By Konrad von Finckenstein
FOR MANY YEARS, THE both the federal government and the CRTC have viewed facilities-based competition (FBC) as the only true means of ensuring Canadians receive high-quality, affordable, mobile wireless services provided over leading-edge wireless networks.
FBC basically means that only companies with their own wired or wireless transmission facilities should be allowed access to aggregated wholesale high-speed access services of large carriers, but attempts by both the CRTC and ISED to foster competition at either the national or regional level in wireless using preferential access to spectrum and wholesale wireless policies have proven unsuccessful.
The Competition Bureau…
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By Denis Carmel
GATINEAU – While a determination on an application to amend conditions of licence relating to the set-top box audience measurement system has not yet been announced, Cartt.ca has confirmed Videotron has rejoined the working group trying to turn the viewer data from pay-TV in-home decoders (there aren’t a lot of these things still resting atop TV sets) into ratings currency.
The company rejoined the working group last week without providing an explanation or making comments. When asked, the CRTC referred question to the Working Group itself, led by Shaw, which did not respond to our inquiry.
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GATINEAU – On Friday, the CRTC’s Internet Code of conduct officially came into force, which is aimed at giving Canadians additional safeguards when dealing with their internet service providers.
The code sets out that ISPs must provide:
easier-to-understand contracts, documentation and policies surrounding service calls, outages, security deposits and disconnections
clearer information about prices, including for bundles, promotions and time-limited discounts
bill shock protection, through notifications when customers approach and reach their data-usage limits
information on the new rules permitting customers to cancel a contract within 45 days, without paying early cancellation fees, if the contract differs from the…
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PHILADELPHIA – Comcast executives said Thursday that its subsidiary’s upcoming Peacock service, combined with the cable division’s Xfinity Flex streaming device, will make the most effective revenue-generating streaming ecosystem available anywhere.
Peacock is a streamer which will fill what the company calls a “white space” in the market: a hybrid between a subscription and ad-supported service. It will be a largely ad-supported service with three tiers: 7,500 hours of ad-supported content for free, 15,000 hours of ad-supported content for US$5 (but it, too will be free if you subscribe to a pay-TV company), and an ad-free version of the…
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TORONTO — Mobile Klinik Professional Smartphone Repair has now expanded to 80 store locations across Canada after closing its acquisition of Fonelab, a smartphone repair, sales and accessories chain with eight locations in Ontario.
Opening its first store in September 2015, Mobile Klinik is a national, while-you-wait smartphone and tablet repair, care, sales and services retailer. The retail storefront chain offers no-appointment-needed device repair for almost all makes and models of smartphones and tablets. Its trained, expert technicians typically complete repairs in less than 60 minutes, according to the news release.
Mobile Klinik’s acquisition of fonelab closed on January 15, 2020….
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OTTAWA — The CMPA’s Prime Time 2020 conference at the end of the month will kick off with an opening keynote by Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault, it was announced Monday.
Guilbeault will be joined on stage by CMPA president and CEO Reynolds Mastin for a discussion about the current state of the screen-based industries and Minister Guilbeault’s vision for the future of Canadian content creation. The fireside chat with Minister Guilbeault will take place on the morning of Thursday, January 30.
“We are honoured to welcome Minister Guilbeault to Prime Time at this inflection point for the Canadian screen-based…
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By Denis Carmel
GATINEAU – When the Competition Bureau filed in November its intervention to the CRTC’s wireless policy review, it was expected that the reactions would be spirited, and they are.
First, some objected because the Bureau (and its specially commissioned Matrix Report) reached conclusions based on confidential information and asked that some information be shared. In that regard, Bell and Rogers got what they wanted while CNOC and Telus are still waiting for word from the Commission when it comes to that data. Telus has warned the Bureau’s intervention should be deleted from the record for…
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YELLOWKNIFE — The government of the Northwest Territories, in partnership with Bell Let’s Talk and Northwestel, announced Wednesday a $500,000 collaboration that will support the Strongest Families Institute to provide mental health services for children, youth, adults and families throughout the Northwest Territories.
Strongest Families Institute is an award-winning charity that provides evidence-based programming for individuals and their families to overcome significant issues such as anxiety and behaviour challenges. Strongest Families Institute currently operates in nine provinces across Canada and uses an innovative distance coaching approach to support clients while respecting their privacy. Strongest Families Institute coaches provide support when…
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MONTREAL — Connected vehicle device manufacturer Siyata Mobile has hired Jamie Kitson as its new vice-president of sales for Canada, the company announced Tuesday.
Kitson most recently was vice-president of sales for Bell business dealer Preston Mobility, according to Siyata Mobile’s news release.
Kitson’s 15 years of previous sales experience includes positions at Telus Client Solutions, Bell Mobility as Push-to-Talk and IoT Solutions team lead, Rogers Communications as a sales manager and an IoT Solutions sales executive, and Shaw Communications as an enterprise account executive.
Siyata Mobile is a global developer and provider of cellular communications systems for enterprise customers, specializing…
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TORONTO – There’s some star power behind this new series coming to CBC Gem February 14.
Featuring Snoop Dogg as the voice of “the Archive,” and with producer Boi-1da (Drake, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna) overseeing the music, world-renowned choreographer Tanisha Scott (Cardi B, Rihanna) leading performance direction, and acclaimed sci-fi writer Joseph Mallozzi as showrunner, Utopia Falls seems like it will be a must-watch show. It will be available on Hulu, Stateside.
“Imagine a world with no past – only a future. Without a history, we are all equal… or are we?” says the press release announcing the new show.
In partnership with…
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