GATINEAU – In a long-awaited decision, the CRTC today set final rates for wholesale access to the high speed wired networks of Bell, Cogeco, Eastlink, Rogers, SaskTel, Shaw, Telus, and Vidéotron.
The process had started in May 2015 and interim decision was rendered in October 2016. That said, this is a fight that has been going on for more than a decade.
The rates released today (which are paid by independent third party ISPs like TekSavvy and Distributel) are lower than the interim rates and retroactive to 2016. The monthly capacity rates are 15% to 43% lower…
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MONTREAL – Today, Montreal radio listeners had a new morning show to get to know on Bell Media’s 95.9 Virgin Radio as Vinny Barrucco and Shannon King comprise the new morning team (pictured).
“Shannon and ‘Cousin Vinny’ – who’s making his triumphant return to Virgin,” says the press release, sees Barrucco rejoin the station after eight years with Cogeco’s The Beat 92.5. Those two stations compete for listeners and The Beat has been beating Virgin of late.
Barucco and King replace longtime Virgin morning duo Frank Depalo and Natasha Gargiulo, who were let go last week.
“The chemistry between Vinny and…
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LOUISVILLE, Colo. – CableLabs, the cable industry’s standards setting and research and development body, has appointed Mariam Sorond as its new senior vice president and chief research and development officer.
In this role, she will lead R&D, directing the execution and adoption of new technologies for CableLabs’ members and the industry and will help drive technical thought leadership, vision and strategy for the future of connectivity. She will report to president and CEO Phil McKinney
“We’re thrilled to welcome Mariam to CableLabs, bringing her depth of experience and expertise to our members and the industry,” said McKinney. "As we advance…
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GATINEAU – All large internet service providers will have to abide by the CRTC’s new Internet Code of conduct as of January 31, 2020.
The new code, which will apply to Bell, Cogeco, Eastlink, Northwestel, Rogers, Shaw, Sasktel, Telus, Vidéotron, and Xplornet has been created to try to ensure consumers receive easier-to-understand contracts, documentation and policies surrounding service calls, outages, security deposits and disconnections, reads the release. It’s worth noting here this new code does not apply to mobile wireless internet providers. (Correction: An earlier version of this story mentioned the code will apply to small…
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GATINEAU – Last summer Cloudwifi, a Kitchener-based ISP that operates mostly in the apartment and condo space, filed an application with the CRTC requesting an order stating Bell Canada can’t interfere with a customer’s use of the inside wire.
The CRTC agreed with the independent ISP but Bell appealed saying because Cloudwifi was not a local exchange carrier (LEC) or a BDU, it had no legal, regulatory, or other rights of use or access to the facilities at issue. On July 17, 2019, the Commission asked interested parties for applications on the review of CRTC decision…
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Bell looks to burnish money-losing network
MONTREAL – Bell Media today announced it will purchase the conventional TV network V and its related digital assets, including the ad-supported VOD service Noovo.ca, from Groupe V Média.
The deal, which would bring Bell its first French-language TV network, is pending CRTC and Competition Bureau approval (We’re expecting vigorous opposition from Quebecor CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau when the application to the Commission is made public). Those with good memories will recall V used to be TQS and was co-owned by Cogeco and CTVglobemedia. It’s current owner purchased the station in 2008, when it was…
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OTTAWA – The federal government today announced $2.2 million in funding for Cogeco Connexion to bring new or improved high-speed Internet access and capacity to the communities of Mountain View and Glasgow Station.
In addition to the Government of Canada investment, Cogeco Connexion is contributing just over $995,000, bringing the total investment to $3.2 million. Glasgow Station is just west of Ottawa and Mountain View is in Prince Edward County, just south of Belleville.
The announcement was made by Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Rural Economic Development and the money comes from the Connect to Innovate program.
"Thanks to our strong regional presence,…
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Canadian broadband revenue slips
MONTREAL –Cogeco Communications reported Wednesday evening third quarter revenue increased by 3.6% to reach $587.3 million, mainly driven by the 10% growth in its American broadband services segment.
On a constant currency basis, revenue increased by 1.7% in the period ended May 31, 2019.
American broadband services revenue increased by 5.4%, resulting from rate increases implemented in August 2018, the continued growth in Internet and telephony services customers as well as the acquisition in late 2018 of the south Florida fibre network previously owned by FiberLight. The increase was partly offset by a…
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MONTREAL – Earlier this month Cogeco announced it has hired Marie Ginette Lepage (pictured) as its new vice-president, wireless solutions and innovation.
Lepage was most recently with Stingray, as SVP, global sales and mobile solutions and before that, she spent more than 10 years at Vidéotron where she held several senior roles. After managing the wireless service once offered by Vidéotron as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), she led the roll-out of the company’s mobile network in September 2010, notes Cogeco’s announcement to staff.
“In her role as Vice President, Wireless Solutions and Innovation, she is responsible for developing and…
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Videotron, SaskTel score top marks for 7th time
TORONTO – TV service providers who make it easy for their customers to binge-watch their favourite content score higher in customer satisfaction, according to new data from J.D. Power.
The 2019 Canada Television Provider Customer Satisfaction Study is based on seven factors (in order of importance): performance and reliability; cost of service; programming; communications and promotions; features and functionality; billing and payment; and customer service. The 2019 Canada Internet Service Provider Customer Satisfaction Study measures overall satisfaction with internet service providers and is based on five factors (in order of importance): performance and…
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