GATINEAU – There should be more people with disabilities shown on television, a CRTC document states.
In its response to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ report on how disabled people are portrayed on TV, the commission is urging individual broadcasters to increase the number of on-air people with disabilities.
The CAB’s report, filed in response to a CRTC request to show how the industry portrays and employs people with disabilities, found that only 2% of people working in broadcasting have a disability, compared with at least 12% of the general population.
“In the Commission’s view, given the extremely…
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EDMONTON – It seemed fitting to see the Edmonton Oilers flag draped over the CRTC panel table for hearing on radio station applications in Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray on Monday.
Gathered at the Westin Hotel in downtown Edmonton were players vying for the rights to operate a new English-language commercial radio station in two northern Alberta, reaping the benefits of oil.
Michel Arpin, vice-chair of broadcasting for the CRTC, and his panel made it through four out of 19 applications for radio stations Monday. All of the applications reviewed were for the Grande Prairie market, although there are…
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BANFF – Speaking in his opening address to the Banff World Television Festival, CRTC chair Charles Dalfen invited stakeholders to comment on the technological environment facing the Canadian broadcasting system.
The CRTC released Public Notice 2006-72 today in response to the announcement, seeking submissions from the public by September 1, 2006. The final report is required by December 14, 2006.
“We expect that the material contained in the parties’ submissions in response to the Order in Council will form part of the basis of their filings in our proceeding on over-the-air television, thereby avoiding unnecessary duplication of effort and resources,”…
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BANFF – The CRTC has a new task ahead of it now: predict the future.
During her speech at the Banff World Television Festival today, Bev Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, said the Federal Government will ask the CRTC to study "how continuing technological changes are expected to shape the entire broadcasting industry in the years ahead."
Oda is using Section 15 of the Broadcasting Act, which lets the government request that the CRTC hold hearings or report on issues that fall under the Commission’s jurisdiction.
"With the arrival of new technologies, the growth of…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has told Shaw Cable it has to change its community channel ad policies.
After coming across a rate card and hearing about Shaw Cable selling ad time during Western Hockey League games shown on its community cable channels, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters complained to the CRTC. This month, the Commission sided with the broadcasters.
In the Broadcast Distribution Regulations , cable companies are not allowed to air traditional ad spots and there are limitations on the types of advertising community channels can air. Mainly, cable must stick to general branding or soft-sell…
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OTTAWA – The new Federal Cabinet wants the CRTC to revisit last year’s voice over Internet protocol decision.
As reported on numerous occasions by www.cartt.ca, the CRTC decided last year to maintain its position that voice, even delivered via IP, is still telephone service. What that meant was that incumbent telcos still faced some regulatory shackles (like having to file for tariffs) while newcomers, such as cable operators or VOIP providers like Vonage would have a freer hand.
Canada’s ILECs – most of them anyway – appealed the decision.
In governmentspeak: "The Governor in Council (GIC) has referred…
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OTTAWA – The new Federal Cabinet wants the CRTC to revisit last year’s voice over Internet protocol decision.
As reported on numerous occasions by www.cartt.ca, the CRTC decided last year to maintain its position that voice, even delivered via IP, is still telephone service. What that meant was that incumbent telcos still faced some regulatory shackles while newcomers, such as cable operators or VOIP providers like Vonage would have a freer hand.
Canada’s ILECs – most of them anyway – appealed the decision.
In governmentspeak: "The Governor in Council (GIC) has referred the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC’s)…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC today announced it’s approved Aliant Telecom’s application for forbearance of regulation of single-line inside wire services, with some conditions.
Customers without a jack-ended demarcation device won’t have to pay for diagnosis, repair, or maintenance to their inside wires when they have technical troubles.
Aliant applied last October for forbearance from regulation of all residential and business single-line inside wire services on the customer side of the demarcation point, including installation and repair services provided by Aliant Telecom, under the CRTC’s regime allowing forbearance where there is sufficient competition. Aliant submitted that its customers in Nova…
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GATINEAU, WINNIPEG – The CRTC today announced it is giving a one-time payment of nearly $9.9 million to MTS Allstream after the telco applied for a review of the subsidies it receives to serve remote locations.
The payment is to cover providing service in high-cost areas of Manitoba from Jan. 1, 2002 to Oct. 16, 2003.
"The CRTC has recognized that MTS Allstream has met its obligations to deliver a high quality of service to customers in high-cost and remote areas," said Chris Peirce, Chief Regulatory Officer, MTS Allstream Inc. "We are very pleased to have worked with the Commission…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – A local market won’t be considered competitive until one-quarter of the households in it get their home phone from a newcomer, the CRTC said Thursday.
The 44,000-word decision made the newcomers like cable and third party VOIP providers very happy but angered the incumbent telcos, who erupted with anger and say they won’t stand for the decision.
“Aliant fully intends to appeal this decision,” said Heather Tulk, vice-president of residential markets at Aliant, the company whose application for deregulation launched the review.
There are three main aspects to the decision. 1) Competitors must gain 25% market…
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