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Canadian Telecom Challenges Regulator over VoIP - CRTC Imposes 9-1-1 Rules
Bell Canada recently announced that its trial offering of digital voice service, which began in Sherbrooke in January, has now been extended to a commercial launch in Quebec City and Trois Rivieres. There is no information about when other cities will be added. The service uses any high-speed Internet connection and customers do not have to pay for a traditional local phone line. Observers see Bell's announcement as a challenge to the CRTC and its view to-date that Voice over IP (VoIP) services offered by established carriers are subject to the same rules as traditional local services. A key CRTC decision on the issue is scheduled for release this spring. It is expected that that decision will clear up the regulatory uncertainty that exists for broadband phone providers. A spokesman for the CRTC has said that the CRTC VoIP decision will be out sometime in May.
On a related note, the CRTC has issued a decision requiring VoIP providers to provide 9-1-1 services. Providers of fixed VoIP services must within 90 days implement the same level of service as provided by the corresponding incumbent telephone companies (either Enhanced 9-1-1 or Basic 9-1-1 service). Providers of nomadic or foreign exchange VoIP services must implement a level of service comparable to Basic 9-1-1 service. In addition, VoIP service providers must notify customers of 9-1-1 limitations, and obtain acknowledgements from them, before service begins. Ongoing notices of limitations are also required during service provision.
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