GATINEAU – As the so-called softer side of the industry comes to the fore over the next few, final days of the CRTC TV Policy Review hearing, groups like producers, actors, documentary makers and unions are just hoping the Commission pays more attention to them than the consumer media.
Reporters had elbows up in a crowd most of the week as the likes of CTV, Rogers, Shaw, Bell and Global Television faced the Commission – and then the microphones and notebooks right after.
No such problem Thursday afternoon and Friday.
At one point Friday morning we counted 13 people…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – The idea that Canada’s signal distributors should pay conventional broadcasters fees to carry their signals is “trash” according to Rogers Communications CEO Ted Rogers.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday following his company’s appearance before the CRTC on day three of its over-the-air TV review hearings, Rogers countered the many broadcaster arguments in favour of such charges, known as fee-for-carriage (FFC), made over the hearing’s first two days. He said broadcasters should look to new technologies – not new regulations – for new revenues. “These guys should get back to high def and keep up with the new stuff.”…
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MASSET, B.C. – GwaiiTel and its Haida Gwaii Community Network launched operations today, launching high speed Internet in the remote communities of the Queen Charlotte Islands.
In collaboration with local Internet service providers, the network brings high-speed Internet service to about 5,000 people living in the Islands’ seven largest communities, said the press release.
However, the local cable operator, Masset-Haida TV, also says it already offers high speed Internet in the area and has been for a while.
The Gwaii Trust Society formed GwaiiTel earlier this year, partnering with the Province of British Columbia and Telus to connect Haida…
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VANCOUVER – While Telus has been making waves in Bell Canada’s Ontario region, today Bell Canada announced it will help deliver "the world’s most technologically advanced meeting facility" in Vancouver.
In partnership with the Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project (VCCEP), Bell will deliver a fully outsourced information and communication technology (ICT) solution to support the Centre’s 2008 expansion, its 2010 Winter Games needs and more.
"Our business partnership with the Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion Project marks a significant milestone in Bell’s growth plan for Western Canada," said Charles Brown, president, Bell Western Region, in a release. "We understand…
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WINNIPEG – Canada’s largest ISPs have joined forces with Cybertip.ca, Canada’s child sexual exploitation tip line, to launch a new voluntary initiative to help in the battle against online child sexual abuse.
The new initiative, named "Project Cleanfeed Canada", is the latest contribution from the multi-stakeholder Canadian Coalition Against Internet Child Exploitation (C-CAICE). It’s intended to make the Internet safer for Canadians and their families by reducing their chances of coming across images of child sexual exploitation on the Internet.
The participating ISPs – which so far include Bell Aliant, Bell Canada, MTS Allstream, Rogers, SaskTel, Shaw Communications Inc.,…
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TORONTO – If Rogers and Bell are on the same side of an issue – working together even – you know they see a threat.
Today, Rogers Communications, Bell Canada, Telus, Sask Tel, MTS Allstream, and the Canadian Cable Systems Alliance released a research report saying 81% of Canadians do not want to pay a new fee for conventional broadcast stations.
As has been reported repeatedly by Cartt.ca the concept of fee for carriage has been pushed by Canadian broadcasters and will be front and centre at the upcoming CRTC Television Policy Review beginning Monday, November 27th in Hull….
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU – In a decision that will may have more immediate impact on the telecom industry than last week’s voice over IP deregulation announcement by the Minister of Industry, the CRTC today approved local telephone rate ranges for incumbent telcos.
What is means is that ILECs (Bell Canada, Telus, SaskTel, MTS, Bell Aliant and the like) will now be able to submit to the Commission – confidentially – a low and high range of rates for certain services and as long as their pricing stays within that range, will not have to file for tariff approvals prior to altering…
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TORONTO – Among Canadian wireless carriers, SaskTel and Virgin Mobile have the most satisfied customers, according to a survey released today by JD Power and Associates.
Now in its second year, the Canadian Wireless Customer Satisfaction Study, which is paid for by the wireless industry, "examines attitudes of wireless customers with their service, mobile phone and retail experience," says the press release.
Rankings are provided for contract service and prepaid service providers, as well as for mobile phone providers. SaskTel Mobility ranks highest in customer satisfaction among contract service providers, while Virgin Mobile ranks highest among prepaid providers. LG…
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VANCOUVER – Syntagma Network Services, led by former Telus executive Theresa Carbonneau, last week launched on the Canadian telecom scene.
It says it has "Canada’s first independent, fully integrated telephony, IT and data service," in the press release.
"Syntagma’s innovative service allows businesses and consumers to bypass the big phone companies, allowing subscribers to get all of their phone, fax and Internet services together on one bill, at a 30% to 50% savings. Syntagma’s new service puts an end to costly user fees such as extra charges for voicemail, call waiting, call forwarding, as well as expensive long-distance charges."…
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VANCOUVER – Bell Mobility has launched a lawsuit against Telus over the latter’s recent ad campaign, saying it’s wireless plans are every bit as flexible as Telus’.
Telus launched an ad campaign this month touting its Flexible Share Plans", where more than one family member can share their wireless minutes.
Bell’s problem is the Telus line found in the ads: "only from Telus." Bell’s statement of claim decries its rival’s "exclusivity claim" as false and misleading.
"The Exclusivity Claim is calculated to give the impression, and does give the impression, that only Telus Mobility offers wireless communications services rate…
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