By Ahmad Hathout
Bell wants the CRTC to defer to the Federal Court of Appeal to determine whether the regulator has jurisdiction over small cell attachments on telco-owned or controlled structures – or, in the alternative, separate that question from the rest of its proceeding on the matter.
The telco filed a Part 1 application Tuesday challenging the CRTC’s preliminary view on which it launched a proceeding earlier this month that it has concurrent jurisdiction with Innovation Canada (ISED) over the wireless attachments crucial for 5G technology. Bell has always argued that ISED, which manages spectrum auctions required…
Continue Reading
By Ahmad Hathout
A senior official from the Competition Bureau told members of Parliament on Monday that the watchdog is pleased with a proposed amendment to the Competition Tribunal Act that would shield it from cost awards except in limited circumstances, after it was forced to pay $12.9 million after challenging Rogers’s proposed acquisition of Shaw.
A proposed amendment in Bill C-59, which is one of two pieces of legislation to overhaul Canada’s competition rules, would limit the scope by which the Competition Tribunal can force the law enforcement agency to compensate private parties in the event it…
Continue Reading
By Ahmad Hathout
Quebecor executives said Thursday that they’ve been okay with forgoing revenue in a strategy to capture customers, which includes lower prices and competitive international roaming packages on the road toward bundled home internet with its newly acquired Freedom brand.
Freedom last year introduced a $50 “unlimited” talk and text plan with 40 GB of LTE data that can be used across Canada and the United States. It later launched a $65 global roaming plan that covers 73 destinations.
Hugues Simard, Quebecor chief financial officer, acknowledged the loss of revenue there but said the…
Continue Reading
By Ahmad Hathout
The commission should not fear threats of lower investment in incumbent networks when it comes to set wholesale internet rates, the benefits of which will allow independent service providers to build their own networks, the CRTC heard on the final day of its wholesale internet hearing.
The CRTC has been wrangling during the week-long hearing over the question of what the sweet spot is for a rate on which independent internet service providers can lease capacity from the incumbents’ networks. Adam Scott, the CRTC’s vice chair of telecommunications, referred to the risk of the commission falling on either…
Continue Reading
Bell cutting investments does not constitute irreparable harm, court said
By Ahmad Hathout
The Federal Court of Appeal will hear Bell’s arguments challenging a decision by the CRTC to allow competitors to ride on its last mile fibre network, but stopped short of immediately suspending that decision until it deliberates on the matter because it is not convinced that the telco will suffer irreparable harm if a stay is not granted.
The CRTC ordered in November that Bell and Telus provide on a temporary basis access within six months to their last mile fibre facilities in Ontario and Quebec on an aggregated…
Continue Reading
By Ahmad Hathout
Independent internet service provider CIK Telecom filed a Part 1 application with the CRTC earlier this month requesting that it reduce the interim rates for aggregated last mile fibre access and to clarify that the large telecoms cannot access the regime.
The telecom claims that the rates set by the regulator for interim access to Bell and Telus facilities going to the premises in Ontario and Quebec are still higher than what those telcos charge in the market, meaning third parties cannot be competitive.
It’s an argument that has been made by other telecoms, including those under Continue Reading
By Ahmad Hathout
The CRTC accepted late last month a request by Quebecor for the regulator to determine a rate for its access to Telus’s wireless network.
The carriers had tried to come to a commercial agreement and a commission-staff-assisted mediation on the rate for access through the mobile virtual network operator framework but could not come to amicable terms.
The regulator will now choose which rate – Quebecor’s or Telus’s – is most appropriate for that access, which will allow the Montreal-based telecom to further expand into new territory.
Telus had opposed going to final offer arbitration (FOA) because the parties were…
Continue Reading
Quebecor Content’s senior director of acquisitions and Quebec cinema, Louis Pearson, announced Wednesday the appointment of Yoann Sauvageau as director of TVA Films, a division of TVA Group.
“I am delighted to welcome Yoann to the team and I’m confident that he’s the right person to pursue TVA Films’ business strategy, drive its growth and make it one of Quebec’s leading film distributors,” Pearson said in a press release. “His experience, knowledge of the industry and its players, deep expertise and outstanding track record will make him a key asset to our team.”
“It is…
Continue Reading
By Ahmad Hathout
After receiving multiple applications over three years, the CRTC on Monday opened a proceeding on the regulation of small cell wireless equipment on telco support structures, as competitors accelerate their 5G deployments.
The regulator wants to hear from interested parties about whether it has jurisdiction over wireless facilities on those telco structures, whether the current telco support structure tariffs encompass those wireless facilities, and whether there should be a requirement for attaching telecoms to get a permit to hook up those facilities to those structures.
The commission said in the notice Monday that it holds the preliminary view that…
Continue Reading
Opponents say spectrum leasing serves the same purpose
By Ahmad Hathout
In an effort to maximize the use of a finite resource, Innovation Canada introduced Tuesday a long-expected policy for spectrum called access licensing, which would facilitate the migration of licenses not in use by holders toward other providers who will use them in smaller remote and indigenous territories.
The hotly debated policy will impact smaller Tier 5 areas and immediately target the 800 MHz (cellular) band, the Personal Communications Services band (1850-1910 MHz and 1930-1990 MHz), and the 900 MHz Land Mobile Radio (LMR) band. ISED said it will evaluate on…
Continue Reading
