GATINEAU – The question of whether incumbent carriers should continue leading 911 development or if a new CRTC-run entity should drive it, was in the spotlight on the first day of the CRTC’s hearing on the subject.
Some groups argued a national entity with oversight from the Commission would be more effective at rolling out the next iteration of emergency telecommunication services nationally. Telus suggested, on the other hand during its appearance in front of commissioners, this would only create headaches.
The NG911 Coalition of the Willing kicked off the hearing, noting that a national entity is ideally suited to…
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TORONTO – A lift in SiriusXM Canada’s self-pay subscriber base helped to boost first quarter revenues by 4.4%.
For the period ended November 30, 2016, revenue from $83.5 million to $87.2 million year-over-year, reflecting growth in its self-paying subscriber base. Q1 FY2017 self-pay ARPU dipped 0.2% to $12.54 due to increased promotional activity.
Net income and comprehensive income of $9.8 million was down 2.7% from $10.1 million year-over-year, mainly due to higher operating costs combined with depreciation and amortization, partly offset by increased revenues.
Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter grew 3.1% to $24.2 million from $23.5 million in the same period last…
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MONTREAL – Cogeco Inc. is actively looking at more acquisitions in cable companies in the United States, but has ruled out acquisitions in the data services sector over the next year after a 2016 in which “our results have been disappointing” at subsidiary Peer 1, president Louis Audet said on Thursday at the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting in Montreal.
The company’s year-end financial results were mostly positive, with earnings increasing and a higher dividend to shareholders, both from Cogeco Inc. and subsidiary Cogeco Communications Inc. But a $450-million writedown at Peer 1 technically put the company in the red…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC will open a public hearing on January 16 as it seeks to establish a regulatory framework for next-generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) in Canada.
After soliciting feedback early last year, the Commission said that its determinations will be limited to issues that fall within its jurisdiction under the Telecommunications Act, including the roles and responsibilities of telecommunications service providers, the evolution of existing 9-1-1 networks, and the means by which NG9-1-1 services and network functionality will be funded and implemented.
NG 9-1-1 is a term used to describe more technologically advanced 9-1-1 services, such as the ability to send text…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has announced plans for another proceeding to help cut down on the number of unwanted telemarketing calls that Canadians receive.
The Commission said Monday that a follow-up to last November’s proceeding was necessary in light of recent “significant developments”.
In this proceeding, the CRTC is asking for information and comments on:
– the implementation, use, and effectiveness of technical solutions to authenticate caller ID information for wireline, wireless, and voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) networks in Canada;
– the implementation, use, and effectiveness of mechanisms to trace and identify the source of a call;
– any barriers to implementation…
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QUISPAMSIS, NB – Canadian Cable Systems Alliance has named industry veteran Jay Thomson as its new CEO, effective February 1, 2017.
Thomson (pictured) is currently broadcasting policy & regulatory affairs VP for the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA). He was also previously president of the Canadian Association of Internet Providers (CAIP), plus held senior regulatory and policy positions with the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB), Telus Communications and the now defunct Canadian Cable Television Association (CCTA).
After beginning his career in the communications industry as a lawyer and policy analyst at the CRTC, Thomson has gained deep expertise in strategic policy…
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OTTAWA – Edmonton listeners will soon have a pair of new radio stations after the CRTC approved applications for an ethnic commercial AM radio station and a French-language station in that market.
After considering 10 applications at a hearing last September, the Commission said Friday that the application by 1811258 Alberta best meets the needs of Edmonton residents for a new ethnic station. The station has pledged to offer a mix of spoken word and music programming targeting the South Asian community, as well as other ethnic communities. Specifically, the station will broadcast 126 hours of local ethnic programming…
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OTTAWA – While Canadians complained less frequently about their wireless services last year, data overage fees and international roaming charges continue to cause bill shock for many, according to the CRTC.
The Commission released its 2016 Fall survey on wireless issues Thursday, part of its planned three year review of the Wireless Code that will also include a public hearing in Gatineau from February 6 – 9, 2017. The CRTC has conducted annual surveys on wireless issues and awareness of the Wireless Code since 2014.
In 2016, 17% of Canadians with wireless plans reported making a complaint, down from 26%…
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YELLOWKNIFE – Count SSi Micro amongst those stakeholders throwing their support behind the CRTC’s recent #TalkBroadband decision designating broadband access as a basic telecommunications service.
SSi, which has deployed satellite and local broadband wireless facilities throughout Nunavut and in communities of the Northwest Territories, said that it agrees with the Commission that a national broadband strategy must include participation from stakeholders that include the CRTC, the private sector, and various levels of government, including First Nations and Inuit organizations.
“We believe broadband is the new basic telecommunications service, and appreciate the Commission’s (Universal Service Objective) framework embracing that reality,” said SSi chief…
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NFL "confident" that Feds will act "reasonably and responsibly"
TORONTO – Bell Media and the NFL filed their latest notices of appeal Wednesday, seeking once again to quash the CRTC’s controversial decision banning simultaneous substitution of the broadcast of the Super Bowl.
In a notice dated December 28, 2016, Bell Media asked the Federal Court of Appeal to set aside the CRTC’s distribution order that bans simultaneous substitution (simsub) for the event, starting with Super Bowl 51 on February 5, 2017.
Simsub occurs when a BDU temporarily replaces the signal of one TV channel with that of another channel showing the same program at the…
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