Search Results for: crtc

Cable / Telecom News

Develop Nova Scotia announces expansion of high-speed Internet initiatives

HALIFAX – Provincial Crown corporation Develop Nova Scotia today announced it is expanding the Satellite Internet Service Rebate program it announced in July to help more people in the province get access to Internet services faster, as well as expanding the scope of three fibre-to-the-home projects. When the Satellite Internet Service Rebate program was announced July 29, 3,700 homes and businesses were eligible to claim up to $1,000 for costs associated with setting up satellite service meeting the CRTC’s minimum speed targets of 50 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload. “Starting today, August 11, the program will accept applications from… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

More information sought on impact of Rogers outage on deaf Canadians, wholesale customers

OTTAWA – More information is being sought on how the recent nationwide Rogers outage impacted the company’s deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind (DHHDB) customers and wholesale customers. Late last month, Rogers submitted a report to the CRTC with answers to a series of questions about the network outage that started July 8, the publicly available version of which was heavily redacted. Canada Deaf Grassroots Movement (CDGM) and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Coalition (DHH Coalition), the latter of which includes Deafness Advocacy Association Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador Association of the Deaf, and Ontario Association of the… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Telus seeking permission to charge customers 1.5% credit card processing fee

OTTAWA – Telus Communications is asking the CRTC to approve revisions to its general tariff, which would allow it to charge customers a 1.5% credit card processing fee. If approved, new and current Telus customers making a payment by credit card will be charged the fee. The company is proposing this change be effective as of Oct. 17, 2022. If the Commission is not able to issue a decision in time, Telus is requesting the effective date be set at three weeks after the Commission’s decision is released. In its application to revise its tariff, Telus notes in 2018, there was… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Proposed changes to policy direction show TSPs disagree on how best to foster competition

OTTAWA – When the federal government announced it was proposing a new telecommunications policy direction to the CRTC back in May, it emphasized how it would improve competition. This is supposed to help ensure telecommunications services are affordable and encourage innovation in the industry. The proposed policy direction compels the CRTC to consider, among other things, how its decisions “encourage all forms of competition and investment”. But while several telecommunications service providers (TSPs) that submitted comments to the government on the proposed policy direction seem to agree competition is important, there is disagreement on what kind of competition the CRTC… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

CBC licence renewal: Numerous groups ask Cabinet to set aside or refer back decision

By Denis Carmel OTTAWA – The CRTC’s renewal of the CBC/SRC’s licences on June 22, was met with dissenting voices within the Commission where the decision was approved by three commissioners over two dissents, as well as outside voices who have issues with some segments of the decision. Several groups have now filed petitions to Cabinet to have the decision set aside or referred back to the CRTC, including Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and the National Pensioners Federation (NPF), the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB), FRIENDS, l’Association québécoise de la production médiatique (AQPM) and the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA),… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

PIAC asks CRTC to disclose more from Rogers’ filings on nationwide outage

Calls claim of confidentiality for certain things “ridiculous on its face” OTTAWA – Consumer advocacy group the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) today filed a request with the CRTC asking for the disclosure of additional information from the documents Rogers Communications filed with it in relation to the company’s nationwide outage last month. “PIAC submits that Rogers’ response has excessively redacted critical information that the public requires to understand what occurred during the outage and how Rogers plans to mitigate future risks and harms – and to make consumer choices based on these answers and otherwise protect their… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

OneSoccer owner alleges Rogers refuses to carry it on cable because of competition with Sportsnet

OTTAWA – The owner of OneSoccer, Timeless Inc., has filed a Part 1 application with the CRTC alleging Rogers Cable is in breach of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations by refusing to carry the dedicated Canadian soccer channel on its cable systems. Timeless claims despite a “surge in popularity and success for Canadian soccer” Rogers has denied OneSoccer carriage. Its application indicates only Telus customers can currently receive it (although the channel is also available as a direct-to-consumer OTT offering and is available on Fubo TV in Canada). Timeless argues Rogers will not carry OneSoccer as a cable channel because it has… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

MBC to acquire GIANT FM and Country 89 Welland

By Connie Thiessen RENFREW, Ont. – My Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) has announced that it’s reached an agreement to acquire GIANT FM (CIXL‐FM) and Country 89 (CKYY‐FM) Welland, ON from Wellport Broadcasting/RB Communications. “We are very excited to announce the acquisition of these radio stations, particularly CIXL‐FM, one of Ontario’s most respected and highest‐performing Classic Rock stations,” said MBC president Jon Pole (right), in a release. “Combined with our existing portfolio and significant presence across Ontario, we believe these assets will enhance our ability to deliver high quality, engaging, local content and multi‐platform marketing solutions.” “This strategic acquisition demonstrates our continuing commitment to investing… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

CRTC announces up to $20.5M in funding awarded from Broadband Fund

OTTAWA and GATINEAU – The CRTC today announced 10 projects will receive up to $20.5 million in funding from its Broadband Fund. “The projects will support the rollout of fourth-generation (also known as LTE or LTE-A) mobile wireless access along 425 kilometres of roads and highways in Manitoba, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador,” a press release explains. “They will also support improved Internet and mobile wireless access that will benefit 2,250 households in 35 communities, including five Indigenous communities and one official language minority community, in the three provinces.” The Broadband Fund has now committed up to $226.5 million to… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Quebecor revenues down by $16M for Q2 2022

CEO says they are “more determined and motivated than ever” to expand across Canada MONTREAL – Quebecor Inc. today announced its second quarter 2022 financial results, which states revenue for the quarter was $1.1 billion – a decreased of $16 million compared to Q2 2021. Adjusted EBITDA was reported to be $491.4 million, a $10 million decrease compared to the same quarter of 2021, according to a press release. In its telecommunications segment, Quebecor reported $912.6 million in revenue for Q2 2022 (a decrease from $928.4 million in the same quarter of 2021) while adjusted EBITDA was $487.5 million (up from $481.5… Continue Reading