OTTAWA and GATINEAU — The CRTC announced today seven projects in British Columbia and Alberta will receive up to $19.5 million in funding from its Broadband Fund.
In total, the projects will benefit approximately 1,255 households in 10 communities, including seven Indigenous communities, across the two provinces, according to the CRTC’s press release.
A backgrounder for the announcement says the CRTC’s Broadband Fund will allocate the money to four service providers in the following way:
ATG Arrow Technology Group Limited Partnership (Arrow) will receive up to $4 million to build or improve fixed broadband Internet access services for…
Continue Reading
TORONTO — Telus Health announced today it has acquired Sprout Wellness Solutions, a Toronto-based health technology company that provides a holistic digital health and wellness solution “designed to educate, engage and inspire people to improve their health through behaviour change,” according to a press release.
Sprout’s digital wellness solution will be available as part of the Telus Health suite of services for Canadian employers “to empower their employees, through their benefits plan, to live healthier lives,” the release says.
“We know preventative health practices can play a major role in reducing one’s chances of developing several chronic diseases, and…
Continue Reading
When they manage contractual relations
By Denis Carmel
MONTREAL – Last Thursday, March 24, the Supreme Court of Canada determined it would not hear the case of the Government of Québec ordering Internet service providers (ISPs) to block some gambling sites, therefore confirming a Court of Appeal of Québec (CAQ) ruling, that in this case, telecommunications falls within federal jurisdiction, as it interfered with the ISPs’ operations.
By coincidence, the same day the same CAQ confirmed, in part, a ruling from the Superior Court stating that articles of the Québec Consumer Protection Act (CPA) could be used to govern…
Continue Reading
MARKHAM, Ont. — CN Media Services, a division of Markham, Ont.-based Capital Networks Limited, announced last week it is now the exclusive “local avails” sales agent for Videotron.
“The term ‘Local Avails’ refers to the approximately two minutes of television commercial time per hour set aside in the programming of certain U.S. cable/satellite channels including CNN, CNBC, AMC, HLN, NFL Network and more,” explains a press release.
The agreement with Videotron means CN Media Services can now provide its advertising clients the opportunity to target almost 500,000 Canadian households in the province of Quebec.
CN Media Services already has exclusive sales…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA – The CRTC today approved the broadcast side of the merger between Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications, with several conditions attached.
The Commission concluded the transaction – when modified – “is in the public interest and advances the objectives set out for the Canadian broadcasting system in the Broadcasting Act,” its decision reads. “Canadians as consumers will benefit from this transaction.”
One of the conditions included in the decision requires Rogers to submit a revised tangible benefits proposal. Tangible benefits were a significant topic of discussion during the CRTC’s hearing last November.
Originally, Rogers proposed a tangible benefits package…
Continue Reading
WATERLOO, Ont. – Blackberry announced today the Region of Niagara selected BlackBerry AtHoc to be the critical event management platform for its 13 municipalities, as well as the Niagara Regional Police Service.
The emergency management solution is being deployed in partnership with Telus. (Two years ago, BlackBerry and Telus announced they formed a partnership, which would see Telus reselling BlackBerry’s AtHoc solution with Telus’ connectivity.)
“Modernizing emergency management systems, BlackBerry AtHoc, with Telus’ world-class connectivity, gives organizations the information they need to make critical safety decisions in real-time, helping to protect lives, assets and operations, during planned and unplanned events,”…
Continue Reading
VANCOUVER — Telus Communications announced today it is using its Smart Hub technology and 5G network to bring fixed wireless Internet speeds up to 100 Mbps to nearly 60 rural communities across B.C. and Alberta by the end of the year.
“Residents in these communities will be the first in the country to access home Internet speeds up to 100 Mbps through Telus’ 5G network, which is up to four times faster than speeds currently available through a 4G network,” reads a Telus press release.
“Telus Smart Hub uses a fixed wireless connection that is powered by our 5G network to…
Continue Reading
OTTAWA and GATINEAU – The CRTC announced today Canadian television service providers can no longer distribute the Russian state-funded English-language channel RT (Russia Today) or RT France.
The Commission formally removed both channels from its list of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution in Canada after determining their continued distribution “is not in the public interest,” according to a press release.
“RT’s programming is not consistent with the standards against which Canadian services are measured nor the policy objectives set out in the Broadcasting Act,” the release explains.
“The CRTC is also concerned with programming from a foreign country…
Continue Reading
Telecoms generally against ISED proposal for restricted areas around airports
By Amanda OYE
OTTAWA – Comments submitted to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s (ISED) Consultation on a Policy and Licensing Framework for Spectrum in the 3800 MHz Band, show Canada’s telecoms are divided on which, if any, pro-competitive measures should be adopted for the 3800 MHz spectrum auction, expected to be held in 2023.
ISED proposed three options for competitive measures for the 3800 MHz auction – a 50 MHz set-aside, a 100 MHz cross-band cap (this would apply across the 3500 MHz and 3800 MHz bands), or both.
The set-aside option…
Continue Reading
CALGARY — Telus announced today its Telus Pollinator Fund for Good has invested in Virtual Gurus, “a North American-based marketplace that matches organizations with skilled remote administrative talent while providing income earning opportunities to underrepresented individuals,” a press release says.
Virtual Gurus says it has secured a combined $8.4 million in a funding round led by the Telus Pollinator Fund for Good and supported by other key investors including Raven Indigenous Capital Partners, The51, The Houssian Foundation and Accelerate Fund. Virtual Gurus’ cumulative funding since February 2020 now totals $10.4 million, according to the press release.
Virtual Gurus “creates meaningful earning…
Continue Reading
