Acentury Inc. 120 West Beaver Creek Rd., Unit 13 Richmond Hill, Ontario Canada L4B 1L2 Director General, Telecommunications and Internet Policy Branch Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada 235 Queen Street, 10th Floor Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H5 February 13, 2020 Subject: Petition to the Governor in Council to Vary Telecom Order CRTC 2019-288, Follow-up to Telecom Orders 2016-396 and 2016-448 – Final rates for aggregated wholesale high-speed access services, Reference: Canadian Gazette, Part 1, August 2019, (TIPB-002-2019) Dear Director General, Telecommunications and Internet Policy Branch, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada: I’m writing this letter in response to the CRTC decision on August 2019 under section 12 of the Telecommunications Act issued by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) concerning final rates for aggregated wholesale high-speed access services. As a valued supplier for all the major Canadian Telecommunication companies, I felt obliged to communicate the impact this decision will have on a growing Canadian technology company like ourselves. Acentury is an aspiring technology company who is currently one of the top 500 Canadian growing businesses as reported by Canadian Business (2019) and also one of the top 400 Canadian growing companies as reported by the Globe and Mail (2019). Our achievement and continued success are a direct result of the investment commitment made to next generation 5G and IoT wireless communications led by Bell Canada, Rogers and Telus. Canadian suppliers like us have been supported by Canadian Tier 1 telcos to help build and innovate our technical core competencies and capabilities; it has helped cultivate the growth of a Canadian-led, global organization that can keep pace and compete with our global technology peers. Canada’s growing digital infrastructure needs are dependent on these innovation initiatives; further, the growth of a competitive global organization will attract and retain a healthy labour workforce that can support the Canadian economy for years to come. Acentury Inc. currently does not have wholesale suppliers in our client list; wholesalers serve as resellers of services and do not have the volume or investment capacity to reinvest their earnings back into next generation development. Although the rates decision may ease the cost burden for the end consumers they serve in the short term, it does not address the long-term needs of next generation infrastructure investment that could be used to help solve those very problems. Canada’s Tier 1 telecommunication companies continue to support the growth of next generation technologies and we are providing that support as valued suppliers. Any delay in infrastructure investment will leave us further behind in our pursuit to maintain global technological parity. I trust this letter sheds some light to the matter from the perspective of a Canadian technology supplier. Thank you for taking the time to read our letter and I trust a revised or varied decision will help address Canada’s current and future digital infrastructure needs. Best regards, Frank Ye President cc. Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, the Hon. Navdeep Bain February 14, 2020 Patricia Brady, Director General, Telecommunications and Internet Policy Branch, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 235 Queen Street, 10th Floor Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H5 Dear Ms. Brady, RE: Canada Gazette, Part 1, December 14, 2019, Petitions to the Governor in Council concerning Telecom Order CRTC 2019-288 (Notice No. TIPB-002-2019) I am writing to you today on behalf of AFL. As a provider of fiber network design, engineering, construction, and installation services to the major telecommunications companies in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec, AFL has a vested interest in the recent decision by the CRTC on wholesale rates. We believe that it’s critically important for Canadians and Canadian business to have access to high-speed internet, which is critical for advancing the digital economy. We support the federal government’s objective of balancing affordability, competition, investment, innovation and expansion to rural, remote and Indigenous communities. AFL employs over 894 employees across Canada. The reduction of infrastructure spending by facilities-based suppliers will jeopardize AFL’s business and our workforce. It also reduces AFL’s ability to invest in future jobs and programs, specifically with the introduction of 5G in Canada. AFL strongly believes that this is a step backwards in the adoption of technology and will drastically slow the roll- out of high-speed internet in rural communities, reduce the quality of service to existing areas and hinder the basic