By Denis Carmel
GATINEAU – When the Competition Bureau filed its further comments in the CRTC’s Wireless Review proceeding and issued detailed recommendations as to the future of the wireless industry in Canada, it was obvious that there was going to be some pushback.
Both Telus and CNOC requested to see more of the information filed in confidence and the Commission on Tuesday, granted some of CNOC’s wishes while denying Telus request.
CNOC was interested in both information filed in confidence that is publicly available, as well as methodological aspects of the Bureau’s analysis which was not revealed.
“The Commission also directs…
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Canadian communications giant dead at 85
CALGARY – Shaw Communications founder, executive chair and former CEO JR Shaw is being remembered not only as a pioneering cable and telecom builder, but a family man, philanthropist, and a one-of-a-kind gentleman who inspired deep loyalty and unity.
Known throughout the North American communications industry simply as JR, Shaw was a pioneer in Canadian business and a Canadian telecommunications sector visionary. He passed away in his sleep Tuesday at the age of 85.
“My family and I are at a loss for words and are deeply saddened at JR’s passing,” said Brad Shaw, CEO of…
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GATINEAU and WHITEHORSE – On Monday evening, the CRTC approved an urgent refiled request from Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut carrier Northwestel for temporary relief on residential Internet usage to facilitate increased telework in the north.
Last week, Northwestel proposed waiving any overage charges for customers exceeding their Internet usage caps during March and April in terrestrially-served communities (which are most communities in Yukon, NWT, northern Alberta and northern B.C., says the company).
All Northwestel’s terrestrial Internet packages and rates are regulated, and the proposed changes could only take effect with CRTC approval.
The CRTC last week returned the application, saying…
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Broadband fund application deadline delayed a month
GATINEAU – While the CRTC had earlier said it was suspending all deadlines for open proceedings due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it confirmed two specific, important ones today.
Final submissions to the Commission’s near-complete wireless policy review proceeding were due March 23rd, but it announced Friday that deadline has been suspended until further notice.
Also, the second call for applications to the CRTC’s rural Broadband Fund said they were due in by March 27 but it said Friday the new deadline for those applications is now April 30th.
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GATINEAU – As a carrier which is still heavily regulated as compared to most others, because it serves a high-cost serving region, Northwestel can’t simply change terms of service to its customers without CRTC permission.
Earlier this week, as we reported, Northwestel said it submitted an urgent application to the CRTC for temporary relief on residential Internet usage to facilitate increased telework in the north.
In a letter to Northwestel’s CFO Stan Thompson on Thursday, however, the Commission said it received two submissions from the division of Bell Canada. The first proposes to waive data overage charges for the months…
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GATINEAU – In a wholesale TV rates battle between Bragg Communications (Eastlink) and Rogers Media, the CRTC today gave both sides a win with a final offer arbitration decision.
The two companies have not been able to settle on wholesale rates for Sportsnet and Sportsnet One for some time and approached the CRTC for an FOA process in October 2019.
With Sportsnet (which has five regional feeds), the Commission said Thursday it has selected Rogers’ offer, while for Sportsnet One, it chose the Eastlink offer.
Eastlink fought for its offered rates (none of which were made public) by telling the Commission it…
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By Konrad von Finckenstein
THE BROADCAST AND Telecom Legislative Review panel’s lengthy report is divided into institutional recommendations, telecom recommendations, broadcasting recommendations and others.
It made 46 regarding the Broadcasting Act. Apart from the recommendations on the CBC about which I express no comment, some are well thought out and would improve the present system substantially. The extension of the Broadcasting Act to “electronic communications services” on the internet is the area of greatest concern.
The Panel recommended:
… the Telecommunications Act be amended to establish explicit jurisdiction over all persons and entities providing, or offering to provide, electronic…
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By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – The Federal Court of Appeal has denied Bell’s application against a decision by the CRTC that said the company had unduly disadvantaged Quebecor’s TVA Sports in favour of its own, RDS.
The March 12 decision came after Bell requested a judicial review in January of a CRTC decision that said the company had packaged its own RDS channel differently than Quebecor’s TVA Sports, its competitor, thus muting the reach of its rival and causing a “material adverse impact on TVA Group,” the CRTC said in the December ruling.
Quebecor filed the original complaint in February…
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By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – As part of its argument before the Federal Court of Appeal against a decision by the CRTC to slash the wholesale rate internet resellers pay to use incumbents’ networks, Bell Canada said forcing the big telecoms to give back the price difference over three years is effectively a tax that only Parliament can impose.
“The Telecommunications Act does not empower the CRTC to levy taxes,” Bell said in its official argument, filed Thursday. “Therefore, if the Retroactive Payments are a tax, they are unconstitutional” and outside the jurisdiction of the CRTC.
Last summer, in a decision…
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By Steve Faguy
TORONTO – In what it describes as “unprecedented times,” CBC has decided to cancel local English TV newscasts in all markets except CBC North, replacing them with broadcasts from CBC News Network.
In a memo to staff sent Wednesday signed by CBC executives Susan Marjetti (general manager of news, current affairs and local), Brodie Fenlon (editor-in-chief of CBC News) and Cathy Perry (executive director of current affairs, investigative and long-form journalism), CBC cites “fewer staff in the Toronto Broadcast Centre and much stricter newsgathering protocols” as the reason for the change, which will be temporary.
CBC North newscasts are…
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