FINALLY, A CANADIAN, PUBLICLY traded wireline telco has made a real commitment to the future, despite what the country’s financial community thinks.
MTS Allstream has been absolutely crucified in the markets this month for daring to cut its quarterly dividend in order to try to properly prepare the company for what’s next by launching a $125 million fibre to the home overhaul. Good for Pierre Blouin and his team for deciding that if the company is to continue in the wired communications game and gain a real competitive advantage in its service areas, it had to make the fibre-to-the-home switch,…
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GATINEAU – The CRTC’s proposal to include broadband as part of the basic service objective (BSO) for telcos is getting lukewarm support, at best. The Commission proposed the idea in a broad consultation on a variety of telecom matters, referred to as the “Obligation to Serve” proceeding.
MTS Allstream Inc. and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) are two that have said making broadband part of basic service would represent a logical extension of the current regime. Presently the BSO only applies to local voice services.
“Including broadband access in the Commission’s universal service objective would also recognize the…
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GATINEAU – While wireless incumbents and newcomers vehemently disagree on future auction rules, both say Industry Canada has to get a move on, and make the decisions required to open up more spectrum for more bandwidth and more products and services.
The federal government’s digital economy consultation elicited many different opinions and recommendations on how to proceed with respect to creating the right frameworks and policies going forward. But many took the opportunity to complain about current regimes.
Such was the case with Canada’s largest wireless carriers. They are using the federal government’s digital economy consultation to wail about…
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GATINEAU – Citing “serial abuse” by Shaw Communications, Telus has reiterated its demand for immediate interim relief from the CRTC over the Calgary-based cableco’s tactics when customers want to switch from Shaw Cable or Shaw Direct to Telus’ Optik TV.
It did so while lamenting the Regulator’s decision to extend and expand CRTC 2010-406, the call for comments on the customer transfer process and related competitive issues, the very thing Telus (and others) want solved. Now. As reported by Cartt.ca, the Commission (prodded by Rogers Communications) decided to extend the deadline for comments on the proceeding because it…
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WINNIPEG – MTS said today it has begun to deploy its fibre optic network, dubbed "FiON", in the City of Selkirk, Man.
MTS has successfully started the transfer of telephone and Internet customers on to the new FO network and the company is on track to migrate 2,200 subscribers in Selkirk, about 45 minutes north of Winnipeg, to FiON by the end of the year.
"We are making good progress in the deployment of our new fibre to the home network in the City of Selkirk," said Kelvin Shepherd, President, MTS. "FiON will provide excellent support for our current…
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GATINEAU – Thanks to the “certainly created in the industry by the new Canada Media fund and the need to give this fund time to establish itself,” the CRTC today called off its proceeding looking into amending its benefits policy.
Two years ago, the Commission decided it would examine the policy that says 10% of the value of any business transaction involving broadcast companies must be set aside for “benefits”, that is, something the acquiring company might not normally spend on. So, if a broadcaster is purchased for $100 million, the rule of thumb has said that $10…
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TORONTO – While its primary channel was a very popular destination for those wanting to watch some of the World Cup soccer games in Italian, for example, another arm of Telelatino was busily launching a pair of new specialties.
Released with little fanfare last month on Rogers Cable, the channels are EuroWorld Sport and Mediaset Italia (watch for the fanfare to come soon, however). Rogers also added TLN en Espanol to its line-up last month (which was already carried by Bell TV and Shaw).
“They are truly amazing channels,” said TLN president Aldo Di Felice.
EuroWorld Sport is a predominantly English language…
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GATINEAU – After having been told by CRTC staff on Friday that the Regulator would not consider adding wireless to its look at regulatory symmetry in the telecom world when it comes to the handling of customer cancellations and transfers, Rogers Communications has again pushed the issue back into the lap of the Commission.
In a story on Cartt.ca last week, we told you Rogers wrote the Commission saying it didn’t make any sense to be looking into so-called regulatory symmetry for broadcasting, telecom and Internet while skipping wireless – and that the communications giant wants the notice of…
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TORONTO – Corus’ management team has undergone an extreme makeover, Cartt.ca has learned.
In a note to staff late last week, president and CEO John Cassaday said that the changes are intended “to streamline decision-making and clarify roles and mandates”. The company undertook an internal review after announcing a new management committee on May 10, 2010.
When asked for confirmation and clarification of the changes, a Corus spokesperson forwarded a short statement and declined further comment.
“Corus Entertainment recently implemented a number of structural changes to its Television, Radio and Corporate divisions”, the statement read. “As a result, some functions have…
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VANCOUVER – Gigi Boyd has been named VP of industrial relations in the BC office of the Canadian Media Production Association (in transition from the CFTPA).
A Gemini and Leo award winning producer/production manager, Boyd joins the CMPA-BC on July 19 after working extensively in the western film and television industry. Previously, Boyd was business affairs manager and director of the television unit at Telefilm Canada in the Western office, as well as a member of the executive board of the DGC-BC and vice-chair of the board of the Shaw Rocket Fund.
The BC Producers’ Branch of the CMPA represents the…
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