OTTAWA – With more Canadians than ever connected to all manner of devices in so many ways, complaints about wireless services, Internet access and VoIP providers more than doubled in the past year, according to the 2010-2011 annual report for the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS).
The CCTS said that it received 8,007 complaints, up 114% over last year, which Commissioner Howard Maker noted was the largest year-over-year increase in complaints in the organization’s four year history.
Wireless complaints accounted for 62.3% of all complaints, up from 51.7% last year, which Maker said reflected the increasing availability of…
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GATINEAU – The chairmanship of the CRTC is often said to be a thankless job, so, many of the leading regulatory folks in Canadian telecom set about to change that this week, getting together to thank outgoing CRTC chair Konrad von Finckenstein for his yeoman’s work these past five years.
When he came on board as chair in 2007, von Finckenstein promised an open, accountable and transparent Commission. With dozens of public proceedings and many new ways to include the public in the debate launched under his watch, we got that in spades under von Finckenstein, who oversaw his final…
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TORONTO – The distribution of Canadian documentaries on broadcaster portals is only slightly disrupting traditional audience consumption patterns, according to new research conducted by the Documentary Organization of Canada / Association des documentaristes du Canada (DOC).
The organization’s first Digital Distribution Report, released Thursday, establishes benchmarks for the on-line distribution of Canadian documentaries, charts how they perform on iTunes, plus tracks how many views NFB.ca receives worldwide and the number of views they draw on mobile devices with their apps.
While more Canadians are accessing documentaries on digital platforms, the viewership of individual titles is in stark contrast with the performance…
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NEW ORLEANS – Seeking to move boldly into a potentially hot new area, Verizon Communications plans to begin selling its new home control and security service throughout the U.S. sometime next year, not just within its wired DSL and FiOS footprint.
Speaking at the TelcoTV conference here last week, Eric Bruno, VP of Product Management for Verizon, explained that the telco made a calculated decision to offer its home control service in a "broadband agnostic" way. The new service, which allows subscribers to control everything from lighting, temperature and energy consumption to home security and door locks, costs $9.95 per…
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TORONTO – Rogers Communications said Tuesday that it will try out a leaner basic programming package that it claims will provide its cable customers with the choice and flexibility that they have been asking for.
Available November 8 as a trial in London, ON, the Rogers Digital Starter Pack will offer a standard set of 86 core TV channels, including government mandated channels, for a base price of $20.29/month excluding taxes. Customers can order the Digital Starter Pack and may then choose any additional 15, 20 or 30 channels from more than 100 options, starting at $26.38/month, plus taxes. The Digital Starter…
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GATINEAU – Some consensus around a Rogers Communications proposal for IP to IP connection emerged during the first day of rebuttals Monday at the CRTC’s interconnection hearing.
Rogers decided that it would be easier to live with the status quo in IP interconnection and pay for the costs of converting IP traffic to TDM (time-division multiplexing) to terminate voice calls on ILECs network as long as ILECs would negotiate IP interconnection where they offer it to either a subsidiary, a division or an unaffiliated carrier. Last week, Rogers requested the commission require the ILECs to pay…
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WINNIPEG – Residents of Manitoba are encouraged to begin using 10-digit dialing for all wireline and wireless calls starting December 1st, in preparation for the mandatory switch over which begins on July 29, 2012.
The Telecommunications Alliance, whose members in Manitoba include MTS, Rogers, Telus, Bell and Westman Communications Group, said Tuesday that the province’s telecommunications service providers will all be able to support 10-digit dialed calls starting early next month.
"10-digit local dialing and the addition of a new area code are forward-looking measures that will help the entire communications industry meet the continually growing demand for new services. A…
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TORONTO – Rogers Communications activated its first Long Term Evolution (LTE) smart phones this week after shipping Samsung Galaxy S II devices to the first customers on the company's national reservation system.
Customers using the Rogers exclusive device on its LTE network will get speeds similar to broadband connections, making it easier to use their devices to download apps, stream HD videos and music, or play on-line games, with few delays or buffering, the company said.
"We're thrilled to offer this great new LTE Samsung smartphone to our customers first," said John Boynton, Rogers’ EVP and chief marketing officer, in the…
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TORONTO – Rogers Media has kicked off a national marketing campaign in support of new channel FX Canada that is launching Monday at 9pm ET/PT (8CT, 7MT).
Headlining the campaign is a promotional stunt for the comedy series Wilfred which will see “dogs” infiltrate markets including Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. From public transit to city corners to sporting events, the dogs will be integrated in daily commuter activities in promotion of the critically-acclaimed series.
Rogers is also airing targeted television promos showcasing the channel’s programming on its networks and channels, in addition to 30-second radio spots and 10-second tags. Print ads are…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC has told online gamers that its complaints over Rogers network management policies have been heard and that the big ISP may face some sort of penalty or public hearing.
According to a news release Thursday evening from Openmedia.ca, the Canadian Gamers Organization was told by the Commission in a letter on Thursday from chief compliance and enforcement officer Andrea Rosen that its ongoing complaints against Rogers will be referred to the Commission’s Compliance and Enforcement Sector for further action.
The gamers say that Rogers’ throttling…
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