GATINEAU – On December 1st 2017, the CRTC’s new and improved Wireless Code came into effect, removing all restrictions on the unlocking of cellular phones, notably no more 90 days waiting period to do so and no more charging a fee to perform that service.
On December 6th 2017, the Public Interest Advocacy Center (PIAC) requested from the CRTC a clarification on the Unlocking Policy of the new code. There had been confusion as to whether the cell phone companies had the obligation to unlock the phones of people who were not their customers.
If my contract with the…
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Two new applicants for nearby communities
OTTAWA — The CRTC is asking for more comments as it considers whether or not the radio market in and around Quebec City can sustain more stations.
The Commission issued on Wednesday three separate Broadcasting Notices of Consultation, calling for comments regarding the market capacity and appropriateness of issuing a call for radio applications in Quebec City, as well as Sainte-Marie and the Regional County Municipality of Portneuf, Que, both of which are small towns within transmitter range of Quebec City.
The CRTC’s original call for comments regarding the Quebec City radio…
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TORONTO – The Canadian wireless market is about to face disruption akin to what T-Mobile wrought in the U.S., which will come as good news for Canadian consumers looking for much more data at a far lower price. The news likely won’t be so good for the likes of Rogers, Bell and Telus, who will have to respond.
Today, Shaw Communications’ Freedom Mobile will unveil a new ad campaign (TV, radio, outdoor, digital, social…) fronted by Canadian comedy star Will Arnett which takes dead aim at the complaints so many Canadians make daily – that their wireless bills are too…
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SAN DIEGO — Conservative news channel One America News Network is a step closer to being carried in Canada, after parent company Herring Networks recently concluded a distribution agreement with the Canadian Communication Systems Alliance (CCSA). The master distribution agreement also includes Herring’s high-end lifestyle channel, A Wealth of Entertainment (AWE).
Earlier this year in May, both One America News (OAN) and AWE received authorization for distribution in Canada from the CRTC, allowing Herring Networks to pursue distribution deals with BDUs across the country. In both cases, Ethnic Channels Group Limited acted as the Canadian sponsor for Herring Networks’ Part…
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GATINEAU – In a letter sent to all telecom intervenors in the lower-cost data-only (skinny wireless) proceeding, CRTC staff sent an unpleasant midsummer surprise to the three incumbent national wireless players by asking:
“Whether a segment of the retail mobile wireless market, namely that of lower-cost data-only plans, is subject to sufficient competition to protect the interests of users and whether continued forbearance from price regulation of this segment would be likely to impair unduly the establishment or continuance of a competitive market for such services.”
In other words, the Commission is not satisfied with the Big Three’s Continue Reading
GATINEAU — Applicants hoping to be awarded a licence to operate a new national, multilingual television service offering news and information programming will have to wait a little longer to have their proposals heard, as the CRTC announced Monday it is delaying the start of the pertinent hearing until November 26, 2018. Originally, the hearing was scheduled to start October 15.
The CRTC has received several applications for a national, multilingual, multi-ethnic television service, which, if licensed, would receive mandatory distribution on the basic service pursuant to section 9(1)(h) of the Broadcasting Act. Among the companies who have submitted applications…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC needs more information from the country’s telcos on their pending lower-cost data-only plans for mobile wireless services.
In a letter dated July 20 from Philippe Kent, competition and emergency services policy director, the Commission made specific requests for more information from the national wireless carriers as well as other stakeholders who filed interventions by the June 29 deadline.
“Commission staff is of the view that additional information is needed to further develop the record of the proceeding”, reads the letter. “As such, parties are asked to respond to the requests for information appended to this letter. Parties…
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TORONTO – Rogers announced more wireless network enhancements Thursday as it forges ahead with its multi-year network plan to bring gigabit LTE and 5G to its customers.
According to the flurry of news releases, Rogers and Fido customers will now have a faster, more reliable and consistent wireless experience in Brampton and Port Dover, ON; Qualicum Beach, BC; and the Harbour Landing community in the City of Regina.
In Alberta, Rogers said that it has also made wireless network improvements in Medicine Hat, where its media division formally acquired radio station CJCY-FM (102.1 CJCY Classic Hits) from Clear Sky Radio after…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has decided against issuing a call for new radio stations to serve the Alberta/Saskatchewan city of Lloydminster after finding that the market cannot sustain an additional commercial radio station at this time.
The Commission said that it is concerned that licensing an additional station in Lloydminster right now “risks having an undue financial impact on incumbent stations” CKLM-FM, owned by Vista Radio, and Newcap operated CKSA-FM, noting that profitability in this radio market was below the national average in 2016 and 2017.
“While Lloydminster`s population is growing and average household income is relatively high, the Commission is…
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QUEBEC – In a ruling issued last Wednesday, the Quebec Superior Court quashed an amendment to the Consumer Protection Law of Quebec, restating that the provincial government does not have jurisdiction over telecommunications.
In its 2015 Budget, the Government of Quebec introduced amendments to the Consumer Protection Act to put an end to what the province said was illegal on-line gambling by requiring Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block websites that engaged in that activity. After the Bill came into law, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association appealed the disposition stating that it was unconstitutional, as reported by Cartt.ca.
Although Consumer…
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