GATINEAU – The CRTC’s proposal to include broadband as part of the basic service objective (BSO) for telcos is getting lukewarm support, at best. The Commission proposed the idea in a broad consultation on a variety of telecom matters, referred to as the “Obligation to Serve” proceeding.
MTS Allstream Inc. and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) are two that have said making broadband part of basic service would represent a logical extension of the current regime. Presently the BSO only applies to local voice services.
“Including broadband access in the Commission’s universal service objective would also recognize the…
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GATINEAU – Citing “serial abuse” by Shaw Communications, Telus has reiterated its demand for immediate interim relief from the CRTC over the Calgary-based cableco’s tactics when customers want to switch from Shaw Cable or Shaw Direct to Telus’ Optik TV.
It did so while lamenting the Regulator’s decision to extend and expand CRTC 2010-406, the call for comments on the customer transfer process and related competitive issues, the very thing Telus (and others) want solved. Now. As reported by Cartt.ca, the Commission (prodded by Rogers Communications) decided to extend the deadline for comments on the proceeding because it…
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FEW FEEL THE turmoil in our industry like independent communications companies.
They lack the resources of the national cable, satellite and telco carriers and are quite small by comparison, of course – but their customers expect similar options (prices, services, broadband speeds, etc) that they see advertised by those big companies. Those independents also have to deal with the same regulatory and legislative change, negotiate contracts with programmers and others, and keep on top of the latest tech trends and new business opportunities, too.
Which is the reason why the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance exists and thrives. Working collectively, the…
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GATINEAU – When it comes to the Canadian communications industry, the web is taking over, according to the CRTC’s annual Communications Monitoring Report.
Based on 2009 data, (end of August for broadcast, end of December for telecom) the report shows the communications industry accounted for 4.6% of Canada’s gross domestic product with overall revenues rising 2.1% to $55.4 billion, compared with revenues of $54.3 billion the previous year.
And, Canadians are increasingly using mobile and Internet services to communicate and access broadcasting content. By the end of the year, there were 23.8 million wireless subscribers and 8.3 million broadband Internet.
From…
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CALGARY and TORONTO – The Ontario Superior Court of Justice today issued a order sanctioning the restated consolidated plan of compromise, arrangement and reorganization relating to Shaw Communications’ $2 billion purchase of Canwest Global Communications television assets.
Previously, Shaw announced that it had entered into agreements regarding the acquisition of 100% of the over-the-air and specialty television businesses of Canwest, including all of the equity interests in CW Investments Co., the Canwest subsidiary that owns a portfolio of specialty television channels.
"This is another important step forward with respect to the CMI Entities emerging from the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act…
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TORONTO – In a little over two weeks, Canadians (assuming carriage agreements are in place…) will have another TV sports option to pick from.
Rogers Communications today announced Rogers Sportsnet One, a new sports specialty that will feature over 800 hours of live events, all in high definition, will launch August 14th.
The national live-event line-up features the Toronto Raptors, National Basketball Association, the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Major League Baseball and Barclay’s Premier League.
This also marks the return of pro basketball to Sportsnet. Rogers Sportsnet and Sportsnet One and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment have signed a deal to…
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GATINEAU – A local company in each of Montreal and Sudbury, Ont., were granted BDU licenses for their communities by the CRTC today.
A numbered company owned by Northern Ontario-based ISP and VOIP provider Vianet is the new license holder in Sudbury. It plans to launch an IPTV-based TV system to complement its phone and internet offerings.
The Montreal license recipient is another VOIP provider and ISP called Ormuco, which also plans to launch an IPTV video service.
www.vianet.cawww.ormuco.com
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Effective October 20, 2012, 10-digit local dialing will be required for all local calls made in Manitoba, the CRTC said today. As well, a new area code, 431, will be introduced in the province, effective November 3, 2012.
The transition to 10-digit dialing will begin on July 29, 2012, and will be gradually introduced over the following weeks. It will become mandatory by October 20, 2012.
At the same time, in order to prevent running out of telephone numbers in the “glorious and free” province, the CRTC is introducing a new area code, 431 as of November 3, 2012….
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CARTT.CA’S UPDATED STORY on the Shaw/Canwest deal seeks to fill in “incomplete data” on Shaw’s proposed benefits package of $23 million for a transaction reported at $2 billion. That’s not a typo. We estimate that this comes to 1% of the value of the transaction. Since Commission policy dictates 10% for benefits it’s fair to ask: Are we missing $177 million? Let’s look at the numbers.
In their main application, Shaw ascribed a value of the transaction at $475 million. At that point, they were proposing a benefits of $23 million, which would be spent on the conversion to…
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GATINEAU – Barring a last-minute agreement, Torstar and Rogers Communications will ask the CRTC to finally settle the dispute between the two companies over the carriage of Torstar shopping channel ShopTV.
Earlier this year, Torstar applied for dispute resolution under Section 12 of the BDU Regulations, claiming Rogers was refusing to come to a fair agreement over the carriage of ShopTV by Rogers Cable.
Because Rogers owns The Shopping Channel (TSC) and offers it system-wide, Torstar says it has to be carried across all Rogers Cable systems due to the Commission’s 1:1 regulation which says for each BDU-owned channel carried,…
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