Posting makes it highly unlikely chairman Blais will be retained
OTTAWA – January 23rd, the federal government made public a slew of Governor-in-Council appointment vacancies, including four at the CRTC.
While many, us included, had been postulating (apparently incorrectly, as it turns out) that CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais would have his term extended beyond his current five-year mandate which ends June 17th of this year, the fact his job is now publicly posted as open to applicants would seem to bring to an end his reign atop the Regulator – unless of course…
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CHATHAM, ON – TekSavvy stayed true to its word and began lowering the rates on most of its Internet packages this week.
The independent ISP told customers in December that it would pass along the savings that it realized as a result of the CRTC’s wholesale high-speed access rates decision starting with the first billing cycle of 2017.
TekSavvy customers can expect to see their bills drop by anywhere from $5 to $15 per month, depending on their area and level of service.
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TORONTO – A lift in SiriusXM Canada’s self-pay subscriber base helped to boost first quarter revenues by 4.4%.
For the period ended November 30, 2016, revenue from $83.5 million to $87.2 million year-over-year, reflecting growth in its self-paying subscriber base. Q1 FY2017 self-pay ARPU dipped 0.2% to $12.54 due to increased promotional activity.
Net income and comprehensive income of $9.8 million was down 2.7% from $10.1 million year-over-year, mainly due to higher operating costs combined with depreciation and amortization, partly offset by increased revenues.
Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter grew 3.1% to $24.2 million from $23.5 million in the same period last…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC will open a public hearing on January 16 as it seeks to establish a regulatory framework for next-generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) in Canada.
After soliciting feedback early last year, the Commission said that its determinations will be limited to issues that fall within its jurisdiction under the Telecommunications Act, including the roles and responsibilities of telecommunications service providers, the evolution of existing 9-1-1 networks, and the means by which NG9-1-1 services and network functionality will be funded and implemented.
NG 9-1-1 is a term used to describe more technologically advanced 9-1-1 services, such as the ability to send text…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has announced plans for another proceeding to help cut down on the number of unwanted telemarketing calls that Canadians receive.
The Commission said Monday that a follow-up to last November’s proceeding was necessary in light of recent “significant developments”.
In this proceeding, the CRTC is asking for information and comments on:
– the implementation, use, and effectiveness of technical solutions to authenticate caller ID information for wireline, wireless, and voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) networks in Canada;
– the implementation, use, and effectiveness of mechanisms to trace and identify the source of a call;
– any barriers to implementation…
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OTTAWA – While Canadians complained less frequently about their wireless services last year, data overage fees and international roaming charges continue to cause bill shock for many, according to the CRTC.
The Commission released its 2016 Fall survey on wireless issues Thursday, part of its planned three year review of the Wireless Code that will also include a public hearing in Gatineau from February 6 – 9, 2017. The CRTC has conducted annual surveys on wireless issues and awareness of the Wireless Code since 2014.
In 2016, 17% of Canadians with wireless plans reported making a complaint, down from 26%…
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YELLOWKNIFE – Count SSi Micro amongst those stakeholders throwing their support behind the CRTC’s recent #TalkBroadband decision designating broadband access as a basic telecommunications service.
SSi, which has deployed satellite and local broadband wireless facilities throughout Nunavut and in communities of the Northwest Territories, said that it agrees with the Commission that a national broadband strategy must include participation from stakeholders that include the CRTC, the private sector, and various levels of government, including First Nations and Inuit organizations.
“We believe broadband is the new basic telecommunications service, and appreciate the Commission’s (Universal Service Objective) framework embracing that reality,” said SSi chief…
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MARKHAM, ON – While applauding the CRTC’s decision designating broadband access as a basic telecommunications service, Iristel wants the new $750M broadband fund awarded to “companies committed to competition”.
Iristel, itself a CLEC as well as the majority owner of Ice Wireless, which offers 3G/4G HSPA+ technology in Canada's North, said that the #TalkBroadband decision shows that the Commission is serious about helping to bridge Canada’s digital divide.
"The Digital Divide is more than geography. It's also incumbent complacency”, said Iristel president Samer Bishay, in a statement Thursday. “… It is critically important that the money – coming from customers'…
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CHATHAM – TekSavvy's Internet customers will soon have a little more money in their pockets after being told by the company that it will cut prices starting in January.
The independent ISP began contacting customers Monday promising to pass along savings that it realized as a result of the CRTC’s wholesale high-speed access rates decision in October. That decision made interim changes to slash the prices that the big incumbents are allowed to charge third-party internet providers for wholesale high-speed access services.
“Correcting wholesale network access rates to a fairer level lets us create more savings for our customers, get back…
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TORONTO – The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) has joined the fight against the CRTC’s decision to ban simultaneous substitution of the upcoming Super Bowl broadcast.
The performers union, which calls simultaneous substitution “a longstanding and successful CRTC policy that ensures Canadian advertising dollars stay in Canada”, wants its 23,000 members to contact their Member of Parliament to demand that the decision be reversed; share messages of support on social media; and visit the new website supportcreators.ca to help spread the word.
“Most Canadians don’t know that the Canadian ads they see during the Super Bowl…
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