The CRTC last week asked Bell, Rogers and Telus to make available as soon as possible new international roaming offerings the big three telecoms have told the commission they are planning to introduce, and to ensure these new offerings are easily found on their websites.
In response to an October 2024 letter from the CRTC calling on the telecoms to reduce international roaming fees and provide more flexible options, Bell, Rogers and Telus reported to the commission they have introduced or plan to introduce new international roaming offerings that include:
monthly…
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The CRTC on Thursday launched a proceeding into the possible replacement of an existing AM station in Wingham, Ontario using one of the last known FM frequencies in the area.
The commission is seeking comments, due April 7, on the market capacity and the appropriateness of issuing a call for radio applications to serve the area.
The proceeding follows an application by Blackburn Media Inc. to operate an English-language FM station on the 104.3 MHz frequency, instead of its existing AM facility, which it said has experienced failing equipment and infrastructure that are expensive to maintain.
In the event there is no…
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By Ahmad Hathout
Bell is accusing the CRTC of putting the cart before the horse when it ordered new pole attachment obligations without first updating the cost for competitors to put their equipment on its structures.
In late January, the CRTC imposed on the legacy telcos – Bell, Telus, and SaskTel – new obligations to speed up the ability of competitors to attach their broadband equipment to the poles: absorb the full cost of “corrective work” or getting poles up to compliance standards; schedule both make-ready and corrective work together on strict timelines set by the commission in…
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By Ahmad Hathout
The CRTC did not establish that it has jurisdiction over long-distance calls from correctional facilities when it ruled it doesn’t regulate those rates, opening the door for provincial courts to make conflicting determinations on proper charges in civil actions, according to applications filed by the province of Ontario and Bell.
The regulator released a decision in December clarifying that it has not regulated inmate long-distance calls since 1997, and that it does not have the authority to adjust rates that were charged by Bell on a retroactive basis.
The decision followed an application…
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Regulator also designates small ILECs as ONPs
By Ahmad Hathout
The CRTC on Friday extended by two years the deadline to decommission the legacy 911 system, after public safety groups said they wouldn’t be able to make the March 4, 2025 deadline to implement the new system.
The regulator said a majority of proceeding intervenors – including the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, and the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada – said they would not be able to implement the system by this week.
The CRTC has now set March 31, 2027 as the deadline for the…
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The CRTC has approved My Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)’s purchase of four Bell Media radio stations in eastern Ontario.
The stations include CFJR-FM (Move 104.9) and CJPT-FM (Bounce 103.7) in Brockville and CFLY-FM (Move 98.3) and CKLC-FM (Pure Country 99) in Kingston.
Based on a proposed transaction value of nearly $1.87 million, MBC will be required to pay a total of $111,936 in tangible benefits over seven consecutive broadcast years to various funds, including Canadian Starmaker Fund, Fonds RadioStar, FACTOR, Musicaction, the Community Radio Fund of Canada, and any eligible Canadian content development initiative of MBC’s choosing.
MBC has said…
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Ahead of its March 31 public hearing on modernizing its definition of Canadian content, the CRTC has added a public opinion research report to the public record and is setting out the key issues it will focus on during the hearing.
The research report prepared for the CRTC by Phoenix Strategy Perspectives Inc. is based on an online survey of 1,226 Canadians aged 16 years and older and eight online focus groups (four in English and four in French) conducted with Canadians aged 18 and older. The online survey took place from Nov….
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By Ahmad Hathout
The CRTC said Thursday it is considering reducing the financial obligations on traditional commercial radio broadcasters while maintaining content requirements to level the playing field with online streamers.
“The Commission acknowledges that some view content requirements as a heavy regulatory imposition. At the same time, the Commission recognizes that content requirements do not appear to work in an online context. As such, to help level the playing field and respond to the changing landscape, the Commission is of the preliminary view that traditional audio undertakings should be relieved of some of the other regulatory burdens they are subject…
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The CRTC on Tuesday opened a proceeding to review Rogers Communications’ acquisition of NBA TV (Canada) as part of the cable giant’s larger acquisition of Bell Canada’s 37.5-per-cent ownership stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE).
After announcing its proposed $4.7-billion deal with Bell in September, Rogers applied in November for authority to acquire control of Toronto Raptors Network Ltd. (TRNL), licensee of the English-language NBA TV (Canada) discretionary service, according to the CRTC’s broadcasting notice of consultation posted to its website Feb. 18.
The proposed change in ownership and effective control of NBA…
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By Ahmad Hathout
The CRTC on Thursday approved the transfer of 21 English-language commercial radio stations in British Columbia to Vista Radio.
“The Commission finds that approving this transaction is in the public interest, as it will help ensure that the stations continue to serve the various communities in British Columbia,” the commission said in its decision. “These stations will be operated by a new commercial licensee who is committed to showcasing a diversity of voices and emerging Canadian musical artists and providing local programming to the communities.”
The regulator also approved licences, until August 31, 2030, for Vista to operate these…
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