OTTAWA – The VOIP decision will stand, with a "but".
Today the CRTC re-affirmed its May 2005 decision on voice over Internet protocol. Federal cabinet told the Commission in May of this year to reconsider that decision after all but one of Canada’s ILEC’s filed an appeal.
However, because of the sheer speed in which Canada’s incumbent local exchange carriers are losing customers, the Commission did signal it’s prepared to alter course when it deems necessary and will already re-examine its March 2006 decision on local forbearance.
Specifically, it "declared that competition in local telephone service is…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – While three Commissioners dissented with the majority in today’s renewed VOIP decision, not all balked for the same reasons.
While commissioners Stuart Langford and Barbara Cram agreed with the confirmation of the 2005 VOIP ruling but not the announced review of the local forbearance decision, Andrée Noel simply reaffirmed her opposition to the first VOIP decision.
"I agree with the majority that the regulatory regime for local voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services decision is correct and should be reaffirmed," wrote Langford. "I disagree absolutely, however, with the majority’s determination… to reconsider the suitability of one of…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – Broadcasters’ requests to be paid for their signal by cable and satellite companies will remain a part of the TV Policy Review, the Commission told Telus this week.
As exclusively reported by Cartt.ca last week, the western telco petitioned the CRTC to drop discussion of fee-for-carriage due to the changing nature of the broadcast industry both globally (WIPO) and at home (BGM’s proposed CHUM purchase). That and the fact the Commission ruled in 1993 that such fees were beyond its scope of influence.
Broadcasters look at specialty services and the wholesale fees they collect and would like…
Continue Reading
MONTREAL – Telus Québec created four new vice-presidents positions this week.
Serge Leclerc has been hired as vice-president of business communications and community affairs and Christian Proulx as vice-president of human resources. Two directors from Telus were promoted, too: Gaétan Rousseau is now regional vice-president of consumer solutions delivery and Raymond Saoumah was appointed regional vice-president of engineering and operations for wireless.
“Telus has always strived to hire the most talented and high-performing candidates at a regional, national and international level, both internally and externally. With a top notch management team comprised of industry leaders, innovators and passionate individuals,…
Continue Reading
EDMONTON – Alberta Treasury Branches Financial has signed a three-year, $8.3 million contract with Telus to deploy the telco’s Internet protocol-based voice and data network services, as well as upgrading a 200-seat ATB Financial contact centre.
"The IP solution will improve network availability and response time for the voice and data applications that play a key role in providing the highest quality of service to ATB’s customers," says the press release.
The contract includes wide area network (WAN) and local area network (LAN) services, local access, long distance, high speed internet and data support services, as well as a…
Continue Reading
TORONTO – XM Canada said today it has hired Donald McKenzie as senior vice-president of sales and marketing.
McKenzie has more than 22 years experience in sales and marketing in a variety of industries, including the past 10 years in Canada’s wireless telecommunications arena with Clearnet, and then after its purchase, Telus Mobility.
In his new role, McKenzie will be responsible for all sales and marketing functions of XM Canada, including retail, automotive distribution channels and listener care.
“I am so excited that an executive of Donald’s calibre has joined our team to lead XM Canada’s sales, marketing, promotion…
Continue Reading
WHO COULD BLAME CANADIAN lawyer Richard Warman for taking a shot with the CRTC last week? What would you do if someone used the web to threaten to kill you, or urge others to do it? Use as many tools as might be at your disposal to protect yourself, I should think.
As you may have read in a number of media reports over the past few days, an Virginia man, Bill White, has called for the Ottawa man’s death (and the death of all Jews, for that matter) and even posted his home address, too, in case someone…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC told Canadians the rights when it comes to telephone service today.
The Commission issued a edict telling all incumbent local exchange companies (ILECs: Bell, Telus, SaskTel, etc.) that they must include this statement of consumer rights on their web sites and in their printed directories. New local competitors do not have to print the document but the Commission encouraged them to do so.
The 4,700-word Commission document "restates key consumer rights with respect to local home phone service, in a clear and comprehensible manner," says the CRTC press release.
"The CRTC has, in the past,…
Continue Reading
CHICAGO – The inaugural Broadband World Forum Americas will be held in Vancouver, September 11 to 14.
Fittingly, the region’s main telco, Telus, will play a prominent role. EVP technology strategy Eros Spadotto will be one of the speakers and will talk about the latest technology developments "simplifying consumers’ lives and creating powerful business tools," says the conference’s press release.
The Broadband World Forum Americas is aimed at information and communications technology (ICT) specialists and run by the International Engineering Consortium (IEC).
“Eros and his colleagues at Telus have an exciting vision of the future. They look at technology…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC called for a TV policy review because of the dramatically shifting nature of the broadcast and distribution industry. But, says Telus, it is this uncertainty created by the ongoing shifts that means conventional broadcasters’ requests for a wholesale fee for carriage should be carved out of the review for consideration separately.
Canadian broadcasters have long lusted after the type of wholesale subscriber fees that grow the bank accounts of Canadian specialty services. The over-the-air broadcasters been consistently refused since they already make hundreds of millions off of advertising, the conventional channels are must-carries…
Continue Reading