Panelists talk C-10, competition and of course, the Rogers/Shaw deal
By Lynn Greiner
TORONTO – Every ISP Summit, a highlight session is the regulatory panel. The CRTC always seems to generate enough controversy to make the panel entertaining as well as interesting.
This year was no different.
Moderated by Monica Auer, executive director of the Forum for Research and Policy in Communications, the panel featured two CRTC alumni who are less than impressed with the way the organization has operated recently.
Konrad von Finckenstein, a consultant and arbitrator, was CRTC chair from 2007 to 2012, and Timothy Denton, now chairman of the Internet…
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TORONTO – On Wednesday evening, Rogers Communications announced Tony Staffieri (above), the company’s chief financial officer, is leaving the company, effective immediately.
Paulina Molnar (below) has been appointed interim CFO. No explanation was given for Staffieri’s departure.
“On behalf of the Rogers team, I thank Tony for the many contributions he made to our company including ensuring the integrity of our financial reporting over the nearly ten years he served as our CFO,” said Joe Natale, president and CEO, in a press release. “We wish him well in his future endeavours and look forward to building on the strong foundation he…
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GATINEAU — The Competition Bureau on Tuesday issued a request for information (RFI) from market participants and Canadians in general to assist its investigation into Rogers Communications’ proposed acquisition of Shaw Communications.
“The Bureau is investigating whether the proposed merger is likely to result in a substantial lessening or prevention of competition for mobile wireless, wireline internet and broadcasting services — which are provided by both companies,” reads the Bureau’s press release.
Specifically, the Bureau wants input to help it assess potential impacts on competition in the following areas:
Mobile wireless services to consumers
Consumer and small business internet services
…
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PIAC supports it and Cogeco remains silent
By Denis Carmel
OTTAWA – On May 4, 2021, Data on Tap (dotmobile) filed an appeal to Cabinet of the CRTC’s review of mobile wireless services, which dealt with access by Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) to facilities of the three large wireless operators.
In a nutshell, the CRTC gave access only to players that already had facilities.
To that extent Québecor directly benefited from the policy and subsequently acquired more facilities at the last 3500 MHz auction, as did 11 other regional competitors.
And in their Sept. 22 comments on dotmobile’s petition, written in…
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TORONTO — Corus Entertainment announced today the Peacock Original series Frogger, a new game show based on the iconic 1980s video game, will premiere on its kids’ channel YTV on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
“The new game show promises to test skill, strategy and strength as contestants go through incredible obstacle courses in hope of bringing home $100,000!” reads a Corus press release.
The competition series is hosted by Damon Wayans Jr. (above, left) and Kyle Brandt (right) and invites contestants from across the U.S. “to test their physical prowess and problem-solving skills on a variety of epic…
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While “deeply interested” in launching wireless services, will only proceed under the right circumstances
By Amanda Oye
It is no secret Cogeco wants to offer its customers wireless services. The question yet to be answered is when?
Cogeco has been trying to get into wireless since 2018. The company has made advancements towards this goal, including its recent purchase of 38 licences for $295 million in the 3500 MHz spectrum auction that closed in July.
Another step forward came a couple of years prior, in 2019, when Cogeco proposed a Hybrid Mobile Network Operator (HMNO) model to the CRTC…
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By Denis Carmel
Several Internet service providers and related groups have now officially weighed in on TekSavvy and the Competitive Network Operators of Canada’s (CNOC) petitions to the Governor in Council, requesting cabinet overturn CRTC Decision 2021-181.
Unsurprisingly, competitive high-speed access (HSA) providers appealed CRTC Decision 2021-181, which reversed the Commission’s own Decision 2019-288, setting final rates on HSA. The rates had been interim ones since 2016.
This reversal came after the Federal Court of Appeal confirmed the CRTC’s 2019 decision and the Supreme Court denied the incumbents’ appeal to the Highest Court. It also came after the government refused to send…
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PIAC asks CRTC to strike CPAC reply from the record
GATINEAU – Rogers Communications maintained in its reply to interventions received regarding its application to acquire Shaw Communications’ broadcast holdings, submitted to the CRTC yesterday, that approval of the application will provide a myriad of benefits to the Canadian broadcast sector and consumers.
“Clearly, the transaction will enhance competition, will benefit consumers, Canadian programming services and independent producers and will, therefore, further public interest and contribute in an appropriate manner to the achievements of the policy objectives outlined in subsection 3(1) of the Broadcasting Act,” Rogers’ reply reads.
According to the…
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TORONTO – The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF) today welcomed Shaw Communications Inc. as a partner in its Legacy Schools program.
DWF’s Legacy Schools program is “designed to empower students to be leaders in reconciliation and foster meaningful conversations about the true history of Canada’s residential schools,” a press release says.
“With the inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation taking place on Sept. 30, this new partnership with Shaw will help more students and educators in Alberta and British Columbia access the Legacy Schools program throughout the 2021/22 school year.”
Last year the program grew nearly 40%.
As of July…
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TORONTO – Canadian media mogul and philanthropist Allan Slaight died on Sunday in his Toronto home. He was 90 years old.
The announcement was made Monday by family friend David Ben, according to news reports.
Slaight, who was born in Galt, Ont. in 1931, started out as a news reporter and announcer in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in 1948, an article written by J. Lyman Potts for the Canadian Communications Foundation says.
This was the start of a storied career.
Over the course of his decades long career in media, Slaight held news and announcing roles at stations including CFRN, CJCA and CHED in…
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