OTTAWA – The radio market of Hamilton and Burlington in Southern Ontario won’t be tuning in to a new station anytime soon after the CRTC determined that the area cannot sustain any additional new commercial radio stations at this time.
The Commission said Wednesday that it will therefore return the application originally filed by Byrnes Communications Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate a commercial radio station in the area, and will not issue a call for new applications.
In a lengthy dissent, Commissioner Raj Shoan said that the decision “does a disservice to the residents of Burlington”, noting that “Burlington…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC tweaked a few details around its upcoming proceeding examining the framework for French-language vocal music (FVM).
The Commission said Wednesday that the public hearing in Quebec City will now begin at 9:30 AM on November 16, 2015 at the TRYP Québec Hôtel PUR; that it is adding an oral reply phase to the hearing; and that following the public hearing, parties may file final written replies on any matter within the proceeding's scope prior to December 10, 2015 at 8:00 PM (Ottawa time). The final written reply, including an executive summary, must not exceed 10 pages.
When the proceeding…
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OTTAWA – There’s not yet a cabinet and he’s not even sworn in as Prime Minister, but Bell Canada is putting Justin Trudeau’s federal government to work, quickly.
Cartt.ca has learned the company filed an appeal to cabinet late Tuesday to overturn the July CRTC decision which grants third party broadband resellers access to newly built fibre to the home or premises (FTTH/FTTP) infrastructure (CRTC 2015-326). Tuesday, October 20th (90 days after the decision) was the final day Bell was eligible to file the appeal, under CRTC rules. A well-placed Bell source with direct knowledge of…
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TORONTO – CRTC telecommunications executive director Chris Seidl has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at next month's 2015 Canadian ISP Summit.
His session is entitled ‘Understanding CRTC Telecommunications Decision 2015-326’ (a.k.a. the wholesale wireline services decision). Come find out about the new wholesale wireline services policy and the implications it may have for your business.
Scheduled for November 9 – 11, 2015 at Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre in Toronto, this year’s theme of ‘Business Excellence’ will celebrate successes, achievements and innovations within the ISP and tech space, with particular attention on the changing economic, social and technological landscape. The conference's…
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QUEBEC’S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY doesn’t want Canada’s broadcasting regulator to review regulations on broadcasting.
At least that’s the conclusion that one could reach through a literal reading of a motion passed unanimously in the legislature last week.
The motion, presented with less than an hour’s notice by Parti Québécois culture critic Véronique Hivon on Sept. 29, states that the Assembly “denounces the will of the CRTC to review the requirements for French-language music broadcast in Quebec” and reiterates the importance of French-language music quotas on radio stations. It passed 100-0.
The resolution comes two months after Continue Reading
GATINEAU – After 27 years at the CRTC in various roles, secretary-general John Traversy has decided he will retire as of December 11, 2015.
He has held the position since former SG Robert Morin retired in 2011. Prior to that he was executive director, telecom for five years. The secretary general is the top operations job at the Commission, overseeing all of the administration. Every complaint, submission and other filing which telecom and broadcasting companies make to the Regulator have Traversy’s name at the top.
“Over the years, I had the opportunity to work on countless files in both the Broadcasting…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has released its greatly anticipated Wholesale Code, intended to help simplify, and perhaps smooth the waters, in many aspects of the relationship between television service providers and television channel owners.
The Commission said Thursday that BRP 2015-438 governs certain aspects of the commercial arrangements between broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDUs), programming undertakings, and exempt digital media undertakings.
“It will ensure that subscribers have greater choice and flexibility in the programming services they receive, that programming services are diverse, available and discoverable on multiple platforms, and that negotiations between programming services and BDUs are conducted in a fair…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has issued revised standard conditions of licence for new and existing Canadian discretionary services operating as national news services, the latest in series of changes in the wake of its Let’s Talk TV proceeding.
The Commission said Wednesday that licensing criteria for national news services “must better reflect the national nature of these services and that these services must demonstrate the capacity to gather news and report events happening throughout Canada”.
Among other conditions, expectations, and encouragement, the CRTC also decreed that the types of programming broadcast by national news services should be comprised almost exclusively of…
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PARIS – The plethora of viewing options has created a legion of “content bulimics”, escalating content discovery and promotion to “a global challenge”, says CRTC broadcasting vice chair Tom Pentefountas.
Speaking Monday at the Culture et médias au défi de l'attention conference in Paris, Pentefountas invited the world to take part in the Commission’s upcoming Discoverability Summit, an event designed to examine and understand the new consumption habits of listeners, viewers and Internet users.
“The Summit, as well as the preliminary discussions, will be opportunities to bring together key creators and thinkers in the industry, and government and university representatives from Canada…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – CRTC employees were honoured at a ceremony at Rideau Hall Wednesday for the Commission’s work on modernizing northern telecommunications.
The CRTC received a Public Service Award of Excellence in the “Excellence in Policy” category. Further to a public hearing, the CRTC developed a regulatory policy for the modernization of the Northwestel network, which will result in improved broadband Internet services and the delivery of advanced wireless services. Canadians living in the North will have access to affordable telecommunications services that will allow them to participate in the digital economy, reads the Commission’s news release.
The Public Service Award…
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