GATINEAU – In a letter sent to all telecom intervenors in the lower-cost data-only (skinny wireless) proceeding, CRTC staff sent an unpleasant midsummer surprise to the three incumbent national wireless players by asking:
“Whether a segment of the retail mobile wireless market, namely that of lower-cost data-only plans, is subject to sufficient competition to protect the interests of users and whether continued forbearance from price regulation of this segment would be likely to impair unduly the establishment or continuance of a competitive market for such services.”
In other words, the Commission is not satisfied with the Big Three’s Continue Reading
GATINEAU — Applicants hoping to be awarded a licence to operate a new national, multilingual television service offering news and information programming will have to wait a little longer to have their proposals heard, as the CRTC announced Monday it is delaying the start of the pertinent hearing until November 26, 2018. Originally, the hearing was scheduled to start October 15.
The CRTC has received several applications for a national, multilingual, multi-ethnic television service, which, if licensed, would receive mandatory distribution on the basic service pursuant to section 9(1)(h) of the Broadcasting Act. Among the companies who have submitted applications…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC needs more information from the country’s telcos on their pending lower-cost data-only plans for mobile wireless services.
In a letter dated July 20 from Philippe Kent, competition and emergency services policy director, the Commission made specific requests for more information from the national wireless carriers as well as other stakeholders who filed interventions by the June 29 deadline.
“Commission staff is of the view that additional information is needed to further develop the record of the proceeding”, reads the letter. “As such, parties are asked to respond to the requests for information appended to this letter. Parties…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has decided against issuing a call for new radio stations to serve the Alberta/Saskatchewan city of Lloydminster after finding that the market cannot sustain an additional commercial radio station at this time.
The Commission said that it is concerned that licensing an additional station in Lloydminster right now “risks having an undue financial impact on incumbent stations” CKLM-FM, owned by Vista Radio, and Newcap operated CKSA-FM, noting that profitability in this radio market was below the national average in 2016 and 2017.
“While Lloydminster`s population is growing and average household income is relatively high, the Commission is…
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Consumers, employees, stakeholders encouraged to come forward
OTTAWA – Canadians who have been on the receiving end of misleading or aggressive retail sales practices from the country’s telecommunication companies will now have the opportunity to tell their story to the CRTC. We suppose those who've had good experiences can also tell their stories, too, should the urge strike them.
The Commission said Monday it is kicking off an inquiry on whether high-pressure and unsavoury sales tactics are used by Canada’s large telecommunications service providers. It wants to hear from consumers – including those who are vulnerable due to their age,…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC is one step closer towards establishing broadband access as a basic telecommunications service for all Canadians after issuing a preliminary network quality framework Friday.
The Commission said that in order to meet the broadband portion of the universal service objective announced in December 2016, fixed broadband Internet access service must meet certain levels of speeds, data allowance, and quality of service (QoS).
On Friday, guided by a report from the CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee, the Regulator established a round-trip latency threshold of 50 milliseconds, and a packet loss threshold of 0.25%, both based on measurement during peak times,…
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Deal to close after completion of Stingray acquisition
OTTAWA and DARTMOUTH – The CRTC has approved Newcap Radio’s purchase of two FM radio stations in New Glasgow, NS from Hector Broadcasting for $2.7 million.
The two stations are English-language commercial radio programming undertakings CKEC (AC, 94.1 FM) and CKEZ (Classic Rock, 97.9 FM).
Newcap said in a statement that the deal is expected to close after its own purchase by Stingray Digital Group has wrapped up, which is expected within the next three to six months.
The Commission said Thursday that it has determined that transaction would benefit the broadcasting system…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC handed out two new Ontario radio licences Wednesday, one for the Grimsby/Beamsville region and the other to serve the town of Georgina.
After considering three applications at a public hearing in Toronto last November, the Commission chose Durham Radio Inc. as the owner of a broadcasting licence to operate a new commercial FM radio station using the frequency 88.5 MHz. The licence will expire on August 31, 2024.
“The Commission finds that Durham has proposed a sound business plan that is based on its experience in the Hamilton radio market and third-party research”, reads the decision. “Approval of…
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OTTAWA and GATINEAU – The CRTC has caught and fined two online advertising companies for allegedly aiding in the distribution of malware through online ads, the first time it has done so under Canada’s anti-spam law.
The Commission said Wednesday that Datablocks and Sunlight Media have been served with violation notices for purportedly helping to help spread malicious computer programs (malware) through the distribution of online advertising. The companies were fined $100,000 and $150,000, respectively.
Using its anti-spam powers, the CRTC said that the “highly complex investigation” found that the companies allegedly violated Canada’s anti-spam law in the following ways:
Sunlight Media…
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VANCOUVER and TORONTO – The CRTC has approved Wow Unlimited Networks’ proposed acquisition of specialty channel Comedy Gold from Bell Media for $6.67 million.
The Commission said that it has determined that the transaction is in the public interest, and noted its potential benefits to Canadian viewers and the broadcasting system by providing a wider variety of children's and youth content, along with an increase in production within the kids genre.
The Regulator also accepted the proposed the tangible benefits package of $687,000, representing 10% of the value of the transaction, though directed Wow Networks to file a revised…
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