OTTAWA – The CRTC is one step closer towards establishing broadband access as a basic telecommunications service for all Canadians after issuing a preliminary network quality framework Friday.
The Commission said that in order to meet the broadband portion of the universal service objective announced in December 2016, fixed broadband Internet access service must meet certain levels of speeds, data allowance, and quality of service (QoS).
On Friday, guided by a report from the CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee, the Regulator established a round-trip latency threshold of 50 milliseconds, and a packet loss threshold of 0.25%, both based on measurement during peak times,…
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Deal to close after completion of Stingray acquisition
OTTAWA and DARTMOUTH – The CRTC has approved Newcap Radio’s purchase of two FM radio stations in New Glasgow, NS from Hector Broadcasting for $2.7 million.
The two stations are English-language commercial radio programming undertakings CKEC (AC, 94.1 FM) and CKEZ (Classic Rock, 97.9 FM).
Newcap said in a statement that the deal is expected to close after its own purchase by Stingray Digital Group has wrapped up, which is expected within the next three to six months.
The Commission said Thursday that it has determined that transaction would benefit the broadcasting system…
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OTTAWA – As Canadians continue to demand more phone numbers, four new CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee ad hoc relief planning committee (RPC) have been set up to examine options and make recommendations for providing “numbering relief” in Quebec, Alberta, southern Ontario, and Saskatchewan.
Chaired by the Canadian Numbering Administrator, the RPCs will provide options for:
– in Quebec, the areas surrounding Monntreal served by area codes 450 and 579;
– in Alberta, for the regions with area codes 403, 587, 780, and 825;
– in Ontario, for the areas surrounding Toronto that use area codes 289, 365, and 905;…
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IT’S NO SECRET that the lack of readily available high-speed internet has long been a headache for people who live in rural Manitoba. “Lack of access to reliable high-speed internet is hurting economic growth in rural and remote areas,” the agricultural weekly The Western Producer reported in 2017 in an exposé called Out of Touch.
“Frustrated farmers, rural businesses and homeowners have said they have inadequate and expensive internet service…and for some producers without reliable data, the age of autonomous machines is stalled.” A 2016 study by the Canadian Internet Registration Authority…
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CE N’EST PAS UNE SURPRISE pour personne vivant au milieu rural: les difficultés d’accéder à une connexion internet à haut débit sont une casse-tête depuis longtemps. Les résidents et commerçants des communautés rurales au Manitoba en souffrent. “Le manque d’accès à une connexion internet rapide et fiable nuit à la croissance économique dans les communautés rurales et éloignées,” est-il écrit dans l’hebdo agriculturel The Western Producer, dans un exposé de 2017 intitulé “Out of Touch” (Hors Contact).
“Des fermiers, des entrepreneurs et des résidents en milieu rural ont dénoncé le service…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC handed out two new Ontario radio licences Wednesday, one for the Grimsby/Beamsville region and the other to serve the town of Georgina.
After considering three applications at a public hearing in Toronto last November, the Commission chose Durham Radio Inc. as the owner of a broadcasting licence to operate a new commercial FM radio station using the frequency 88.5 MHz. The licence will expire on August 31, 2024.
“The Commission finds that Durham has proposed a sound business plan that is based on its experience in the Hamilton radio market and third-party research”, reads the decision. “Approval of…
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OTTAWA and GATINEAU – The CRTC has caught and fined two online advertising companies for allegedly aiding in the distribution of malware through online ads, the first time it has done so under Canada’s anti-spam law.
The Commission said Wednesday that Datablocks and Sunlight Media have been served with violation notices for purportedly helping to help spread malicious computer programs (malware) through the distribution of online advertising. The companies were fined $100,000 and $150,000, respectively.
Using its anti-spam powers, the CRTC said that the “highly complex investigation” found that the companies allegedly violated Canada’s anti-spam law in the following ways:
Sunlight Media…
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VANCOUVER and TORONTO – The CRTC has approved Wow Unlimited Networks’ proposed acquisition of specialty channel Comedy Gold from Bell Media for $6.67 million.
The Commission said that it has determined that the transaction is in the public interest, and noted its potential benefits to Canadian viewers and the broadcasting system by providing a wider variety of children's and youth content, along with an increase in production within the kids genre.
The Regulator also accepted the proposed the tangible benefits package of $687,000, representing 10% of the value of the transaction, though directed Wow Networks to file a revised…
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OTTAWA – Manitoba independent TV producer, former broadcaster and former Liberal candidate Joanne Levy has been hired as the CRTC’s new Saskatchewan/Manitoba regional commissioner for a five-year term, the Governor-in-Council announced last week.
She fills the slot left open since former commissioner Candice Molnar’s term expired in January of 2017.
Levy, of Balmoral, Manitoba, is the owner of Scorpio Productions, according to her LinkedIn profile – and she has held several positions in the industry as well, such as head of convergent content for Buffalo Gal pictures, director of programming for APTN and executive director of the former Craig Media’s A-Channel…
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OTTAWA – Total broadcasting revenues dropped 3.3% from 2016 to 2017 as television service providers (BDUs) posted negative growth for the third consecutive year, according to the CRTC’s statistical and financial results for the industry released Monday.
The Commission's 2017 Broadcasting Financial Summaries Highlights reported that overall BDU revenues dropped by 2.3% (or $202 million), falling from $8.74 billion in 2016 to $8.54 billion for the broadcast year ended August 31, 2017. IPTV revenues grew by over 10% to $2 billion in 2017, outperforming satellite for the first time since its introduction into the Canadian marketplace. Satellite (DTH) service providers…
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