Ottawa, 15 November 2001

Reference: 8662-T42-03/01

1.

On 13 September 2001, TELUS Communications Inc. (TCI) filed a review and vary (R&V) application requesting, among other things, a review of the Phase II costing method changes rendered in Decision CRTC 2001-238, Restructured bands, revised loop rates and related issues, dated 27 April 2001.

2.

In its R&V application, TCI also requested that, effective 1 January 2002, the unbundled loop rates and residential primary exchange service (PES) costs should be made interim and established in accordance with the information provided in response to 30 January 2001 interrogatories that were issued in the proceeding leading to Decision 2001-238.

3.

TCI further requested that, on an interim basis beginning on 1 January 2002, the total subsidy requirement be calculated on the basis of a 25% mark-up and the PES costs filed in response to the 30 January 2001 interrogatories.

4.

On 18 September, GT Group Telecom Services Corp. requested that the comments and reply comments in response to TCI's R&V application be postponed.

5.

In response, by letter dated 20 September 2001, TCI proposed that all incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) refile with the Commission their unbundled loop rates and residential PES costs in accordance with the information provided in response to the 30 January 2001 interrogatories, and adjusted to take into account the reassignment of some exchanges to new bands.

6.

By letter dated 12 October 2001, the Commission staff granted the postponement to 16 November 2001 and 26 November 2001, of the deadline for comments and reply comments, respectively.

7.

In a letter dated 18 October 2001, TCI requested that, in view of the delayed process established by the Commission to address its R&V application, the Commission rule on its request for the ILECs to file unbundled loop rates and PES costs, as indicated above in paragraph 5.

8.

TCI submitted that the timely filing of this information will provide sufficient time for the Commission to establish interim loop rates and revised residential PES costs using this revised information, effective 1 January 2002.

9.

The Commission notes that the PES cost information sought by TCI to recalculate the total subsidy requirement under its proposal is available.

10.

The Commission also notes that the loop rates set out in Decision 2001-238 have been approved on an interim basis.

11.

The Commission considers that it is not appropriate to require the ILECs to file the information in the time frame requested by TCI.

12.

The Commission therefore denies TCI's request.

Secretary General

This document is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined at the following Internet site: http://www.crtc.gc.ca