Company challenges CRTC on decision not to indulge passive infrastructure debate; seamless roaming
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – When the CRTC asked for comments for its review of the wireless industry—with eyes trained on whether it would force negotiations on access to big wireless networks—a parallel issue emerged in the submissions: How will the regulator deal with the emerging friction between cellcos and local officials when it comes to equipment attachments on municipal infrastructure?
Apparently, not at all. Mid last month, in its decision to force the big three carriers to lease wireless network capacity to regional carriers, the Regulator said…
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By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – During its May 10th meeting, the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage Committee all agreed to invite the Ministers of Canadian Heritage and Justice to its next meeting, once a revised Charter statement on Bill C-10’s conformity with the Canadian Charter of Rights would be produced, and to suspend the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill until that happened.
Well, the Charter statement was produced, it said the partly examined C-10 is just fine, and the Minister of Canadian Heritage showed up for questioning on Friday. However, the Minister of Justice, David Lametti turned down his…
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By Greg O’Brien
MONTREAL and OXFORD, N.S. – Should the Competition Bureau decide Freedom Mobile must be sold as a condition of Rogers Communications being able to purchase Shaw Communications, count Eastlink founder John Bragg and Quebecor Inc. CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau as interested.
During his company’s first quarter conference call with financial analysts today, Péladeau said the Commission’s new wireless policies, coupled with the potential for Freedom Mobile coming on the market, could mean conditions are right for the company to move beyond its home province.
“We’re pleased with the CRTC decision allowing facilities-based MVNOs, as it confirms the importance…
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WINNIPEG – Indigenous broadcaster APTN announced Julie Grenier (above) will succeed Jocelyn Formsma as chair of the company’s board of directors.
Formsma will continue to serve as a board member.
Grenier is from Kuujjuaq, a small community in Nunavik, northern Quebec, says the APTN release. She is the director general of Taqramiut Nipingat Inc. (TNI), a regional television and radio producer in Nunavik and a founding member society of APTN.
“Over the course of her six years on APTN’s board of directors, she served as vice-chair and secretary, and appeared in front of the CRTC under the TNI banner to support APTN’s…
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GATINEAU — From October 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021, ISED Canada’s Spam Reporting Centre (SRC) received more than 144,560 complaints (which works out to 5,560 per week), according to the CRTC’s spring 2021 snapshot of activities to enforce Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL).
During this time period, CRTC enforcement measures included 143 notices to produce, 17 preservation demands, 10 warning letters, 1 notice of violation and a $75,000 administrative monetary penalty (the largest spam penalty ever issued to an individual under CASL).
When asked their reason for complaining to the SRC, 93% of Canadians said lack of consent was the…
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Advisory firms recommend shareholders vote in favour
CALGARY — Shaw Communications announced today two independent proxy advisory firms, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS) and Glass, Lewis and Co., have recommended that Shaw’s shareholders vote for the proposed business merger with Rogers Communications announced in March.
The proposed $26-billion purchase deal would see Rogers acquire all of Shaw’s issued and outstanding Class A participating shares and Class B non-voting participating shares.
Shaw says a special shareholder meeting will be held virtually on May 20 at 10 a.m. MT. The purpose of the meeting is for Class A and B shareholders to consider…
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And four fixes which need to be applied
By Mark Sikstrom
THEY BLAME GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK for the blow to the bottom line and social media for their shrinking audience, but mainstream news organizations may fail for another reason. Most consumers no longer believe they tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Newspaper and TV outlets have largely ignored the erosion of trust in their brands while focussing on their revenue crisis.
While understandable, it reminds me of the early 2000s when my peers were warning that online news would undermine the broadcast news model. We were met with…
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TORONTO — Music rights management organization SOCAN announced today 24 Canadian visionaries will be recognized at this year’s SOCAN Awards for the roles they played in helping to raise the stature of music made in Canada.
“Fifty years ago, they understood the need to protect and amplify Canadian music, giving rise to Cancon. These trailblazers will be awarded the SOCAN Guardian Award for their efforts in preserving and boosting Canadian culture,” reads SOCAN’s press release.
At a time when home-grown music was often considered inferior to foreign records dominating the charts, making it difficult for Canadian artists to get airtime on…
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Will hear from Lametti, Guilbeault, expert panel on amended bill
By Christopher Guly
OTTAWA – Following some back-and-forth from members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on a motion introduced last Friday regarding the Bill C-10 review, consensus was reached on Monday to invite Justice Minister David Lametti and Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault to appear before the group as early as Friday, with Members of Parliament on the committee to hear from an expert panel as soon as Monday.
Saskatchewan Conservative MP Kevin Waugh proposed amending Quebec Liberal MP Anthony Housefather’s motion seeking a revised Charter statement…
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Siphoning hundreds of millions from them for Cancon will give streamers leverage over government and regulators
By Len St-Aubin
THE GOVERNMENT SAYS Bill C-10 is part of a plan to rein in web giants by making them pay their “fair share” when it comes to Canadian culture. That’s their story, and Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault is sticking to it.
But you have to wonder, at what cost? Extracting up to 30% of revenues generated in Canada from the likes of YouTube (Google), Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Disney, Spotify et al, and subjecting them to outdated, unnecessarily intrusive CRTC regulation, what’s the “quid-pro-quo”?
There’s…
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