TORONTO – It will be up to Canada’s Supreme Court to decide on whether Internet service providers (ISPs) are just pipes or actually broadcasters.
On Thursday the Court granted a coalition of Canadian union and guilds leave to appeal a lower court decision issued last July that deemed ISPs “content-neutral,” and therefore not subject to CRTC-regulated Canadian content exhibition or contribution requirements like broadcasters.
During that proceeding, the major ISPs, (many of which are also cable companies), insisted that because ISPs do not select, originate or package programming, they cannot be considered broadcasters. A coalition of content producers and…
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“THIS IS THE EXCEPTION rather than the rule,” Industry Minister Tony Clement told a Parliamentary committee earlier this month regarding the Conservatives penchant for weighing in on CRTC decisions.
He quoted the number six – three varied and three referred back to the Commission – out of 2,200 telecom decisions issued by the CRTC (below is a list of the decisions and how the government ruled). These numbers don’t tell the whole story though. While on the surface six out of 2,200 is miniscule, the fact of the matter is that out of those 2,200 decisions only 30 were…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Rogers Communications has made a $275,000 payment to the CRTC for its use of automated calling devices without consent.
The Commission said Thursday that Rogers was using these devices to notify its prepaid mobile customers of how they could purchase more minutes to avoid a service interruption. Automated calling devices are used to dial telephone numbers and automatically deliver a pre-recorded message. The CRTC’s automatic dialing and announcing device rules prohibit telemarketers from using these devices to sell or promote a product or service unless a consumer has consented to be called by them.
While not admitting fault, after…
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OTTAWA – Sports network The Score had most, but not all, of its proposed amendments to its broadcasting licence approved by the CRTC.
The Commission said Tuesday that the English-language analog service could increase its Canadian programming expenditure requirement and reduce its Canadian programming exhibition requirement; add to the program categories from which it may draw programming; and delete the condition of licence setting its wholesale rate.
However, the Commission denied its request to amend the condition of licence requiring The Score to devote no less than 50% of live sports event coverage in prime time to the exhibition of…
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OTTAWA – Tom Pentefountas, the recently appointed vice-chair of broadcasting at the CRTC, stood firm as opposition MPs on the Standing Committee of Canadian Heritage questioned his ability to fulfill the responsibilities of the position.
He said all the right words in his opening remarks, highlighting the challenges facing the CRTC in the face of convergence and the new realities on online viewing. “Convergence is on the verge of erasing the dividing line between broadcasting and telecommunications,” he said. “That is one of our greatest challenges.
“Moreover, to face this new reality, the CRTC must implement 25 year old legislation….
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OTTAWA – The CRTC will hold a proceeding to review the local, wireless, and toll network interconnection regulatory regimes.
In a notice of hearing issued on Wednesday, the Commission said that the principle objectives of this proceeding are to determine to what extent:
– existing interconnection regimes can be simplified and consolidated;– changes are necessary to enhance competition and, thus, benefit consumers; and– changes are necessary to ensure technological neutrality.
The proceeding will include a public hearing in Gatineau beginning on October 24 and is expected to last approximately five days. Should additional time be required, the hearing…
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OTTAWA – Granted, it’s just another in the thousands of oft-ignored parliamentary committee reports, but a new one released today by the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage wants the CRTC to hold a public hearing about whether or not the likes of Netflix, Google TV, Apple TV, etc., should be contributing funds to the Canadian television industry.
The report, “Impacts Of Private Television Ownership Changes And The Move Towards New Viewing Platforms,” was informed by five fall 2010 meeting days which heard from 21 witnesses representing Canadian media companies (big and small), carriers, producers, Continue Reading
MONTREAL – Françoise Bertrand has been named chair of the board of directors at Quebecor Inc. effective immediately, the company announced Monday.
Bertrand, who has been a member of the board since 2003, is also chair of Quebecor’s compensation committee and a member of its corporate governance committee. She replaces Jean Neveu who passed away earlier this month.
“A consensus quickly emerged around Françoise as the new Chair of Quebecor’s Board,” said board vice chairman, the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, in the announcement. “She has an exceptional track record and strong moral authority. Françoise has already demonstrated a tremendous capacity…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Canadians wishing to switch providers for their television, home telephone, wireless or Internet services will find the process a little easier thanks to a change in CRTC policy on Friday.
Consumers will now be able to switch service providers simply by calling the new provider, who can then make all arrangements to have the services transferred over on behalf of the customer. The Commission said that all customer transfers be completed within two business days, except for wireless service where transfers must be completed within 2.5 hours.
Consumers may also cancel their services by contacting their current service provider…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Conventional television stations must kick off their national awareness campaign on the pending digital transition by May 1, 2011, the CRTC said Friday.
Broadcasters that are required to make the transition must air public service announcements at least six times per day, and at least 25% must be shown in prime time, between 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. The announcements must be at least 30 seconds long, be closed captioned, contain audio descriptions of on-screen information and include the following elements:
– a statement to the effect that the Canadian television system is in the process of converting its over-the-air transmitters…
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