REGINA – SaskTel is voicing its firm objection to a proposed 50% increase in local telephone rates in rural Canada, at least without an opportunity for residents in those areas to weigh in.
The Regina-based telco said in a statement that rate proposals made last week by Shaw, Rogers, Telus and Bell during the CRTC’s local telephone service hearing failed to address “the sharp inequalities in employment and incomes across the country”. SaskTel also suggested that the majority of “rural and northern residents do not understand the magnitude of the impact this public hearing could have on them”.
“We believe that these…
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OTTAWA – The country’s largest cable companies want the CRTC to treat them the same as Bell and Telus. At least, as far as the Commission’s rules on speed matching go.
In a petition submitted to Cabinet last week, Cogeco, Quebecor on behalf of Videotron, Rogers and Shaw asked that the Governor in Council vary, rescind, or refer back to the Commission its decision on Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-632 issued on August 30, 2010.
That decision, as Cartt.ca reported, was based on a public proceeding launched in May 2009 to consider whether incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) and cable…
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GATINEAU – Expanding the basic service objective to include broadband would have substantial negative financial impacts on their businesses, a group of small independent ISPs told the CRTC on Monday during the fourth day of hearings into the obligation to serve and other telecom matters.
This is the second week of the hearing, which moved back to Gatineau after three days in Timmins, Ont.
David Buffet, president of Radiant Communications Corp., said that creating a new subsidy regime to fund broadband expansion would turn a slight profit the company generated in 2009 to a net loss. Revenue…
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TORONTO – When life throws curves, there’s Twist TV.
Shaw Media’s newly branded specialty channel Twist TV arrived in over 2 million homes on Monday, though for the month of November, the channel will be offered in an additional 3.6 million homes, bringing Canadian audiences real life with a twist by capturing the experiences of everyday people facing extraordinary situations.
"Through tales of extraordinary life experiences, Twist TV demonstrates that you never know what kinds of curves life will throw your way," said Solange Bernard, director of marketing strategy for Lifestyle Channels at Shaw Media, in the announcement. "Our advertising campaign…
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TORONTO – Canada’s telco TV providers say that they are getting better and better at eating their cable competitors’ lunch, so to speak. And, they have no intention of easing up any time soon.
Bell Aliant, MTS, SaskTel and Telus met with broadcasters and content providers this week in Toronto to chat about their successes and plans for the future. And, they introduced a new member of their informal consortium, TbayTel, who recently began offering digital TV in Thunder Bay, ON.
The majority of the telcos extolled the virtues of their Microsoft Mediaroom platform, particularly how it allows them to offer functionality…
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OTTAWA – Mario Mota, vice-president of broadcasting policy and regulatory affairs at the Canadian Media Production Association has decided to leave the organization, members were informed this week.
After nearly five years with CMPA (formerly the CFTPA) Mota tells Cartt.ca that he intends to work on his private consulting practice he runs with his wife, Boon Dog Professional Services – and may even do some work for the association.
“Over the past four and a half years Mario has been a key asset to the Association,” said CMPA president and CEO Norm Bolen in a note to the membership. “His passion,…
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GATINEAU – Canada’s major cable companies and telcos are squaring off against MTS Allstream and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre over the CRTC’s authority to mandate broadband as an essential service in the so-called “Obligation to Serve” CRTC proceeding beginning Tuesday in Timmins, Ont.
Comments filed with the CRTC in late August show that Bell Canada, Telus and all of the large cablecos are, not surprisingly, opposed to any Commission intervention on this matter, while PIAC and MTS firmly believe that the CRTC can make broadband essential.
The issue has become a central theme in the proceeding which will cover…
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OTTAWA – "We successfully overcame many challenges and managed to come out of the year stronger, more focused and more financially sound than we were at the outset," said CBC/Radio-Canada board chairman Tim Casgrain in kicking off the Corp’s second Annual Public Meeting held Wednesday morning in Ottawa.
Canadians from across the country participated via live webcast as Casgrain, president and CEO Hubert Lacroix, and VP and CFO Suzanne Morris reviewed the highlights of 2009–2010, provided an overview of the next year and took some questions.
Lacroix focused on the myriad changes in the media industry globally – and locally as…
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GATINEAU – Atop Broadband received a Class 1 Broadcast Distribution Undertaking license from the CRTC today to serve the Greater Toronto Area.
Under its license the company can serve Ajax, Aurora, Bolton, Brampton, Caledon, East Gwillimbury, Etobicoke, Georgetown, King City, Markham, Milton, Mississauga, Newmarket, Nobleton, Oakville, Orangeville, Oshawa, Pickering, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Toronto, and Vaughan (Kleinberg, Maple and Woodbridge).
The company is owned by Robert Socci, president of Atop Communications, and according to the proceeding’s documents, it appears it will be an over-the-top video provider that will provide its own set-top box using its customers’ existing cable DOCSIS or telco…
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TORONTO – Canwest Broadcasting’s chief marketing officer, Walter Levitt, will be leaving the company once it is purchased by Shaw Communications.
Levitt (pictured), former head of marketing at Alliance Atlantis, came on board in 2005, about two years before Canwest purchased the former Alliance Atlantis specialty channels. He and his team raised the profile and lifted the buzz around the specialties and the main network with several innovative marketing campaigns which invariably included robust digital aspects and social media integration.
“As you know, Shaw is a Calgary-based cable and satellite company with a long-serving head of marketing. In planning the integration of the…
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