the Commission considers Fido’s proposals to be reasonable. Accordingly, the Commission approves Fido’s application.
Secretary General
