OTTAWA – The CRTC has renewed the direct satellite relay distribution undertaking (SRDU) and Direct to Home (DTH) licences for Bell ExpressVu, Shaw Direct and Shaw Satellite Services for another seven years until August 31, 2019.
Shaw requested to be relieved from the requirement to contribute 5% of its annual revenues from broadcasting activities to the creation and presentation of Canadian programming, as well as from the requirement to file reports regarding such contributions. Shaw submitted that its SRDU’s competitors, namely terrestrial relay distribution undertakings (TRDUs), have no such obligation.
The Alliance of Canadian…
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OTTAWA – While he didn’t come right out and say that federal cabinet will definitely stay out of the CRTC’s denial of Bell Canada’s purchase of Astral Media, Industry Minister Christian Paradis left little doubt that he believes this is a matter is best left up to the Commission and processes already in place.
During a scrum with reporters Tuesday afternoon after his speech to the International Institute of Communications Canadian conference, Paradis was asked whether or not cabinet will jump in and issue a policy directive to the Commission, as requested…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC is ending the 5% limitation on the carry-over of Canadian programming over-expenditures and the obligation to use them in the subsequent broadcast year, but broadcasters currently subject to it will have to apply to have it removed.
The CRTC’s decision follows previous filings by both Rogers and Bell that argued the 5% cap limited their flexibility. Rogers submitted that the cap reduced its ability to operate its Citytv conventional television stations and that some of its Canadian programming expenditures (CPE) were already committed to large budget productions during the first broadcast year…
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OTTAWA – Jean-Pierre Blais wasted little time during his keynote at IIC Canada’s annual conference Monday in restating that the interests of Canadians as consumers, creators and citizens will be of utmost importance to the CRTC during his mandate as chairman.
An example of how he will make sure individual Canadians are front and centre will be when the CBC/Radio-Canada appears before the Commission next month for its licence renewal hearing. “I don’t think our proceedings should be attended only by people who are paid to be there in their official capacity. Let’s level the playing field,” he said. “We’ve offered evening sessions…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC reports that the number of National Do Not Call List complaints about telemarketers dropped by nearly 7,000 the previous month to about 11,000 complaints in September.
The CRTC also reported it started two new investigations in September, closed 22, and has 119 still active. It made 191 citations to notify telemarketers that the Commission had received consumer complaints alleging that the telemarketer has violated the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules.
The citation identifies the alleged violations and notes the specific corrective action to be taken. The citation sets out the process to be…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC’s National Do Not Call List has levied $441,000 in penalties and registered an additional 1.2 million Canadian numbers in the past reporting year. As of March 31, 2012 the total number of registered numbers was almost 10.7 million. In the past year it also reached its first cross-border agreement that helped halt two Mexican-based companies telemarketers, and co-chaired the first International Do Not Call Network meeting. The report from the CRTC covers the period of April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
The creation of the network brought together 13 telecommunications…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Incumbent telephone and cable companies will have to make more information public when proposing rates for wholesale services says the CRTC in a decision released on Friday. Much of the previously confidential information submitted to establish wholesale rates will now be put on the public record, but companies will retain the right to protect competitively sensitive information.
“This represents a key part of a huge shift,” says OpenMedia.ca Executive Director Steve Anderson. “The CRTC has been the site of some major changes—from being very industry-centric and closed-off to increasingly public-interest oriented—as the pro-Internet…
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CALGARY – Shaw Communications says its placing a "significant focus" on customer service and pricing as it reported that net income from continuing operations fell 20% to $133 million in the fourth quarter, from $167 million a year earlier. Revenue rose about 3% to $1.21 billion for the quarter compared to $1.81 billion year-over-year.
"We have applied more rigour and discipline to our pricing, customer acquisition strategies and marketing activities," said CEO Brad Shaw during a conference call.
The cable and media company said…
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OTTAWA – Canadians need an “enforceable, comprehensive wireless code” in light of the number and type of complaints highlighted in the Annual Report of the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS), according to telecommunications advocacy group Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC).
The CCTS Annual Report, released Thursday, indicated that 60% of all complaints received were from wireless service customers. The CCTS also handles internet and wireless service problems for Canadians after being given the mandate by the CRTC.
"The CCTS can only do so much: the wireless industry needs to step…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The CRTC and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) have welcomed three new enforcement agencies to the International Do Not Call Network. Agencies from the Netherlands, Portugal and Japan attended the network's 2nd annual meeting, which was held on October 19, 2012.
Through the International Do Not Call Network, members from 15 countries are cooperating on enforcement and education activities. They are also working with the industry to find technology solutions to ensure do-not-call regimes are protecting and empowering consumers. The CRTC and ACMA serve as the network's co-chairs, and the U.S. Federal Trade…
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