QUISPAMSIS N.B. – As reported by cartt.ca on Monday, the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance has made official its plans to move into the regulatory realm.
A press release issued by the Alliance today pointed out that over 1.5 million Canadians can get services like high definition television, voice over Internet protocol, interactive television, high speed Internet and video on demand not from giant communications corporations, but from their own local cable operator.
"These independent operators provide hundreds of local high tech jobs, community broadcasting, personal, dedicated service and cutting-edge communications to customers in hundreds of communities across Canada," says the release.
While Canada’s large cable companies have the resources to represent themselves well on Parliament Hill, smaller cablecos have different needs – and don’t have large regulatory departments to handle every broadcast and telecom file that comes up. The Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association handled that function for 50 years but was shuttered in February of this year.
So, the CCSA, a 14-year-old organization which has operated primarily as a buying group for its 94-member companies (it’s the third-largest buyer of English-language programming in Canada, for example), has decided to expand and offer regulatory assistance to its members. CCSA vice-president, corporate and regulatory affairs, Chris Edwards will spearhead the new regulatory focus of the organization with former CCTA vice-president Harris Boyd as the group’s primary regulatory advisor. Boyd will be based in Ottawa.
"This is a necessary step for our members," said CCSA president and CEO Alyson Townsend in the release. "Our members offer similar services but face different challenges than the big cable operators and other distributors, so the board decided we should have our own voice in Ottawa."
"We need to be heard," added board chairman Michael Andrews, president and CEO of Amtelecom, a cable and telecom firm based in Aylmer, Ont. "Our companies have a proven, lengthy track record of serving their loyal customers, who in many cases are their neighbours. It’s important for the decision makers on Parliament Hill to be aware of our successes."
"Persona Communications may be one of the largest of the CCSA’s membership – we serve hundreds of small communities across Canada – but we don’t have the resources for a full time legal staff to keep an eye on Ottawa," said Persona president and CEO Dean MacDonald. "Having Alyson, Chris, Harris and the rest of the CCSA team on top of things will be a great help to our company and the whole CCSA membership."
"We want to keep our focus on our 7,000 customers in and around Kenora, keeping their Internet speeds high and adding as many digital and high definition channels as we can," explained Norcom Communications’ general manager and CCSA board vice-chair Warren Ritchie: "Our customers and our company need a strong presence in Ottawa and the CCSA is a perfect fit."
