OTTAWA – Knowing that it’s hard for many parties to properly respond to regulatory challenges when only one side can see certain confidential information, the CRTC has today called for comments on a proposed practice direction on the provision of confidential access to confidential Information.
The Commission isn’t proposing to let everyone see everything, just to open up a few file folders for a look-see (without a microfilm camera, we presume).
“The Commission conducts its public processes in an open and transparent manner. In some instances, parties submit information in the course of proceedings for which they request confidentiality….
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC has told Canada’s broadcasters that it will not collect Part II license fees due on November 30, 2007 and subsequent years unless the Federal Court of Appeal or Supreme Court of Canada, should this case be appealed at that level, reverse the Federal Court’s decision.
The Commission informed the Canadian Association of Broadcasters of its decision last week.
The Fees for 2006-2007 are estimated at some $49.7 million that would otherwise have had to be paid by private radio, television and specialty service licensees next month.
Readers will remember that the Federal Court ruled…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The available phone numbers have run low in many regions of the country in past years so it’s no surprise the same thing is happening in the 613.
The CRTC today initiated a public process to handle the telephone number shortage affecting the area code 613 region, which may result in the introduction of a new area code, it said today.
According to the Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNA), area code 613 is expected to run out of telephone numbers by May 2012.
With this public notice (http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/eng/notices/2007/pt2007-18.htm), the Commission is establishing a Relief Planning Committee (RPC) to…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – It’s been a bit of an open secret in Ottawa but today it was made official, Len Katz is the new vice-chair (Telecommunications) at the CRTC.
Also announced today was Peter Menzies’ appointment as a part-time member to the CRTC.
"I am pleased that both Mr. Katz and Mr. Menzies have agreed to join the CRTC," said Heritage Minister Josée Verner in the official release. "Their vast knowledge and experience will play an important role in helping the CRTC carry out its mandate."
Katz (whom Cartt.ca profiled here) has been executive director, broadcasting and telecom at…
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – The CRTC will hear from a large number of companies in December – all of whom want to launch new radio stations in Ontario. Maybe radio ain’t so dead after all?
There are four asking for licenses in Owen Sound, four asking for Windsor, 10 for the Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes region.
Click here to see the list. The hearing will be December 10th in London.
Continue Reading
GATINEAU – On Friday, the CRTC eliminated the winback rules that still stood for high speed Internet services, lifting the final marketing restrictions in that market.
It means ISPs can immediately begin attempting to take back what they’ve lost with immediate offers. The old rules mandated a 90-day waiting period for sales contact after a large ISP lost a customer.
For the full release, click here.
Winback rules were also eliminated for incumbent cable operators who offer TV in multiple dwelling units (apartments and condos).
Continue Reading
TORONTO – Approximately 200 jobs will be lost as CanWest Global announced today it will build four new broadcast centres in each of Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Toronto, consolidating all production for its local news (for both Global Television and E!/CHCH) across the country to these four locations.
The construction will take about 18 months, according to an internal memo from CanWest’s Television president Kathy Dore obtained by Cartt.ca that outlined the impending changes. “Our goal is to update our operations for the HD world and produce higher quality local news, while increasing our efficiency by streamlining the way…
Continue Reading
SINCE WE’RE ALL GOING to be visiting family and eating turkey this weekend, Cartt.ca won’t publish a newsletter on Tuesday, October 9th.
We’ll still post the news as it happens, of course, and we will also be covering the CRTC’s review of regulatory framework for wholesale services and definition of essential service hearing beginning Tuesday in Gatineau – and will resume regular newsletter service on Thursday.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Continue Reading
TO SAY 2007 HAS been a year of growth for EastLink is simply a colossal understatement.
So far, the company has acquired Amtelecom Communications, Persona Communications and RuSh Communications – meaning EastLink (or officially, its parent company, Bragg Communications) has more than doubled in size to around 500,000 customers.
No longer just a regional cable concern, Bragg/EastLink is a national force to be reckoned with, with cable and telecom services extending coast to coast.
The company is a pioneer, having launched phone service years before other North American cable companies – to much success – in Nova…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – CTVglobemedia announced five key appointments on Monday as it reorganized its television division into strategic channel groups following its acquisition of CHUM Ltd.
Susanne Boyce and Rick Brace will lead the television division’s content and business strategies, while Dawn Fell, Andre Serero and Paul Sparkes will be responsible for the corporate units. Robin Fillingham remains chief financial officer and will continue to handle all financial matters pertaining to CTVglobemedia.
As president of creative, content and channels at CTV Inc., Boyce will be responsible for all creative aspects of the conventional, specialty and digital platforms, excluding sports. She…
Continue Reading
