By Ken Kelley
TORONTO – It’s not surprising the proposed Rogers-Shaw merger would be one of the first topics that Rogers president and CEO Joe Natale would tackle at the TD Securities’ virtual Telecom and Media Conference on Wednesday.
While the merger still has a number of regulatory hurdles to clear, including the Competition Bureau, ISED Canada and the CRTC, it did chalk up a victory earlier this week when the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta gave the merger the green light. The court’s approval followed an overwhelming thumbs up from Shaw’s shareholders last week.
“We’re very delighted with…
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By Ahmad Hathout
GATINEAU – The CRTC’s second attempt at determining the wholesale costs of internet capacity will determine whether or not third party internet access providers can lower customer rates, if it continues to allow the big telecoms to execute on network investment decisions, or if it elicits yet more appeals.
Striking the right balance on rates for competition and network investment is not only a goal of the Regulator, but it’s a requirement under a cabinet direction from 2020. And Thursday’s upcoming decision – coupled with the CRTC’s decision to force open the big wireless networks to regional carriers…
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By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal challenging a lower court’s decision to force internet service providers to block the websites of a company that sold unlicensed TV content.
The appeal court ruled Wednesday the Federal Court’s November 2019 website-blocking order against GoldTV was appropriate and did not step on the CRTC’s jurisdiction, as the court had the ability to unilaterally make such an order. The decision also said the order did not interfere with net neutrality principles because the blocking ISPs are not controlling or influencing the content or traffic on their…
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By Denis Carmel
GATINEAU – On April 21, 2021, Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and the Forum for Research and Policy in Communications (FRPC) filed an application with the CRTC proposing to stabilize the funding of the Broadcasting Participation Fund (BPF) but as of today, May 26th, the CRTC has not yet posted the Part I application to its website, therefore a process has not yet been initiated.
“Time is of the essence in this matter, as the Broadcasting Participation Fund (BPF) faces potential revenue shortfalls and exhaustion, in part due to the paucity of tangible benefits orders resulting from media…
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Northwestel wants to wait on Starlink effect before CRTC proceeds
GATINEAU — The CRTC is asking for further comments on its review of telecom services in Canada’s North, even though replies to the proceeding previously closed on March 24, in order to let interveners respond to a concern raised by the government of the Northwest Territories regarding a request by Northwestel to delay the proceeding until the impact of Elon Musk’s Starlink’s low Earth orbit (LEO) service in northern Canada is known.
In its reply comments dated March 24, Northwestel wrote: “…to ensure that the Commission’s regulatory framework review is…
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CALGARY — Shaw Communications announced late Tuesday afternoon the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta has approved the proposed business combination agreement between Shaw and Rogers Communications.
This follows news last week that Shaw’s shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of the purchase deal, which still requires regulatory approval from the Competition Bureau, ISED Canada and the CRTC.
The companies expect the merger transaction to be finalized in the first half of 2022.
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NEWMARKET, Ont. — The Canadian Telecom Summit today announced it will host a free webinar next month to help Canadian telephone service providers prepare for the CRTC-mandated implementation of the STIR/SHAKEN framework for authenticating IP-based voice calls later this year.
The acronym means Secure Telephone Identity Revisited (STIR) and Signature-based Handling of Asserted information using toKENs (SHAKEN)
In April, the CRTC announced all Canadian telecom providers must implement STIR/SHAKEN by November 30, 2021. In advance of their implementation of the framework, telcos are required to submit an implementation readiness assessment report by August 31.
The CTS webinar, scheduled for Wednesday, June…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC will announce its decision on the wholesale fees third party internet access providers must pay incumbents to access their wired networks on Thursday.
The Commission sent out an email Tuesday afternoon saying the announcement, which is actually a decision on a review and vary appeal filed by the incumbent telcos and cablecos over the original decision announced in August 2019, will be this week.
When we asked the CRTC if Thursday is the day – because that’s the day of the week the Regulator normally chooses to make public such contentious decisions – and if there will…
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By Denis Carmel
MONTREAL – In a ruling issued on May 5th, the Court of Appeal of Québec denied the appeal of the Government of Québec of a July 2018 Superior Court ruling which said telecommunications was a strict federal Jurisdiction.
On March 26, 2015, Québec’s Budget Speech announced a new provision would be added to the Consumer Protection Act so it would be amended to say Internet service providers would be required “to block access to unauthorized online gambling sites.” The judge concluded this new provision was to allow Loto-Québec to force ISPs to block access by individuals in…
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CEO Péladeau has already said he is interested in Freedom Mobile
By Ahmad Hathout
MONTREAL – Quebecor CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau has been making headlines in recent weeks by suggesting he is interested in acquiring Freedom Mobile in the event that condition is forced by regulators as part of a Rogers-Shaw merger. Now, he’s sending lobbyists west to familiarize the brand.
During a conference call related to his company’s first quarter earnings report this month, Péladeau expressed interest in taking Videotron’s brand nationwide. He said regulatory conditions are better now, following the CRTC’s decision to give regional carriers access to the wireless…
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