OTTAWA — The Broadcasting Accessibility Fund (the Fund) announced last week it will award $398,016 to three new projects, approved by its board of directors, that will advance the accessibility of Canadian broadcasting content.
“These three innovative projects represent the completion of the Fund’s eighth round of grants, with a total commitment of approximately $4.4M to date, to address gaps in broadcasting accessibility,” a press release explains.
The CBC is receiving $107,467 for a project designed to optimize closed captioning for children with disabilities. “This project aims to advance the current state of accessibility to…
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By Howard Law, former director of media locals for Unifor, who writes in mediapolicy.ca
The Australian finance minister’s overdue anniversary review of the groundbreaking News Media Bargaining Code (NMBC) gives Canadians some welcome pointers on how to think about, improve or critique our bill C-18, the “FaceGoogle” Online News Act.
The report does two things well, the first being an evaluation of how well the Australian legislation was implemented. The other is that finance minister (‘Treasurer’ in Oz lingo) Jim Chalmers unapologetically backs the code as an anti-oligopoly law and downplays using the code…
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Report recommends a national digital infrastructure strategy
VANCOUVER — 5G and 5G-enabled technologies could deliver an estimated 16%, or $120 billion, of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth by 2036, but Canada lags behind other leading countries in the rollout of 5G, according to a new report from Vancouver-based management consulting company Deetken Insight.
“Despite its market-leading performance in 4G and the transformational benefits of 5G, Canada is lagging its peers in the deployment of 5G. Compared to the U.S., Germany, Japan, Italy, Australia, and South Korea, Canada’s 5G spectrum allocations for mid- and high-band frequencies are…
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Laizner’s term was set to expire next summer
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – Christianne Laizner, the CRTC’s vice chair of telecom, is retiring from the commission next month, according to a farewell note to colleagues.
Laizner’s retirement takes effect January 4, six months before her term was set to end in July. Her retirement also comes on the same day that chairman Ian Scott’s term – who was extended for four months in September – is ending.
“I know the Commission will benefit from an exciting new leadership team in 2023 and I look forward to following all the Commission’s successes and innovations in…
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By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – After the United States issued a warning yesterday about Canada’s online streaming legislation, an amendment to the Online Streaming Act intended to force foreign companies to contribute a similar level of Canadian creative and human resources as their Canadian counterparts drew strong criticism from the Canadian government and was defeated at committee.
“The government cannot support this amendment,” said Marc Gold, government leader in the Senate. “We need to recognize the reality that foreign players operating in Canada have global business models. It is just not realistic, in the opinion of the government, to expect that…
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Also announces expansion of Kings County FTTH project
HALIFAX — Develop Nova Scotia, a Crown corporation responsible for advancing high-speed Internet access projects across the province, today announced the expansion of the Satellite Internet Service Rebate program, which is funded through the Nova Scotia Internet Funding Trust.
Launched in July, the rebate program covers the one-time costs for eligible residents and businesses to set up satellite internet service, including hardware, taxes, shipping and installation, up to a maximum of $1,000.
When the program launched, Develop Nova Scotia said the rebate would be…
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TORONTO – Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor in Council has appointed former CRTC Chairman Jean-Pierre Blais as a member of the province’s land tribunal, according to a November 23 release.
Blais was one of seven appointed to the position, effective November 17, that will be responsible for adjudicating matters related to land use planning, environmental and natural features and heritage protection, and issues related to valuation and compensation.
A long-time civil servant and lawyer, Blais was the former chairman of the CRTC from 2012 to 2017, and was known for his consumer advocacy. Until earlier this month, he was assistant deputy minister to…
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OTTAWA and GATINEAU — The CRTC today launched its third call for applications to its $750-million Broadband Fund for projects to improve access to broadband internet and mobile wireless services across Canada.
The CRTC’s third call focuses specifically on transport infrastructure projects, mobile wireless infrastructure projects along major roads, and projects requiring operational funding to increase satellite transport capacity in satellite-dependent communities, a press release explains.
“The CRTC is placing increased emphasis on community consultation and resiliency,” the release reads. “This means that when assessing the projects submitted under this call, the CRTC will…
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By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – The House Canadian Heritage committee yesterday unanimously adopted an NDP amendment to the Online News Act, bill C-18, that would give technology platforms an interim one-year exemption from negotiations with news organizations to host their articles until they can be granted a full five-year exemption.
The five-year moratorium on negotiations with news organizations was adopted in a committee hearing on Friday, and the committee was looking to define the limit on an interim exemption that exists in the current version of the bill.
So yesterday, the committee decided that the interim period should be limited to…
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By Connie Thiessen
CBC News Explore has launched, the public broadcaster’s new free ad-supported streaming (FAST) news channel, available on digital and connected TV platforms.
The channel, announced today, will feature a curated selection of CBC journalism from across the country in addition to original programs, led by new Andrew Chang vehicle About That – a look at the day’s most compelling stories in a blend of conversation and feature interviews.
Other original programming includes This Week in Canada, a weekly show featuring original CBC News stories chosen for their ability to resonate with audiences across the…
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