ELLIOT LAKE, ON – Two consumer groups want the CRTC to overturn a previous decision that they say “sanctioned” a Telus policy, one that in turn highlights “a major flaw” in the Wireless Code.
The DiversityCanada Foundation and the National Pensioners Federation filed an application with the Commission this week that seeks to review and vary Telecom Decision CRTC 2015-211, which denied a previous application by the groups claiming that Telus made a material change to customer contracts without consent when applying its Large Prepaid Balance Policy.
Under that policy, a Telus prepaid customer who has accumulated an account balance…
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IF THE CRTC DOESN’T step in and put a stop to a repackaging set to begin for Bell Satellite TV subscribers on September 1st, two independent broadcasters say this might be the end of the road for them.
OUTtv Network (an independent specialty aimed at the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities) filed a complaint with the CRTC last week saying the planned changes to its packaging on Bell TV violate section 9 of the BDU regulations, in that Bell is granting itself an undue preference for its own services by shifting OUTtv (along with some…
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TORONTO TELECOM LAWYER Mark Lewis thinks he knows a thing or two about the CRTC's rules for automated phone calls by political parties during elections.
So when he recently got two calls on his personal office phone line from the New Democratic Party – one from a candidate in a nearby riding neither his office nor his residence is in — he was outraged.
"It's just not right," he fumed in an interview, for two reasons: First, after the initial call he emailed the NDP to be put on the party's do not call list, apparently in vain. Second,…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC is helping to promote the discoverability of Canadian TV programming after revising BDU regulations around local availabilities.
The Commission said Wednesday that it is amending the authorization relating to the use of the promotional periods of time made available on U.S. television services, known as local availabilities, so that at least 75% of that time be made available for use by Canadian TV services to promote first-run, original Canadian programs.
The remaining 25% may still be used promote a BDU’s broadcasting and telecommunications services, as set out in general authorizations for broadcasting distribution undertakings.
“This amendment will provide Canadians…
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MONTREAL – Stingray Digital Group has received a five year renewal of its broadcasting licence from the CRTC for its national pay audio service Stingray Music.
Under the terms of the renewal, Stingray will contribute each year a minimum of 4% of the annual gross revenues earned by its pay audio programming undertaking to eligible third parties associated with Canadian content development allocated as follows:
– 25% to FACTOR;
– 25% to MUSICACTION,
– 5% to Community Radio Fund of Canada and;
– 45% to Stingray Music Rising Star to discover, encourage and promote new Canadian artists.
"We are pleased by with the CRTC's…
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TORONTO – Bite TV, the TV channel that was one of the original brands of what is now Blue Ant Media, will be no more as of Monday when it completely alters course as Makeful.
The company describes Makeful as “a new lifestyle specialty channel celebrating the maker community and the creation of one-of-a-kind, handmade goods. Featuring passionate, entertaining makers who share their ideas and provide inspiration, Makeful’s programming combines food, design, style and DIY series. Makeful also unites craft-enthusiasts and provides opportunities to learn new skills through its digital and social platforms. BeMakeful.com”
“While the channel provided our loyal audience…
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OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, the Canadian government’s ambitious Canada’s Wireless Policy took great steps from being a strategy to becoming a reality. The amount of spectrum made available to mobile wireless operators (and to fixed wireless operators) increased significantly, as Industry Canada delivered three auctions (700 MHz in March 2014, AWS-3 in March 2015 and 2500 MHz in April 2015) and is getting ready for a fourth one, scheduled in August 2015.
August 2015: Industry Canada’s residual auction
Industry Canada is holding its third auction in 2015 – a sealed-bid auction for “Residual Spectrum Licences in the 700 MHz and…
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OTTAWA – Wireless customers who fail to pay their bills must receive two notices that they will lose their service before they actually do so, the CRTC has confirmed.
Responding to an application filed by Rogers Communications in February that the notice requirement in the Wireless Code does not apply to service suspensions, the Commission ruled Friday that the notice requirement does, in fact, apply to both suspensions and disconnections. The decision is consistent with the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services’ interpretation of the disconnection provisions of the Wireless Code.
The Wireless Code requires wireless service providers (WSPs) to…
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OTTAWA – Aboriginal Voices Radio has been granted a temporary reprieve from a CRTC decision ordering it to shut down its radio stations in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.
The Federal Court of Appeal stayed the suspension of license for the four stations pending the outcome of an application by the broadcaster for a leave to appeal CRTC 2015-282 issued June 25.
“In the event that the application by AVR for leave to appeal this Decision has not been determined by August 31, 2015, the broadcasting licences for these four radio stations shall continue on the same terms and conditions as those that were…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has kicked off a show cause proceeding to examine whether its existing 9-1-1 obligations should apply directly to non-carriers that provide local exchange, wireless voice, local voice over Internet Protocol, or payphone services.
While the Commission can impose conditions on the offering and provision of telecommunications services by Canadian carriers, it does not have the authority to directly impose these conditions on non-carriers (also known as resellers), and defined as providers other than Canadian carriers. Instead, where it was considered necessary, the Commission has directed the underlying carriers that provide services to non-carriers to ensure…
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