QUISPAMSIS, N.B. – The Canadian Communication Systems Alliance has announced the shortlisted nominees for three of its five contest categories for Tuned-In Canada 2021, the organization’s long-standing annual initiative which celebrates the contributions CCSA-Member independent communications companies make to their communities and for their customers.
Judges Matt Polka (president and CEO of ACA Connects – America’s Communications Association), Suzanne Lamarre (lawyer at Therrien Couture and former CRTC commissioner), Greg O’Brien (editor and publisher of Cartt.ca), and newcomer judge Greg Hemmings (founder and CEO of New Brunswick-based Hemmings House Pictures) have completed the scoring process for the three “Public Voting” contest…
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QUISPAMSIS, N.B. — The Canadian Communication Systems Alliance (CCSA) announced today nominations are now open for Tuned-In Canada: The CCSA Awards 2021, which celebrate the contributions CCSA-member independent communications companies make to their communities and customers.
“If ever there was a time to recognize the amazing ways in which our members serve Canadians across this country, the time is now!” said Jay Thomson, CEO of the CCSA, in a press release. “We are fortunate that we can take this opportunity to celebrate how, in the face of the unprecedented challenges Canadians have faced this past year, CCSA members have kept…
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By Denis Carmel
GATINEAU – Late in 2019, in following up its universal service objective decision, the CRTC decided to study the barriers to building new facilities or to accessing or interconnecting with existing facilities in order to extend broadband networks more efficiently into underserved areas, including areas where, due to a lack of such networks, speeds don’t meet the service objectives.
Of course, in March 2020, the pandemic hit, and a vast number of Canadians went home to work, becoming completely dependent on their home’s high-speed Internet to continue work and school. Access to high-speed Internet rapidly became a political…
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Government promises faster action, 250,000 new connections by the end of 2021
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – The federal government announced Monday that it will begin accepting applications for its Universal Broadband Fund, which will now include an additional $750 million of new money and a fast-track application stream.
The $1.75-billion program, announced in the federal budget back in March 2019, will carve out $150 million to provide rapid project completion by November 15, 2021 for “shovel-ready” projects. The government anticipates spending up to $5 million on the speedier projects – applications of which are due by January 2021 – which…
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Videotron, others, are skeptical of Bell’s commitments
By Denis Carmel
MONTREAL – On Friday, Bell Canada issued a news release announcing new measures to simplify the process for access to poles by recipients of the Québec Branché and Régions Branchées grant programs and other service providers.
This follows a process announced by the Government of Québec back in May 2020, along with the members of a working group that was tasked to accelerate the deployment of high-speed Internet in rural regions through a program financed by the Government of Québec.
“To address the many technical challenges associated with the deployment of fibre…
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TORONTO – Bell Media’s 24-hour news network CTV News Channel has launched a nationwide free preview, the broadcaster announced today.
The free preview is available through participating television service providers across the country, including but not limited to Bell, Bell Aliant, BellMTS, Cogeco, Eastlink, Rogers, SaskTel, and participating members of the CCSA.
Please click here for more.
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MONTREAL – Videotron announced Friday it has completed a series of major investments that have brought high-speed Internet to more than 30,000 households in small towns and rural areas.
Most of the new connections are outside major centres, mainly in the Lanaudière, Lower Laurentians, Outaouais, Eastern Townships, Montérégie, and Charlevoix regions. The network investments started in 2017 and totalled more than $25 million, said the company on Friday.
The company plans to continue making substantial investments to meet the growing need for Internet connectivity and access, continues its statement. Videotron’s network now reaches more than 90% of Quebecers and the company…
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QUISPAMSIS, N.B. – The Canadian Communication Systems Alliance said this morning it supports Videotron’s recent complaint to the Competition Bureau which alleges Bell Canada is unfairly slowing down and blocking access to Bell’s support structures (poles) in Quebec.
“CCSA’s members in Quebec have had the same experiences and frustrations Videotron cites in trying to get fair and timely access to Bell-owned telephone poles in order to extend high-speed Internet services in that province,” said CCSA CEO Jay Thomson in a release this morning.
“Anti-competitive tactics by Bell and other pole owners represent the biggest barrier to providing rural Canadians with…
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GATINEAU — Reading around the gaps in a heavily redacted copy of a complaint filed with the CRTC on August 12, this much is clear — the Canadian Communication Systems Alliance (CCSA) and several of its member BDUs are accusing Bell Media of “unreasonably denying or delaying access” to some of its programming services.
In doing so, the CCSA claims in its Part 1 application posted to the CRTC web site Wednesday, Bell Media has breached its “competitive safeguards” conditions of licence and/or the wholesale code for discretionary services.
What isn’t clear, due to the redactions in the application posted…
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MONTREAL — TV music provider Stingray announced it reached an agreement with the Canadian Communication Systems Alliance (CCSA) to expand their long-standing relationship.
As part of the expanded channel distribution partnership, CCSA members’ commercial and residential subscribers gain access to Stingray’s music video TV channels PalmarèsADISQ par Stingray, Stingray Hits!, Stingray Retro, Stingray Loud, Stingray Vibe and Stingray Country, as well as its 4K channels Stingray Festival 4K, Stingray Now 4K and Stingray Naturescape, plus Stingray Classica which features video recordings of classical orchestras, operas and ballets from the world’s most prestigious venues. The subscription video-on-demand services Stingray Karaoke and…
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