Brief
Prime Minister Stephen Harper used social media to weigh in on the CRTC’s decision that wireless consumers should be permitted to cancel their contracts after two years.
The messages, posted by Harper on his Facebook page Wednesday, should be concerning to the country's three largest telecom companies, which are requesting a court challenge of aspects of the regulator's decision, pollsters said in interviews.
The CRTC approved BCE Inc.’s reworked application to purchase Astral Media Inc. for $3.38 billion, with conditions that raise the company’s contributions to Canadian broadcasting by $72 million and apply additional regulatory checks on BCE’s market power.
The regulator said in a decision Thursday that it approved the deal while adding regulatory safeguards as conditions that will be put into BCE’s broadcast licences.
The CRTC approved BCE Inc. division Bell Media Inc.’s request to redirect tangible benefits associated with its 2011 purchase of CTVglobemedia Inc.
In a decision Thursday, the CRTC said it approved Bell’s request to increase its support for Canadian dramatic series from $8.2 million to $28.5 million by decreasing benefits allocated to other areas, including drama and movies-of-the-week, charitable live music events, and high-end performing arts, visual arts and performance programs.
Northwestel Inc., a BCE Inc. subsidiary, is asking the CRTC to revisit a decision in February that reduced the company's wholesale connection rates by 70 per cent, said Paul Flaherty, chief executive of Northwestel.
The CRTC said it approved Bell Aliant Inc.’s request to offer broadcast distribution services Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
In a decision Thursday, the commission said Bell Aliant can expand its broadcast distribution business to the market.
Halifax-based Bell Aliant, which BCE Inc. owns through a controlling 44-per cent stake, offers fibre-based Internet protocol TV (IPTV) services in Eastern Canada and Sudbury.
CBC/Radio-Canada continued to be the largest recipient of assistance from the CRTC's local TV fund in 2012, receiving $47 million, followed by BCE Inc. stations with $23.7 million, according to a financial statement for the fund released Friday.
The CRTC lowered the rates BCE Inc. can charge small competing telcos for use of its “local loop” lines that connect to consumers' homes.
In decision 2012-628 issued Thursday, the commission said there is “substantial doubt as to the correctness” of the local loop rates it established in a decision last year, and directed BCE subsidiaries Bell Aliant and Bell Canada to use new, lower rates, effective retroactively to Dec. 14, 2009.
The CRTC said it is concerned BCE Inc. may not meet its 2014 deadline to roll out rural broadband services using commissioned-approved deferral accounts.
In a letter to the company dated Oct. 26, the CRTC ordered BCE to provide quarterly statements outlining the progress of its rollout plans.
Workers with the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP) voted Thursday to accept a collective agreement with BCE Inc., the union said in a release Friday.
Voting took place by 112 members of CEP Local 79M, who were locked out since July 11 and in negotiations with Bell's satellite and fibre television distribution division since April 2011, the release said.
BCE Inc., the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, Providence Equity Partners and Madison Dearborn Partners LLC completed the acquisition of Canadian data centre operator Q9 Networks, the companies said Wednesday.
The companies said in June that a $1.1-billion agreement to acquire Q9 had been reached.
The CRTC is expediting VMedia’s undue preference complaint against BCE Inc., the commission said in a letter posted on its website Monday.
In a complaint filed with the commission this month, VMedia, a subsidiary of independent Internet protocol TV (IPTV) provider VianetTV, said Bell delayed the launch of the VMedia service by stalling negotiations for VMedia’s carriage of Bell’s 29 specialty channels.
Toronto-based Internet protocol TV (IPTV) provider VMedia Inc. has filed an undue preference complaint against BCE Inc. over an ongoing dispute about carriage of Bell Media’s specialty channels.
In an application dated Sept. 13, VMedia, a VianetTV subsidiary, said it has been unable to negotiate an agreement for carriage of Bell’s 29 specialty channels after more than a year of negotiations.
Quebecor Media Inc., Cogeco Cable Inc.and Eastlink launched an online campaign Tuesday to generate public opposition to BCE Inc.’s proposed $3.38-billion agreement to acquire Astral Media Inc.
The CRTC approved BCE Inc.’s proposal to establish a Broadcasting Accessibility Fund.
The commission said in a decision Tuesday that the new fund, resulting from BCE’s benefits package from the purchase of CTVglobemedia in 2011, will support initiatives working to improve access to the Canadian broadcasting system for people with disabilities.