OTTAWA – The CRTC today approved the broadcast side of the merger between Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications, with several conditions attached.
The Commission concluded the transaction – when modified – “is in the public interest and advances the objectives set out for the Canadian broadcasting system in the Broadcasting Act,” its decision reads. “Canadians as consumers will benefit from this transaction.”
One of the conditions included in the decision requires Rogers to submit a revised tangible benefits proposal. Tangible benefits were a significant topic of discussion during the CRTC’s hearing last November.
Originally, Rogers proposed a tangible benefits package…
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WINNIPEG – A new 584 area code will be gradually introduced in Manitoba starting Oct. 29, 2022.
The province is currently served by the 204 and 431 area codes.
The introduction of the new area code is the result of a CRTC decision “and is intended to meet the continuously growing demand for new telephone numbers,” says a press release from the Telecommunications Alliance, which runs communications on behalf of Canada’s major telecom service providers regarding the introduction of new area codes.
“The introduction of a new area code creates millions of additional telephone numbers without affecting the existing numbers,” said…
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“I’m not building yesterday’s telecom,” founder says
By Amanda OYE
RICHMOND, B.C. – After spending nearly two decades working for a major Canadian telecom, Babbl Communications’ president and founder Jason Speers (above) decided to put what he had learned to use to bring down Internet prices in western Canada.
Babbl is a third-party Internet access (TPIA) provider that was launched last September and currently serves over 40 communities in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Southern Vancouver Island and the Sea to Sky Corridor.
Internet packages, which are currently being offered at a discounted rate, include $35/month for Internet 75, $45/month…
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Freedom Mobile founder wants to buy the company back
TORONTO – Xplornet Communications Inc. is in talks with Rogers Communications Inc. about purchasing Shaw Communication Inc.’s Freedom Mobile, according to the Globe and Mail, which cites “three sources familiar with the talks.”
It was reported last week Rogers is in talks with potential buyers for Freedom. This news followed a statement from François-Philippe Champagne, the minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, which indicated he would not allow Rogers to acquire all of Shaw’s wireless assets.
Rogers needs approvals from the CRTC, Competition Bureau and ISED before it can…
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MONTREAL — The province of Quebec will see the introduction of three new area codes later this year.
Starting Oct. 22, the new area code 263 will be introduced in Montreal, which is currently served by area codes 514 and 438.
At the same time, the new area code 354 will be added in the regions currently served by area codes 450 and 579 in the surrounding area of Montreal.
In addition, the new area code 468 will be added to the regions covered by area codes 819 and 873, which includes communities in central and western Quebec such as Gatineau, Sherbrooke,…
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Also requests he make careful decisions about his participation in certain proceedings
GATINEAU – The Competitive Network Operators of Canada (CNOC) today asked CRTC chair and CEO Ian Scott directly to resolve a backlog of CRTC decisions and to consider his participation in certain Commission proceedings.
In a letter filed today via GCKey, which Cartt.ca has received a copy of, CNOC asks Scott “to resolve the Commission’s backlog of competition moving decisions as soon as possible,” arguing the CRTC “has accumulated a severe backlog of pending decisions and / or inactive proceedings that involve matters that are critical to…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC announced today it has estimated its total broadcasting regulatory costs for the 2022-2023 fiscal year under subsection 9(1) of the Broadcasting Licence Fee Regulations will be $34 million.
The estimate is used to help determine the Part I licence fees paid annually by certain broadcasting undertakings.
The annual adjustment amount referred to in subsection 8(2) of the regulations for 2020-2021 is $479,000, however, Part I licence fees paid or payable by licensees were remitted for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, according to Broadcasting Order CRTC 2022-70. (This was in consideration of the impact of the pandemic on broadcasters.)
Taking…
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OTTAWA and GATINEAU – The CRTC announced today Canadian television service providers can no longer distribute the Russian state-funded English-language channel RT (Russia Today) or RT France.
The Commission formally removed both channels from its list of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution in Canada after determining their continued distribution “is not in the public interest,” according to a press release.
“RT’s programming is not consistent with the standards against which Canadian services are measured nor the policy objectives set out in the Broadcasting Act,” the release explains.
“The CRTC is also concerned with programming from a foreign country…
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TORONTO – Rogers Communications is in talks with potential buyers of Shaw Communications’ Freedom Mobile, although according to the Globe and Mail, these talks do not include Quebecor subsidiary Videotron.
The news comes following a statement earlier this month from François-Philippe Champagne, minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, in which he said he would not allow Rogers to acquire all of Shaw’s wireless assets. (Rogers’ acquisition of Shaw still needs approval from ISED, the CRTC and the Competition Bureau.)
At a Scotia Bank conference the following week, Rogers CEO Tony Staffieri said Rogers found the statement to be…
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OTTAWA – The International Institute of Communications (IIC) Canadian Chapter has released a preliminary program for its annual conference, being held as a hybrid event this year with the in-person part taking place at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on May 16 and 17.
According to an email announcing registration for the event is open, the conference will feature discussions on a variety of topics including:
Competition law and platform regulation
Bill C-11 (the Online Streaming Act)
Rural broadband in Canada and the optimal mix of technologies
Developments in Indigenous media
Compensation for news media
Broadband mapping
The importance…
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