Wireless issues top the list with largest share of complaints
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – A watchdog that fields telecommunications complaints said in a report released today that Canadian complaints about their services have dropped 25% compared to the same period last year, with wireless taking the top spot for issues and with some trending issues that one advocate said are “disturbing.”
All telecommunications services recorded by the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-Television Services reported declines in complaints for the 2021-2022 year compared to the previous 2020-2021 period. The CCTS said it resolved 88% of complaints, often within 30 days.
Wireless topped issues…
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The telco also wants penalties charged against the cableco if it doesn’t pay
By Ahmad Hathout
OTTAWA – Bell has filed a Part 1 application with the CRTC today accusing Quebecor’s Videotron of failing to pay it fees related to the implementation of next-generation 9-1-1 networks.
Bell, as the legacy telephone company, provides to the cable company next-generation 9-1-1 services, which is intended to allow distressed callers to send texts, photos, streamed videos and medical information to first responders over the new internet protocol-based 9-1-1 network.
According to Bell, users of its 9-1-1 network must pay two bills – the existing 9-1-1 tariff…
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CALGARY — Shaw Communications today released its financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year that ended August 31, 2022, reporting a 1.5% year-over-year (y-o-y) decline in quarterly revenue to $1.36 billion and a 1.1% y-o-y decrease in full-year revenue to $5.45 billion.
Shaw’s adjusted EBITDA increased by 1.6% to $624 million in Q4 2022 and by 1.4% to $2.53 billion in fiscal 2022, when compared to the same periods of fiscal 2021.
Funds flow from operations declined 5.3% to $487 million in the fourth quarter of 2022 and fell 11.4% to $1.99 billion…
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Company believes they will capture those customers with their own offering
OTTAWA — The Competition Tribunal heard evidence today that while Quebecor subsidiary Videotron had the opportunity to purchase Shaw Mobile along with Freedom Mobile, they turned it down because they believe they will be able to capture those customers on their own.
Jean-François Lescadres, Videotron’s vice-president of finances answered questions today before the tribunal, which is currently hearing evidence on an application made by the Commissioner of Competition to block the proposed merger of Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications.
Because of concerns about the impact of the deal…
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OTTAWA — A lawyer for Rogers Communications today pushed back on the testimony of Dr. Nathan Miller, a professor at Georgetown University who compiled a report for the Commissioner of Competition supporting his opposition of the merger of Rogers and Shaw Communications and the proposed remedy that would see Quebecor subsidiary Videotron acquire Shaw’s Freedom Mobile.
Miller yesterday referred to the remedy as “inadequate” and claimed the divestiture would mean less incentive for the new owner to invest in Freedom. As he reiterated today, he is “skeptical” a divested Freedom would be profitable.
When questioned by Rogers’ lawyer Crawford Smith,…
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OTTAWA – The remedy Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications offered in an attempt to gain the necessary regulatory approvals for their proposed merger is “inadequate”, according to Dr. Nathan Miller, a professor at Georgetown University who was asked to put together a report on the matter for the Competition Bureau.
Miller spoke today about his report at the Competition Tribunal hearing into the bureau’s application to block the merger.
The remedy he referred to is the sale of Shaw’s Freedom Mobile to Quebecor subsidiary Videotron to address concerns about the impact of the merger on wireless competition in Canada.
Miller argued the…
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Shaw Mobile is a big reason why Freedom stores are struggling, another witness says
OTTAWA – Today was the third day of the Competition Tribunal hearing on the Competition Bureau’s application to block the proposed merger of Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications.
Yesterday and today, two Freedom Mobile dealers appeared as witnesses, each answering questions about the struggles they say they have faced since the merger was announced.
The first of the two witnesses, Sudeep Verma, opened his first Wind Mobile store in 2011 and continued on to open a total of 19 stores. He operated all of those stores until…
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OTTAWA – Day two of the Competition Tribunal hearing on the Competition Bureau’s application to block the merger of Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications saw witnesses answer questions drawing attention to the fact that while the Commissioner of Competition is opposing the whole merger in its original form, this past June the two companies announced a deal was made to sell Freedom Mobile to Quebecor subsidiary Videotron in an attempt to assuage concerns related to wireless competition.
Stephanie Assad, competition law officer at the Competition Bureau, told the three-person tribunal panel she helped draft a request for information in September…
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OTTAWA – Well over a year after the proposed merger of Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications was announced, the Competition Tribunal has begun to hear an application made by the Commissioner of Competition to block it.
The Commissioner of Competition is arguing the merger will result in less competition, while Rogers and Shaw are arguing they have addressed that concern by coming to an agreement with Quebecor subsidiary Videotron for the sale of Shaw’s Freedom Mobile as competition concerns are centred around the wireless assets involved in the deal.
According to the commissioner, however, this is not an effective remedy because…
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Clause-by-clause to start Nov. 18
OTTAWA – The heritage committee today heard from its final witnesses on Bill C-18, the Online News Act, who talked about getting the bill to better address the needs of Indigenous and ethnic media, the possibility of launching a fund instead and about the inclusion of broadcasters.
Jean LaRose (above), president and CEO of Dadan Sivunivut – which was created by APTN in 2019 and oversees APTN’s non-television activities including First People’s Radio – said they support the bill but told the committee it “needs to better reflect the unique place of indigenous news organizations…
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