Search Results for: crtc

Radio / Television News

Commission to hear five radio applications for Charlottetown, four for New Glasgow

GATINEAU – The CRTC will hold a hearing October 3rd in Charlottetown, to consider nine radio license applications, among other items. In January, the Commission issued a call for applications for Charlottetown, and ended up with five, as outlined below. Two are AM-to-FM conversions, the others for new stations. All are for English stations. Charlottetown is currently served by five stations (two of which are CBC) and its population (including the immediate surrounding area) is just over 58,000, according to Statistics Canada. Maritime Broadcasting System Limited has asked to convert CFCY 630 Charlottetown from the AM band to the… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Canadians back incumbent telcos, says telco-sponsored survey

TORONTO – A survey released today done on behalf of Bell Canada, Aliant, Sasktel, Télébec and Telus says that Canadians want their incumbent telephone companies to be free of regulation when it comes to offering voice over Internet protocol telephony. “Ninety-four percent agree that all VOIP service providers, including established telephone companies like Bell Canada, Aliant, SaskTel, Télébec, and Telus, should be subject to the same regulatory rules (38% believe this strongly),” says Wednesday’s press release on the survey done by Ipsos-Reid. Furthermore: • Three-quarters believe traditional telephone companies should be allowed to compete and offer lower prices for… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Stentor Alliance revived (sort of) as VOIP appeal made official

OTTAWA – All the regional telcos used to work together to lobby the government like this under the old Stentor Alliance – an working group that was disbanded years ago when they all decided to compete with one another. Today, the remaining former Stentor members (with one notable exception) held a joint press conference to make official their appeal to Federal Cabinet over the CRTC’s voice over Internet protocol decision. The decision, as reported on numerous occasions by www.cartt.ca, says that incumbent telcos have to abide by existing telecom regulations in the way of win-back rules, tariff applications, and… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Should town telcos be able to get BDU licenses?

OTTAWA – There are just under 40 independent telephone companies left in Canada – little telcos that for one reason or another, were never swallowed up by Bell Canada. All of them, save one, are in Bell’s Ontario or Quebec territory. Of those, there are six which are owned by municipalities: Bruce Municipal Telephone System, Cochrane Public Utilities Commission, Dryden Municipal Telephone System, Kenora Municipal Telephone System, The Corporation of the City of Thunder Bay – Telephone Division, all in Ontario, and Prince Rupert City Telephone, in British Columbia. This week, the Department of Canadian Heritage closed a comments… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Newcap still focused on acquisitions, launching Fred FM tomorrow

DARTMOUTH, N.S. – In announcing his company’s second quarter results Wednesday, Newfoundland Capital Corporation president and CEO Rob Steele said the company will continue to set its sights on more acquisitions going forward. "We are diligently investing resources in growing this company by focusing on acquiring assets in underserved markets across the country,” said Steele. “The first half of this year has met our objectives, not only in terms of operating results, but also in terms of the success we have had with acquisitions, their integration into our operations and the granting of new licences.” NCC (better-known as Newcap… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Amtelecom has carbon-copy quarter

AYLMER, ON – Amtelecom Income Fund, whose primary asset is cable and telco Amtelecom Communications, reported second quarter results which were near exactly the same as last year’s Q2. For the second quarter of 2005, ended June 30th, 2005, the Fund generated total revenues of $6.1 million, earnings before interest, taxes and amortization (EBITDA) of $2.9 million and net earnings of $1.3 million ($0.22 per unit). Last year’s Q2 was almost identical as revenues were $6.1 million, EBITDA was $2.9 million and net earnings came in at $1.1 million. For the six month period ending June 30, 2005, the… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Wireless leads solid RCI Q2

TORONTO – Operating revenue increased 29% for the quarter ended June 30th at Rogers Communications Inc., with all three operating companies contributing to the year-over-year growth, including 47% growth at Wireless, 5.3% growth at Cable and 27.1% growth at Media. Consolidated quarterly operating profit grew 26.9% year-over-year, with 47.6% growth at Wireless (to $364.8 million compared to June 30 2004) and 13.9% growth at Media (to $44.2 million), offset by a 1% decline at Cable (to $171.6 million). The company passed the one million high speed Internet subscriber mark during the quarter. Wireless ended the quarter with a total… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Commission opens proceeding on cable’s wish to drop radio signals

OTTAWA – As first reported by www.cartt.ca, the Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association has asked the CRTC for permission to drop local radio signals from cable license requirements. Today, the Commission sent out a call for public comments on the cable industry’s request to repeal the section of the broadcast distribution regulations which requires cable companies to carry every local FM signal in their cable regions. The CCTA says that so few customers (4%) actually listen to the radio on cable that it’s a waste of bandwidth that could be put to better use. “As we move to into… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

RDS gets French outdoor channel license

GATINEAU – Le Reseau des sports (RDS) was granted a category two digital specialty service license for Le Reseau Grand Air. The French-language specialty service will be devoted exclusively to recreation, outdoor activity, adventure and conservation. No launch date has been set. Click here to see the full approval. Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Star Choice moves cause broadcasters to demand HD action by Commission

OTTAWA – Due to the “complete absence of Canadian conventional high definition services on StarChoice/Cancom,” the Canadian Association of Broadcasters has urged the CRTC to take action against the DTH company and to finally come up with an HD policy when it comes to satellite providers. As reported by www.cartt.ca, the CRTC issued a decision on May 12 upholding a complaint made against Star Choice by CTV. Broadcasters said that the DTH company’s past practice of excerpting HD content (mostly U.S. content) and compiling it on omnibus HD channels contravened distribution regulations. The Commission agreed and told Star… Continue Reading