OTTAWA – The CRTC has issued a call for comments on a proposed model tariff for the 9-1-1 emergency response service offered by competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs).
The Commission developed a proposed 9-1-1 emergency response service model tariff for CLECs based in part on a proposal submitted by MTS Allstream in September. MTS asked to amalgamate its six existing provincial 9-1-1 emergency response service tariffs into a single tariff that would apply in all areas where it operates as a CLEC. Rogers Cable filed a similar proposal the following month.
Comments are due by February 9.
www.crtc.gc.ca
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – In order to make its official documents “clearer and more consistent”, the CRTC has standardized the way it issues decisions and orders for the broadcasting and telecommunication sectors.
Effective this month, the new system will “provide a clear distinction between the prospective and determination phases of the Commission’s processes” for decisions, notices of consultation, regulatory policies and orders. Also, circulars will be replaced by information bulletins.
The Commission will number each document sequentially in the order they are issued under a single numbering system, meaning that each will now have its own unique number. However, broadcasting and telecom…
Continue Reading
MONTREAL – Radio-Canada received so many complaints about a show called ‘Bye Bye 2008’ that aired on New Years Eve, including a critical column in Tuesday’s Globe and Mail, that its executive vice president felt compelled to issue a public statement late on Wednesday.
“The Bye Bye is a year-end comedy special renowned for its brashness and irreverence,” read the network’s statement from Sylvain Lafrance. “There is generally some degree of controversy attached to it, and some audience members occasionally deem that certain skits go too far. Though the writers, stars and producers of the show do not aim…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC is updating their website to provide “a more user-friendly experience” and make it easier to search for information.
The redesigned site will feature a new visual design, an improved navigation structure, renovated content that promises to be “accurate, consistent and uses language appropriate for our audiences”, plus an improved search engine.
Work is underway and expected to be completed shortly. The main website address will stay the same, but some URLs for decisions, notices and orders have changed.
www.crtc.gc.ca
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC has sided with CTV in finding that Shaw Cablesystems and Bell TV did not perform simultaneous program substitution for the network’s HD broadcast of the 2008 Super Bowl last February. Star Choice was also named in CTV’s complaint, but was found to be in compliance.
While the Commission accepted Shaw’s explanation of technical difficulties, it has directed the cable company to resolve the issues in time for the 2009 Super Bowl broadcast. Bell TV has also been ordered to comply, and both BDUs must provide “written assurances” within the next two weeks to the CRTC and CTV, or…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Stingray Digital Group has received CRTC approval for a new national pay audio service.
The service, to be known as Stingray, proposed initially offering 45 audio channels which would increase to up to 60 over the licence term, and would include “a wide selection of music from a variety of genres”.
www.crtc.ca www.stingraydigital.com
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC has granted VidéOptique Inc. a broadcasting licence to operate a regional video-on-demand (VOD) service in parts of Quebec.
But support for the service, at least in its current form, was not unanimous. Commissioner Michel Morin filed a dissenting opinion against the decision and accused the CRTC of “beating around the bush and displaying a flagrant lack of leadership” on the issue of community programming.
In its application, the yet unnamed service said that it would consist primarily of feature films, non-live events, children’s programming, archival television programming and adult programming, predominantly in French.
But the Fédération…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CBC has asked the CRTC to delay proceedings on a proposed regulatory framework for video-on-demand (VOD) undertakings.
The Commission issued a call for comments in October, seeking to clarify the expected role and contributions of VOD services to the Canadian broadcasting system. Comments were to be due by January 29, 2009.
But the CBC has requested delaying this process for at least a year, citing other regulatory proceedings occurring in the same time frame, and noting that this proceeding deals with the issue of advertising at a time when "the advertising market…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) said it "welcomed" the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision on Thursday to hear its appeal regarding the Part II licence fee issue.
As reported by Cartt.ca, the Federal Court Trial Division ruled in December 2006 that the CRTC Part II Licence Fees collected by the federal government from broadcasters and broadcast distributors are an illegal tax. The government appealed that decision to the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA), which ruled that the fees are valid regulatory charges and not a tax. On June 27, 2008, the CAB filed an application…
Continue Reading
WHILE WE WILL STILL be covering the news as it happens at Cartt.ca, our newsletters are taking a little holiday break. Today’s newsletter will be the final regular one until January 6th as those of us at Cartt.ca celebrate Christmas and the New Year.
We will be back strong as usual in January with daily coverage from the very important Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, as well as the digital broadcasting conference put on by the CSUA in Toronto later in the month and then the SCTE Canadian Summit in early February. Then, don’t forget about the CRTC’s new media in broadcasting…
Continue Reading
