OTTAWA – The CRTC tweaked a few details around its upcoming proceeding examining the framework for French-language vocal music (FVM).
The Commission said Wednesday that the public hearing in Quebec City will now begin at 9:30 AM on November 16, 2015 at the TRYP Québec Hôtel PUR; that it is adding an oral reply phase to the hearing; and that following the public hearing, parties may file final written replies on any matter within the proceeding's scope prior to December 10, 2015 at 8:00 PM (Ottawa time). The final written reply, including an executive summary, must not exceed 10 pages.
When the proceeding…
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TORONTO – Telelatino Network was quick to applaud Wednesday’s CRTC decision that added three new Spanish-language channels to the list of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution in this country.
In Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2015-466, the Commission approved Telelatino’s applications for Televisión Dominicana, Centroamerica TV and WAPA America, which provide news, entertainment and sports programming from the Dominican Republic, Central America (El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua and Costa Rica) and Puerto Rico, respectively.
Telelatino will exclusively represent and manage Canadian marketing and distribution of the channels, and promised to soon announce the national carrier platforms on which the…
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OTTAWA – There’s not yet a cabinet and he’s not even sworn in as Prime Minister, but Bell Canada is putting Justin Trudeau’s federal government to work, quickly.
Cartt.ca has learned the company filed an appeal to cabinet late Tuesday to overturn the July CRTC decision which grants third party broadband resellers access to newly built fibre to the home or premises (FTTH/FTTP) infrastructure (CRTC 2015-326). Tuesday, October 20th (90 days after the decision) was the final day Bell was eligible to file the appeal, under CRTC rules. A well-placed Bell source with direct knowledge of…
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WHEN JUSTIN TRUDEAU is sworn in as Prime Minister his Liberal party will face a number of key telecommunications issues in the next 12 months.
These include meeting the challenge of an increasingly digital world, innovation, privacy regulations, wireless competition, dealing with the rural-urban broadband divide and increasing access to our digital future with poor Canadians.
One of the most obvious problems with trying to read how the new government might deal with these issues is that telecom and broadcast policies didn't figure largely in the leaders' debates or their major speeches.
Still, the Liberal platform makes a few promises:
Repeal of "problematic…
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GATINEAU – New digital media offerings certainly have problems fitting into the various interpretations of the well-worn Acts and Regulations which the CRTC must attempt to apply to emerging new services and their packaging plans.
The latest target is Videotron’s Unlimited Music service. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre’s complaint about the service which launched in August by the Quebecor-owned cable and wireless company has found a number of supporters. Rogers Communications is standing alongside its media arm and other radio broadcasters in calling the streaming music service anti-competitive.
Rogers and its allies argue…
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HAMILTON – Hamilton’s Mohawk College will launch a new course next year which will teach all of its journalism students how to ensure the news they produce is accessible to people with disabilities.
The course, believed to be the first of its kind in Canada, will launch in the fall of 2016 and be mandatory for all students in Mohawk’s three-year journalism program.
The college has been awarded an $80,000 grant from the Broadcast Accessibility Fund to develop the course. The $6 million BAF was established as an independent and impartial funding body supporting innovative projects to increase the…
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CANNES – You know those many reports of the death of Canadian TV you've been hearing about? Ignore them. Canadian TV is alive and well, as evidenced by last week's Canuck contingent in Cannes for the annual MIPCOM TV bazaar.
The dark clouds that hang over Canadian TV were nowhere to be seen on the Rue de Croisette, next to the beach in Cannes, where radiant sunshine reigned after deadly flooding that had turned roads into rivers on the eve of the world's largest TV market.
Canadian heavy-hitters were among the thousands of buyers and sellers streaming to and from the…
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TORONTO – CRTC telecommunications executive director Chris Seidl has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at next month's 2015 Canadian ISP Summit.
His session is entitled ‘Understanding CRTC Telecommunications Decision 2015-326’ (a.k.a. the wholesale wireline services decision). Come find out about the new wholesale wireline services policy and the implications it may have for your business.
Scheduled for November 9 – 11, 2015 at Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre in Toronto, this year’s theme of ‘Business Excellence’ will celebrate successes, achievements and innovations within the ISP and tech space, with particular attention on the changing economic, social and technological landscape. The conference's…
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QUEBEC’S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY doesn’t want Canada’s broadcasting regulator to review regulations on broadcasting.
At least that’s the conclusion that one could reach through a literal reading of a motion passed unanimously in the legislature last week.
The motion, presented with less than an hour’s notice by Parti Québécois culture critic Véronique Hivon on Sept. 29, states that the Assembly “denounces the will of the CRTC to review the requirements for French-language music broadcast in Quebec” and reiterates the importance of French-language music quotas on radio stations. It passed 100-0.
The resolution comes two months after Continue Reading
GATINEAU – After 27 years at the CRTC in various roles, secretary-general John Traversy has decided he will retire as of December 11, 2015.
He has held the position since former SG Robert Morin retired in 2011. Prior to that he was executive director, telecom for five years. The secretary general is the top operations job at the Commission, overseeing all of the administration. Every complaint, submission and other filing which telecom and broadcasting companies make to the Regulator have Traversy’s name at the top.
“Over the years, I had the opportunity to work on countless files in both the Broadcasting…
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