OTTAWA – The CRTC has decided what the Competition Bureau wants is too much to ask of Canada’s wireless service providers.
On March 8, 2019, the Competition Bureau wrote to the CRTC as part of the Regulator’s review of mobile wireless service proceeding, requesting the Commission demand a series of data from the wireless service providers (WSPs) which would allow the Bureau to conduct an analysis of the competitive landscape.
As Cartt.ca reported, the WSPs responded strongly, arguing the new burden imposed on them by the request for years of data was too onerous and accused the…
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Industry, others, provide feedback
OTTAWA – On February 26th, the Government of Canada proposed new CRTC Policy direction to put Canadians at the forefront of future telecommunications decisions, as Cartt.ca reported.
By law, this proposed Order must be put for comments for a period of 30 days after being published in the Canada Gazette. April 8th was the deadline for intervenors to make their comments known to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
(Ed note: By law, the federal government doesn’t have to listen to any of the recommendations, if it has already made up its mind,…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has laid out its 2020-2021 Forecast for the next two years under the headings of Telecommunications, Broadcasting and Consumer and public protection.
Designed to supplement the CRTC Departmental Plan 2019-2020, the Commission said that the publications are designed to help foster a predictable regulatory environment by providing advance public notice of its activities over the next two fiscal years, each running from April 1 to March 31.
Highlights from the forecast include:
Telecommunications
– Improve broadband internet access service across Canada
– Implement the regulatory framework for mobile wireless services
– Determine configurations and rates for disaggregated wholesale high-speed…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC has called TVA Group to an expedited hearing at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 17 over the company’s decision to yank its TVA Sports signal from Bell TV – and it warned the broadcaster the its sports channel’s broadcasting licence hangs in the balance.
Specifically, the Commission has called the company in to “consider whether TVA Group Inc. (TVA) is in violation or has violated section 15(1) of the Discretionary Services Regulations (the Regulations) by withdrawing TVA Sports’ signal from distribution by Bell Canada (Bell) and related undertakings or otherwise interfering with the signal in a…
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MONTREAL – Two weeks ago, Cartt.ca reported Québecor had complained to the CRTC alleging undue preference in Bell TV’s treatment of TVA Sports.
Tuesday, Bell filed its answer, saying it was not a valid complaint since, among other things, negotiations were under way to set affiliation agreements for the next few years.
Most complaints would not warrant coverage such as this but it comes at a time of heightened tension between Québecor and Bell that has resulted in Québecor pulling TVA Sports from Bell TV (despite repeated CRTC warnings not to do so), depriving Bell’s subscribers of French-language NHL…
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TORONTO – Nascent wireless provider dotmobile is one step closer to launch after receiving its first telecommunications license from the CRTC.
“The first license issued to us is called BITS – Basic International Telecommunications Services – which is needed to provide calling to the US. So, now we’ve got the go-ahead to connect our members to the rest of the world. Cart before the horse as far as licenses go, but hey – we’re one step closer!” reads a post by CXO Alex Bauman.
Bauman added that the company has registered for several licenses, including Wireless Service Provider and Proposed Full MVNO,…
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MONTREAL — Quebecor’s TVA is so fed up with how its all-sports channel is being treated by Bell that an executive confirmed it will defy a CRTC demand and pull TVA Sports from all Bell TV distribution systems at 7 p.m. Wednesday, just as the National Hockey League playoffs begin.
"We don't have confidence" in the CRTC process, said Groupe TVA COO Martin Picard in an interview. "We've already waited too long."
While the Commission has a dispute resolution process that uses final offer arbitration to impose new carriage contracts when asked to do so by one of the parties,…
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GATINEAU – During the final regular season game of the NHL season aired on TVA Sports this past weekend, the Quebecor-owned broadcaster warned viewers they were going to lose access to the channel when the NHL playoffs begin – and that it’s all Bell’s fault.
Currently, Quebecor CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau is leading a one-man public campaign decrying the state of affairs when it comes to specialty TV and the wholesale rates his TVA channels receive from carriers (please see our feature interview published here), since they are so much lower than Bell Media channels…
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Shortliffe to become ED, broadcasting
GATINEAU – CRTC chair Ian Scott announced today it has filled a newly created position with Scott Hutton, who will leave his long-time post as executive director, broadcasting, to become the Commission’s new chief of consumer, research and communications.
Hutton “brings to the role 27 years of experience at the CRTC and has extensive experience in both the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors. He is a seasoned expert of the communications industry and the regulatory environment,” reads the chair’s memo.
“Scott will lead the CRTC’s work as we engage in a conversation with Canadians, key stakeholders and industry…
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Reiterates push for “granular data”
GATINEAU – The Canadian wireless market reaps $24.5 billion in annual retail sales, accounts for 155,000 jobs and 31.7 million subscribers (2017 figures*) so the stakes are rather high when it comes to another regulatory review of that market.
Old ways (facilities-based competition) may be thrown out with new ones mandated (MVNOs). The questions surrounding the CRTC’s latest review of the wireless market has created much unease and uncertainty inside Canada’s wireless carriers (and a glimmer of hope among those who want to launch new MVNO-based brands and…
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