OTTAWA – The CRTC issued more determinations on next-generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) network design efficiencies Thursday as it moves to connect Canadians will new and improved emergency services with Internet Protocol-based capabilities.
Specifically, the Commission set out the roles and responsibilities with respect to the Location Information Server / Additional Data Repository (LIS/ADR) functionalities and its NG9-1-1 interconnection framework. The decision also imposes various obligations on telecommunications service providers and incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs), including small ILECs, so that all Canadians will benefit from the same quality of NG9-1-1 networks.
Lastly, the CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee was directed to make…
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CHATHAM and GATINEAU – Last month, independent ISP TekSavvy lodged an official complaint to the CRTC over its most recent Communications Monitoring Report.
In its February 13th letter, TekSavvy noted the telecom portion of the 2018 CMR, which analyzes 2017 data, was not only very late (released December 20, 2018) and disjointed, but it also did not follow the same methodological standards and practices of prior reports.
“The CRTC published the 2018 Report in the waning days of 2018, during an open proceeding that involves a challenge to an earlier CRTC decision to…
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OTTAWA – TNW Wireless Inc. is eligible to operate as a wireless carrier in Canada and may begin offering mobile wireless services after it proves that it has complied with all applicable 9-1-1 service obligations, said the CRTC in a decision late Thursday.
The decision also means that TNW now has access to tariffed services for wholesale mobile roaming on Bell’s and Telus’ networks, something that it had asked the CRTC to help it obtain back in July 2017.
However, the decision also found that the company’s proposed iPCS (Internet personal communications system) service does not comply with the…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC on Monday yanked the basic international telecommunications services licences of 37 companies that it says have failed to comply with the conditions of licence.
All entities that provide basic international telecommunications services (BITS) to Canadians are required to be licensed by the Commission. As a condition of licence, licensees are subject to annual reporting requirements.
“Despite Commission requests that licensees comply with these filing requirements, a number of licensees failed to comply”, reads TD CRTC 2019-59. “Consequently, on 19 December 2018, the Commission, in accordance with subsection 16.4(1) of the Act, sent by registered mail a notice of intent to…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – Amidst a plethora of over-the-top options for video and audio content, Canadian broadcasting services generated total revenues of $17.3 billion in 2017, down 3.3% from 2016, the CRTC said Wednesday.
In the broadcasting portion of its 2018 Communications Monitoring Report (CMR), the Commission said that broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDUs), such as cable, satellite and IPTV distributors, generated almost half (49.4%) of the total revenues, with $8.5 billion reported in 2017. That was followed by television services with $6.9 billion (40.1%) and radio stations with $1.8 billion (10.5%).
The revenues of Internet-based audio and video services (a.k.a. OTT services) are…
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OTTAWA – In something of a surprising move, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Navdeep Bains announced Tuesday during Question Period he planned to issue a Policy direction to the CRTC requiring it to improve the affordability of Internet and cellphone services for Canadians.
If this is truly a shift away from market forces and facilities based competition (hard to tell for sure with the legalese), then this could be the most significant shift in the federal government's thinking on telecom in decades.
Even though the CRTC is independent, the government can, according to the Telecommunications Act “issue directions…
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OTTAWA — The CRTC is proposing to amend the general authorizations for BDUs to authorize the satellite-to-cable CTV Two Alberta service to be included as part of the basic service in Alberta, but the Commission wants to hear from interested parties first.
In May 2017, the CRTC approved Bell Media’s request to continue to allow CTV Two Alberta to be offered on the basic service in Alberta, as part of its Broadcasting Decision 2017-149. At the same time, the Commission announced it would issue a notice of consultation calling for comments on amendments to the general authorizations applicable to…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU — The CRTC is asking Canadians to share their views about the possible creation of a mandatory code of conduct for Internet service providers, by submitting comments on the Commission’s Facebook page between February 21 and March 4.
The CRTC launched a public consultation regarding a possible Internet code in November 2018. Similar to the purposes of the Wireless Code created in 2013 and the Television Service Provider Code in 2017, the Internet Code would, among other things, establish consumer-friendly business practices, ensure contracts are easy-to-understand, and make it easier for Canadians to switch providers to take…
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QUEBEC CITY — Leclerc Communication tried out its best logical gymnastics on Wednesday as it appeared before a CRTC hearing to justify its requests related to the proposed $19-million acquisition of CHOI-FM (Radio X) in Quebec City and CHLX-FM (91,9 Sports) in Montreal from RNC Media.
Besides the ownership transaction itself, Leclerc is asking for an exception to the common ownership policy to acquire Quebec City's most popular commercial radio station and keep its two others, and is seeking to change CHLX's format from sports talk to music.
(Ed note: For what it’s worth, other radio station owners have argued the…
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GATINEAU – “Having considered the matter in depth, the CRTC finds that it is apparent that misleading or aggressive retail sales practices are present in the telecommunications service provider market in Canada.
“These practices exist in all types of sales channels, including in store, online, over the telephone, and door to door. They occur to an unacceptable degree; they are harming Canadian consumers, in particular vulnerable Canadians; and they are a serious concern for the CRTC.”
So begins the Commission’s report on the sales tactics of the Canadian telecommunications industry, released today. The Regulator hosted a contentious hearing back in…
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