right to online information and services for all Canadians. The facilities-based companies have raised serious concerns in their petitions, and we believe that those concerns need to be addressed by the CRTC. AFL is requesting that Cabinet direct the CRTC to reconsider its decision. Sincerely, Joe Grech President, Network Services AFL ASPLUNDH ASPLUNDH CANADA ULC 12 February 2020 Director General Telecommunications and Internet Policy Branch Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada 235 Queen Street, 10th Floor Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H5 Filed electronically: ic.telecomsubmission-soumissiontelecom.ic(canada.ca Re: Canada Gazette, Part I, December 14, 2019, Volume 153, Number 10: Notice No. TIPB 002-2019 — Petitions to the Governor in Council concerning Telecom Order CRTC 2019- 288 Dear Sir: Our comments are being provided on behalf of Asplundh Canada ULC in support of a petition filed by Bell asking the Government of Canada to overturn an August 2019 order by the CRTC. That CRTC order puts broadband investment at risk by dramatically reducing wholesale rates for Internet resellers. Asplundh provides vegetation management services to Bell in Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes that allow for the provision of reliable, safe services. Reduced broadband investment by major Canadian network providers like Bell raise the following concerns: • Forcing Canada’s network builders to open up their networks for resale by non-network service providers undermines planned capital investments and discourages future investment. • Any CRTC decision that leads to a chill on expected capital investments negatively impacts suppliers that leading network providers depend on for critical elements of their large-scale projects (highlight role in broadband and 5G deployments, if any). • Putting investments intended to extend and improve the reach and capabilities of broadband networks at risk, especially in rural Canada, is counter-productive and will worsen the digital divide that already exists between urban and many rural Canadians. • Discouraging capital investments in communications technologies weakens Canada’s digital ecosystem, impacting jobs, innovation and the ability of Canadian businesses to compete in the emerging digital economy, both regionally and globally. 3366, rue Jacob-Jordan, Terrebonne, Québec, J6X 4J6, 450.968.1888, 450.968.1116 EASPLUNDH ASPLUNDH CANADA ULC We feel that Government policies should encourage ongoing investments in next-generation networks and services by Canada’s major network providers and that overturning the CRTC’s order would deliver important benefits to all Canadians: • Avoids unnecessary delays to investments in network builds, new services and next- generation technologies (including 5G) • Supports investments in Canada’s networks that are critical to supporting jobs and innovation in Canada’s digital ecosystem • Encourages private sector investments that address the urban/rural digital divide • Increases use of advanced networks, products and services that provide important environmental benefits Sincerely, esja rd ins, Vice p res ide nt CC: David A Fleischner, Executive Vice president Michel Boudrias, Bloc Quebecois, Federal Deputy The Hon. Navdeep Bains, PC, MP, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development ised.minister-ministre.isde(ãcanada.ca Z____ 3366, rue Jacob-Jordan, Terrebonne, Québec, J6X 4J6, 450.968.1888, 450.968.1116 C3F TÉLÉCOM INC. 3330 avenue Francis-Hughes Bureau 101 Laval (Québec) Canada H7L 5A7 (Tél.) 450.696.1010 | (Sans frais) 1.866.606.1010 www.c3f.ca Laval, le 14 février 2020 À l’attention de Patricia Brady Directrice générale Direction générale de la politique des télécommunications et d’Internet Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada. Objet : Gazette du Canada, Partie I, 14 décembre 2019, ministère de l’Industrie, Loi sur les télécommunications, avis no TIPB-002-2019 — Pétitions présentées à la gouverneure en conseil concernant l’ordonnance de télécom CRTC 2019- 288 (TIPB-002-2019) Mme Patricia Brady, Au nom de C3F TÉLÉCOM INC. je vous partage ma crainte concernant les répercussions de l’ordonnance en objet (CRTC 2019-288 (TIPB-002-2019)). Le but premier de permettre aux Canadiens un meilleur accès à des services d’accès internet à large bande ne sera pas nécessairement atteint avec cette ordonnance et les répercussions à moyens et à long terme sont encore plus désastreuses. Le déploiement de nouveaux réseaux sera inévitablement réduit. Chaque entreprise qui en possède et qui en déploie normalement souhaitera rentabiliser d’abord ses réseaux existants. Elles seront même tentées d’utiliser les réseaux des autres avec des tarifs aussi bas. L’aspect rétroactif du paiement marquera un arrêt brusque dans les nouveaux déploiements, puisque les