GATINEAU – The CRTC has told Canada’s wireless companies that their collective inaction when it comes to the loss or theft of customer handsets – and the personal data those mobiles contain – will not be tolerated.
Back in the summer, the Commission sent a letter to the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association asking what the group and its members (which include all Canadian wireless carriers, big and small) are doing to keep track of lost or stolen mobile phones and help their customers who are impacted. In most other jurisdictions around the world, a central database has been created so…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – To remedy a shortage of telephone numbers in the provinces of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island the CRTC is adding a 782 area code to areas that are currently served by area code 902. The CRTC will also introduce 10-digit dialing in both provinces so that all local calls are routed to the correct area code.
Beginning November 30, 2014, customers requesting a new telephone number could be given a number starting with area code 782. Existing customers will keep area code 902 and their current telephone number.
The move to…
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OTTAWA – Jean-Pierre Blais, the newly appointed Chairman of CRTC will speak the Public Interest Advocacy Centre`s (PIAC) Annual Dinner 2012 on November 30 in Ottawa. Blais will be presenting his vision for the CRTC’s approach to consumer protection in telecommunications and broadcasting, as well as introducing Barbara Motzney, the CRTC’s new Chief Consumer Officer.
Attendees will also hear from PIAC about its plans for the future, including its affordable and accessible communications campaign to ensure high quality telecommunications and broadcasting services for all consumers. PIAC will also recognize Michael Janigan for his many years as…
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OTTAWA – With vice-chairman, telecom Len Katz’s term expiring October 11 and former Ontario commissioner Rita Cugini gone since April, the CRTC will find itself without Ontario representation in just days. But at least the federal government finally got around to posting the positions on Monday.
The ideal candidate for the vice-chairperson (telecommunications) position must possess: “extensive knowledge of the legislative framework and mandate of the CRTC and other relevant federal legislation. Knowledge of the regulatory and technological environments in which the broadcasting, telecommunications and digital media sectors operate in Canada and abroad is necessary. ……
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TORONTO – More than a year in the works, Sirius and XM users can finally find out what the other is listening to for an extra $4 a month. But can SiriusXM’s new premier subscription service compete against free?
With the launch of “Best Of” SiriusXM Canada is following the lead of its U.S. counterpart and is now offering subscription packages allowing Canadian Sirius and XM subscribers to add a selection of channels from the other service.
"Our combined subscriber base has been waiting for this exciting benefit since the Sirius XM Canada merger and we're…
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OTTAWA – The Competition Bureau has appointed economist John Pecman as the interim Commissioner of Competition for up to a one-year term. One of Pecman’s first major tasks will be to analyze and respond to the CRTC’s upcoming decision on Bell’s proposed purchase of Astral Media. He takes over from former commissioner Melanie Aitken, who left the bureau on Friday, with two years left in her mandate.
"With nearly 30 years of experience at the Bureau, Mr. Pecman has a keen understanding of competition law and marketplace conduct," said Christian Paradis, Minister of Industry,…
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HUNTSVILLE – Delegates to the 2012 Canadian Cable Systems Alliance annual Connect conference were advised by a series of speakers Monday afternoon (and we’re paraphrasing here) that their customers care only about themselves and what’s happening, or isn’t happening, on their screen, whichever one they happen to be using, rightnow.
As any cable operator will know, customers are increasingly demanding, but this where independents have a chance to shine, digital marketing expert Mitch Joel of Montreal’s Twist Image told delegates (a number of pictures of whom are posted below this piece). He demonstrated how the retail world is moving more…
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ST. JOHN’S – Cutbacks, concentration of ownership, reimagining public media, and even the cable bill of president and CEO Hubert Lacroix were all up for discussion at CBC’s 4th annual public meeting. Ahead of its CRTC renewal hearing scheduled for November 19, executives also called for a regulatory framework that will enable the public broadcaster to maintain a presence “no matter what degree of industry consolidation may happen, or how fast technology and demographics might evolve.”
But before they got to the CBC’s numbers, Lacroix, whose future at the CBC remains unclear as…
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OTTAWA – In a battle of GOs, Telus is charging Corus Entertainment and Shaw Communications of conspiring to block its efforts to stream Movie Central/HBO content to its Optik On The Go customers, which competes directly now with Shaw`s GO TV Everywhere service.
Telus filed a complaint with the CRTC last week saying Telus has tried unsuccessfully for nearly a year to acquire the premium content for its Optik on the go service from Corus, to no avail.
“Corus is offering in-home, out-of-home and on-the-go access to Movie Central…
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GRANTING BELL THE RIGHT to buy Astral Media will make an already big company that acts badly, enormous, add incentive for it act even worse, which in the end will crush competition and choice in Canada. Therefore, the deal needs to be quashed altogether or tough new rules applied to constrain the biggest player in Canadian media, say final replies to the CRTC’s public proceeding into Bell Canada’s quest to buy Astral Media.
Those last written rejoinders to the Commission’s public proceeding into Bell Canada’s purchase of Astral Media (CRTC 2012-370) from intervenors were due into the Commission on Friday,…
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