Search Results for: industry canada

Cable / Telecom News

Digital Access Day: Costing school, anyone?

OTTAWA – When writing about a discussion between five panellists and a moderator, it can be difficult to report on all of what was said but a Tuesday panel session on internet affordability may have been most notable for what was not said. The Canadian Chapter of the Internet Society held its second annual Digital Access Day, which brought together a variety of thought leaders from NGOs, the tech sector, government, universities, and those most affected by the digital divide to discuss broadband access issues. The panel on affordability talked about how they believe the price of communications in Canada is… Continue Reading

Radio / Television News

Canadian producers, writers, agree to terms for new IPA

TORONTO – The Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA) and the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) jointly announced Wednesday that they have reached an agreement in principle on the terms of a new three-year Independent Production Agreement. The CMPA-WGC Independent Production Agreement establishes the terms, conditions and rates for writers, story editors and story consultants.  The current agreement expires on June 30, 2019. The terms for the new agreement will now be sent to the CMPA’s Board of Directors and distributed by the WGC for ratification. “We are proud to have come to terms on an agreement that truly values the important alliance… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Bunch of news to come from Canadian Telecom Summit next week

TORONTO – While there are no Canadian carrier CEOs on the speakers’ schedule this year, those executives not in attendance will certainly be paying attention to next week’s Canadian Telecom Summit when it opens Monday morning. (Ed note: For long-time CTS attendees, this year it is being held at the International Centre, which is just up Airport Road a ways from its former Congress Centre home.) The event kicks off with an interview on stage with Rola Dagher, president of Cisco Canada (the questions, however, are coming from another Cisco-ite, Ian Campbell, the company’s CTO, service provider mobility and automation, so… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Canada’s wireless providers behind new accessible video series

OTTAWA – Canadians who are Deaf, Deaf-Blind or Hard of Hearing (DDBHH) may now access a new ASL and LSQ video series to learn more about the Canadian Wireless Public Alerting system Alert Ready. The videos, released Tuesday with the start of National AccessAbility Week, cover the following nine topic areas: Introduction to Wireless Public Alerting Roles and Responsibilities of WPA Partners WPA-compatible Devices  Wireless Public Alerts Test Alerts Receiving Wireless Public Alerts While Travelling Device Performance and Troubleshooting for Android Devices Device Performance and Troubleshooting for Apple Devices Device Performance and Troubleshooting of Devices Purchased from Other Countries All videos were produced with closed captioning, and include a voice-over… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

CTAM Canada’s Leadership Forum, BBQ returns June 17

TORONTO – CTAM Canada is kicking off summer with its annual Leadership Forum followed by a BBQ at Corus Quay in Toronto. Scheduled for Monday, June 17, join CTAM Canada and industry colleagues for an afternoon of insightful and thought provoking speakers such as broadcast pioneer and media educator Trina McQueen, and former UFC GM and CFL commissioner Tom Wright.  CTAM Canada’s Summer BBQ and networking will take place immediately following the speakers. Arrival and registration will open at 1:00 PM and the speakers will begin at 1:30.  The BBQ will run from 5:00 – 7:00. Details and registration information will be coming… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

“MVNO is not how to get it done,” says Freedom’s McAleese

Premium Shaw Wireless brand is coming TORONTO – Speaking at TD Securities Media and Telecom Forum in Toronto last week, Shaw Communications’ wireless president Paul McAleese, echoing similar statements made by Bell and Telus earlier, had strong words concerning the potential government-mandated introduction of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) into the Canadian wireless marketplace. (Ed note: McAleese knows the MVNO space very well, having spent 12 years in the United States running i-Wireless, an MVNO owned and operated by the Kroger grocery store chain running on the Sprint network.) “I feel it’s an area that’s badly misunderstood by most,” McAleese said. “… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Hell no, MVNO

TORONTO – While a wide range of hopeful competitors have backed a mandated MVNO, or some sort of variant on it, regime from the CRTC, CFOs from two of Canada’s Big Three Telecoms – Glen LeBlanc (Bell) and Telus’ Doug French – insisted last week such a move would be irresponsible of the Commission to implement. Speaking at TD Securities Telecom and Media Forum in Toronto last week, the executives, in separate presentations, touted their respective company investments in having built the infrastructure that now serves Canadians from coast to coast. (MVNO =… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

The Last Must-Carry: “It seems the threat of OMNI’s shutdown has again resulted in another bailout”

GATINEAU – So much work and hope was dashed yesterday for those hoping to replace Rogers Media’s OMNI on the TV dial. The CRTC has decided Rogers will continue to operate its must-carry national ethnic language TV channel after renewing its license for OMNI Regional for three more years until August 2023. Its current license expires next summer. This means the Commission has denied all of the other hopefuls, each of whom had rather interesting proposals for a new channel to serve the ethnic market. “The new service, which will succeed Rogers’ existing OMNI Regional service, will be available on all digital… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News, Radio / Television News

CommTech West opens Wednesday

CALGARY – This is the last chance to pre-register for CommTech West which will take place May 29–30 at the Best Western Premier Calgary Plaza Hotel and Conference Centre in Calgary. Canada’s premiere multi-industry ICT event will feature over 20 seminars, workshops, panels and live demonstrations.  This year’s speakers include top-level industry representatives with expertise in a diverse array of current topics. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with more than 80 suppliers and industry associations from Canada, the United States and China.  Industry professionals are easily accessible throughout the show to answer questions, trouble shoot and provide ideas. Attendee registration includes… Continue Reading

Cable / Telecom News

Wireless Review: Why the possibility of short term price breaks is not worth the long term cost

Bell also asks for return of long-term contracts GATINEAU – Competition in the Canadian wireless market is already heated and getting hotter, resulting in an overall and ongoing decline in wireless prices while new competitors continue build out new facilities and take customers from them, so why upset that momentum now, and just at the dawn of 5G, Rogers, Bell and Telus have asked in their submissions to the CRTC’s review of mobile wireless services. It will surprise no one that the submissions largely hit many of the same themes, especially in their stance against mandating mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs),… Continue Reading