OTTAWA – Everyone always has ideas for what the CRTC should do – and there were no shortage of them this week at the IIC Canada conference in Ottawa, but today CRTC chair Ian Scott offered a key idea of his own to legislators as they examine the re-writing of the Broadcasting, Telecom and Radiocommunications Acts.
First though, let’s address people telling the Commission what to do. Beginning with a panel session Wednesday morning on day one of the conference – and continuing as a much-discussed theme throughout the two day gathering – was the idea that the CRTC should…
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When U.S. studios go direct to consumer, will anything be left of the Canadian TV industry?
I HAVE A Plan A, and a Plan B.
Plan A is a solid, workable, and absolutely necessary approach. One I and others have been advocating for almost 20 years.
Unfortunately, I am very much afraid that it is now too late. By the time the Broadcast and Telecom Legislative Review (BTLR) Panel presents its interim report (due June 2019), and then we have an election, and then the Final Report is delivered at the end of January 2020, and then assessed by a new government,…
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And have we reached the end of the era of broadcasting and telecom regulation?
OTTAWA – Donald Trump has become the poster child for lobbing accusations of fake news against the mainstream media before and since moving into the White House – and will likely continue to wear that mantle as he and his fellow Republicans seek to maintain their majority in the U.S. Congress following next week’s midterm elections.
Notwithstanding the U.S. president’s political posturing, the issue of fake news on social media sites was raised by lawmakers on both sides of the Atlantic on Wednesday when Bob Zimmer, chair…
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OTTAWA – At the International Institute of Communications (IIC), 16th annual Canadian conference Wednesday morning, we quickly got into the heart of the matter with two panel discussions to tackle the Review of Canada’s Broadcasting and Telecommunications Acts.
Two bi-lingual panels of four people each got to have their kicks at the can for almost three hours to offer their points of view, perspectives on how the two Acts needs to change.
To structure the debate, the moderators (Cartt.ca editor and publisher Greg O’Brien and University du Québec à Montréal professor Catalina Briceño) suggested that participants outline what they would definitely…
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From Right Hand Man: How Phil Lind Guided the Genius of Ted Rogers
By Phil Lind with Robert Brehl
IN 2013, HALFWAY THROUGH its mandate, Stephen Harper’s government was looking tired and bereft of captivating political ideas for the next election. It was then that the Conservative PM wrapped himself in his “Captain Consumer” cape and launched an assault upon Canada’s big three wireless phone companies: Rogers, Bell, and Telus.
He and his government were going to lower monthly wireless bills for consumers by cracking the cartel. Harper painted us as Russian-style oligopolists who feared increased competition, which was unfair and…
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OTTAWA – While the main governmental expert panel reviewing the Telecom, Broadcasting and Radiocommunication Acts is only now getting under way, some of the most interesting conversations on the matter are happening now in front of the Senate (who knew?!).
While CRTC chairman Ian Scott appeared today (October 30) in front of the Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications, to talk about the Regulator’s needs, last week Canadian Communications Systems Alliance CEO Jay Thomson told the senators about his members’ (115 independent carriers who serve more than 1,200 communities – lots rural – with broadband,…
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OTTAWA – A consensus may be emerging which says while we need to change the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Acts, that can be done only as long as those changes don’t involve any playing in my sandbox.
We had this feeling when the Privacy Commissioner appeared and said, essentially: We’re doing fine but please give us more enforcement powers inside the communications business
Then today (Tuesday) when the CRTC appeared in front of the Senate Committee studying change into the two Acts on Tuesday morning, the same thing happened. Senator Rosa Galvez asked “If your situation is the…
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The TV tax battle
By Phil Lind with Robert Brehl
FEW THINGS GET ME SEETHING like the Canadian television networks’ attempted fee-for-carriage cash grab, the so-called “TV tax.” After everything cable did to increase their TV licences’ value over the years, in 2006 the broadcasters ignited a six-year battle to get us to pay them for carrying their signals. It went all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, and they came very close to winning.
Just writing this raises my hackles. Ken Engelhart and Jan Innes would joke that fee-for-carriage was my “Wullerton.” I had no idea what they meant…
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VANCOUVER – Nearly two years after the CRTC decreed broadband a basic telecom service for all Canadians, a collection of federal, provincial, and territorial ministers have agreed to the principles of a Canadian broadband strategy.
In a statement Friday after meetings in Vancouver, the Ministers pledged to work towards universal access to high-speed Internet and to improve access to the latest mobile wireless services along Canada’s major roads.
Guided by the connectivity principles of access, collaboration, and effective investments, the Ministers issued a joint statement calling universal access to high-speed Internet and mobile wireless networks “essential for long-term economic growth, innovation,…
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GATINEAU – With the large Canadian telecom players reading the writing on the wall (where it appears the Commission is seriously considering some sort of new code of conduct for telecom sales practices) a few of the larger carriers last week set out some ideas for commissioners to consider while they deliberate.
Each company last week essentially told the CRTC during its hearing into telecom sales practices the same thing: “There’s no problem with us when it comes to selling wired or wireless products and services to Canadians.” If there is, added most of the intervenors, the problem stems mainly…
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