GATINEAU – Rather than picking one system over another, the CRTC has chosen to give the large Internet providers the choice in how they charge small competitors who use their networks. The commission has, however, rejected Bell’s bid to charge on an aggregated volume basis, instead opting for a capacity-based approach.
In its much-anticipated usage based billing decision, the Commission chose capacity as the proxy over an aggregated volume method. Bell Canada and Rogers Communications Inc. advocated for the latter approach.
Bell suggested during the hearing that a capacity-based approach would result in independent ISPs keeping traffic volumes high resulting in…
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GATINEAU – Cartt.ca reporter Perry Hoffman will be in the media lockup this afternoon at 2:30 prior to the CRTC release of its latest decision on wholesale Internet usage-based billing.
Whatever the decision, brace yourselves for waves of misinformation on what the decision means, especially since the decision will likely take time and a lot of number crunching to figure out what it all means. The decision is the result of a re-think of the Commission’s prior wholesale UBB decision, which federal cabinet made many noises about forcing the Regulator to re-visit after enduring a substantial public outcry.
However, in the end, the…
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READERS MIGHT HAVE sensed with my column Thursday that I am taking the issue of getting broadband to low-income families very seriously. I called the fact that we have nothing in Canada to help the poor get broadband in their homes embarrassing, especially when compared to the ambitious and comprehensive Connect 2 Compete program that was launched in the United States this week by the Federal Communications Commission, numerous cable companies and other firms.
Then, reporter Peter Nowak reports today that Canada is the ONLY country in the G8 with no assistance…
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OTTAWA – Industry Canada should open up the TV white spaces spectrum in the broadcast band below 698 MHz on an unlicensed-basis, many companies are telling the department in its consultation on the as-yet used spectrum.
Earlier this summer, the department kicked off a consultation seeking input on the best ways to make the spectrum available. Cartt.ca reported on SMSE-012-11 in September. Companies tell Industry Canada that making white space spectrum licence-exempt will benefit consumers because of its ability to increase communications options.
Shaw Communications, which recently abandoned plans to deploy a mobile…
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TORONTO – National Geographic Channel has kicked off a new national advertising campaign highlighting the 125-year-old yellow frame synonymous with the brand.
The campaign, which began this week, replaces the letter ‘O’ with the yellow frame in the words “whOa,” “mindblOwing,” “heartpOunding” and “explOsive” in the creative. A combination of visuals and captions promotes the channel’s fall lineup which includes series such as Locked Up Abroad, Frontier Force, The Indestructibles, Rocketmen and Mad Scientists.
The marketing elements include print advertisements in the Vancouver Sun, Calgary Herald and the Edmonton Journal plus an online buy on specific life and entertainment-centric websites. A 30-second promotional commercial…
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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 – 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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TORONTO – Canadian telephone companies long sought a way to deliver a TV experience to their customers.
Bell Canada opted early on for a satellite solution, having come to realize during many technical trials during the 1990s that delivering a quality TV experience on par with what cable could offer was still years away.
Other Canadian telcos continued to test the delivery of digital television signals using various technological options through the 1990s and early 2000s. Cost, inefficient compression technology, and the physical limitations of the telco plant all held back viable solutions to the telephone company’s missing link when it…
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TORONTO – Gordon Lee has been named vice-president, head of affiliate sales for Corus Entertainment, effective immediately.
Lee brings over 25 years of industry experience managing affiliate relations for a number of satellite and media companies to the role. After joining Corus in 2006, he was most recently director of content distribution.
In his new role, Lee (right) will be responsible for overseeing new platform strategies, championing new product innovation, and continuing to manage Corus’ relationships with cable, satellite, telco partners and other distributors. He will report to Doug Murphy, EVP and president, television.
OTTAWA – Satellite services operator Telesat has reinstated service to its Anik F2 satellite after experiencing a “technical anomaly” last Thursday which caused service disruptions to its North American customers including Shaw Direct, Northwestel and Bell Aliant.
Telesat posted an update on its website saying that services were up and running by Friday, and called such satellite anomalies “highly unusual."
“This particular anomaly was the result of a software error encountered during a routine maneuver (sic) which triggered the satellite to place itself into a safe mode, shutting itself down and pointing itself at the sun to ensure it remained…
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