OTTAWA – The CRTC is seeking feedback on proposed amendments to the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations and the Television Broadcasting Regulations.
The Commission said Friday that the amendments seek to:
– provide terrestrial broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDUs) with greater flexibility in making their contributions to local expression and direct-to-home BDUs with the ability to claim an allowable contribution for locally relevant news programming;
– provide financial support to over-the-air television stations;
– reflect policy changes regarding the operation of community channels;
– streamline logging requirements for over-the-air television stations;
– eliminate the daily Canadian content requirement for over-the-air television stations;
– update language and references for consistency;…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The CRTC has signed a memorandum of understanding with the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs to fight unsolicited commercial electronic messages (spam) and the threats they pose to citizens in both countries.
Canada and New Zealand are members of the Unsolicited Communications Enforcement Network (UCENet), an international network of enforcement agencies responsible for spam and unsolicited communications.
This agreement, announced Thursday, say the two agencies pledge to share information and intelligence, where permitted by the laws of each jurisdiction, regarding spam.
“This agreement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to work closely with partners to fight unlawful communications and protect Canadians…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC is calling for comments as it prepares to undertake a review of the competitor quality of service (Q of S) regime.
The existing competitor Q of S regime has been in place since the Commission finalized the rate rebate plan (RRP) for competitors in 2005. Noting the number of changes to the telecommunications marketplace and to the Commission’s regulatory measures since then, the Commission said Thursday that it is seeking feedback on whether a competitor Q of S regime continues to be required and, if so, how it should be structured.
Interventions and comments should be submitted to…
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Minister Joly says "timing was right"
GATINEAU, QC – Canadian Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly is sharing some of the input she received during her recent consultations on Canadian Content in a Digital World.
Based on feedback collected by Ipsos via the online portal, in-person events, social media discussions and mail and e-mail submissions, What We Heard Across Canada: Canadian Culture in a Digital World, released Tuesday, identified the following eight key themes and messages heard during the consultation:
– Showcasing Canada’s cultural sector: increased support for production of Canadian content as well as sustained efforts on marketing and communication will help underscore…
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FORT WORTH, TX – Equestrian lifestyle channel Ride TV is gearing up to gallop on to Canadian television screens.
Sponsored by Telus, the service is set to be added to the list of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution in Canada later this week by the CRTC.
Available in high definition, Ride TV is devoted exclusively to the horse and rural living lifestyle. The channel is owned by Ride Television Network, a privately held corporation based in Fort Worth, and produces over 90% of its own content which includes live championship equestrian sports, children's programming, documentaries, and reality shows.
"This…
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SAINT-HYACINTHE, QC – Former CRTC commissioner Suzanne Lamarre has joined the law firm of Therrien Couture, based in their Saint- Hyacinthe offices.
Lamarre, who is also an engineer and a strategic advisor on regulatory and governmental matters, practices primarily in the areas of telecommunications, radiocommunication and broadcasting, as well as public international law as well as professional conduct and ethics, reads a statement from the firm.
Lamarre was Québec Commissioner at the CRTC from 2008 to 2013. Since December 2007, she has served as a member of the Disciplinary Council of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec and has been a member…
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TORONTO – Rogers Media today told employees it will cease community cable TV production at its Toronto facility at 855 York Mills Road.
A total of 10 positions have been eliminated with the move and all programming produced there has been cancelled.
“While production from our York Mills facilities has stopped, we will continue to meet our CRTC commitments for local and access programming,” Rogers spokeswoman Michelle Lomack told Cartt.ca in an email late Thursday. “Toronto-focused content produced by local independent community producers such as our Mosaic line up, Hogtown Wrestling, Xs Network, Ryerson Rams Sports, and many more will continue…
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REGINA – The CRTC’s decision to overhaul what it means to provide a basic telecommunications service to Canadians has SaskTel CEO Ron Styles worried.
The Commission’s policy announcement, made December 21st, is too vague and leaves open the possibilities of higher telecom rates for rural customers, lower profits and decreased investment, said the CEO. For example, while the Commission has said the existing $100 million subsidy to help serve high cost rural areas will be rolled into a new fund aimed at getting 50 Mbps downstream and 10 Mbps upstream to all Canadians, no matter where…
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REGINA – After taking over a month to digest and study the decision, SaskTel today expressed concerns that the CRTC’s recent policy announcement regarding basic telecommunications services plans will cause it to raise its rates.
The Commission’s decision to phase out the $100 million local service subsidy for rural areas in Canada (to be replaced with other broadband-focused funding formulae) includes the loss of a $16 million subsidy in 2016/17 for rural telephone subscribers in Saskatchewan, said the company in a press release Monday.
The reduction in subsidy could potentially result in rate…
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CHATHAM (Ontario) – L’entreprise indépendante TekSavvy est située dans une de ces villes de classe ouvrière qui a « déjà eu » beaucoup de choses.
Elle a déjà eu une usine de Rockwell International. Elle a déjà eu l’usine de soupe Campbell. Elle a déjà eu autrefois une entreprise de fabrication de fenêtre. TekSavvy, cependant, quoique petite est devenue un énorme succès dans cette ville d’environ 40 000 habitants. Maintenant avec plus de 600 employés (la plupart d'entre eux travaillent dans cette ancienne usine de soupe que TekSavvy a rénové, alors que d’autres œuvrent à Toronto et Montréal), la…
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