Bell calls on federal Cabinet to intervene in CRTC denial of Astral purchase

MONTREAL - Bell has confirmed it will ask the federal Cabinet to intervene regarding the CRTC's “shocking decision to completely ignore its own rules and policies in rejecting in its entirety Bell's acquisition of Astral Media.” The telecom will file a request that Cabinet issue a policy direction to the CRTC under Section 7 of the Broadcasting Act, requiring the Commission to “follow its already in-place policies when reviewing change of control transactions in broadcasting.” "The Broadcasting Act explicitly empowers the Cabinet to issue directions to the CRTC on broad policy matters," said Mirko Bibic, Bell's Chief Legal and...