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$10 fees on customer service tasks don’t violate Wireless Code: Bell, Telus
BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc., Telus Corp., and Shaw Communications Inc. have responded to the CRTC’s questions about $10 fees they charge for some customer service tasks. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. …
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Bell-branded wireless hits sub-1% churn, continuing industry trend
The expected focus by the country’s largest wireless service providers this year to keep the spoils of last year’s record postpaid wireless subscribers has so-far propelled two of those companies to a milestone achievement: a postpaid wireless churn of under one-per cent. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …
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Federal Court won’t hear Calgary bylaw case
The Federal Court of Appeal has rejected an application by the City of Calgary asking the court to review a CRTC decision the city said didn’t address whether a new bylaw could govern telecom access to infrastructure. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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Spectrum licence fees are too high already: big telecoms
An Innovation Canada consultation asking for comment about whether it should begin adjusting spectrum licence fees to keep up with the consumer price index has drawn opposition from BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
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CRTC denies Northwestel ask to change basic service standards
BCE Inc.’s Northwestel wasn’t able to convince the CRTC that its basic service standards are impossible to meet in Canada’s northern regions, the regulator said in a decision Monday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …
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Telecoms say Calgary has no grounds to appeal bylaw case
The country’s largest telecoms are telling the Federal Court that the City of Calgary shouldn’t be allowed to appeal a CRTC decision on whether the city’s new bylaw binds the carriers on infrastructure builds, while the city is arguing that the telecoms are still getting the issues wrong. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers …
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CRTC issues mandatory order to keep TVA Sports available
The CRTC will register a mandatory order with the Federal Court forbidding Quebecor Inc. from withholding the signal for TVA Sports from BCE Inc. subscribers — meaning that if Quebecor chooses to pull the signal again, it would be in contempt of court. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …
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Bell calls for revocation of TVA Sports licence at tense CRTC hearing
Gatineau, Que. — Quebecor Inc. CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau was unrepentant as he justified his decision to pull the TVA Sports signal from BCE Inc. TV subscribers Wednesday, indicating to CRTC commissioners he wouldn’t rule out doing so again once a court injunction expires next week. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a …
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Bell gets court injunction on TV signal fight ahead of CRTC hearing
The Quebec Superior Court on Friday forced Quebecor Inc. to restore a TV signal for customers of BCE Inc. after it was pulled in the midst of a carriage fight, according to a Friday press release. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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Analysts surprised by Bell’s lack of 600 MHz, incumbent spend
BCE Inc. walking away from the 600 MHz spectrum auction with no licences, and the amount the winning incumbents ended up paying for the spectrum, came as a surprise to some financial analysts. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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CRTC orders Quebecor to hearing next week over TVA Sports signal
The CRTC has told Quebecor Inc. executives to appear at a hearing in Gatineau Wednesday to explain why it defied the regulator and pulled the signal to its TVA Sports channel from BCE Inc. TV subscribers. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
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Bell will work with Comp Bureau following CCTS court order
OTTAWA — A Federal Court judge has granted an application by the Competition Bureau to compel the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-Television Services (CCTS) to provide it with specific complaints it received related to BCE Inc. for its inquiry into the telecom’s alleged misleading sales practices. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? …
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Quebecor walks the talk, pulls TVA Sports signal from Bell
Quebecor Inc. has stopped broadcasting its TVA Sports signal following the 7 p.m. deadline the company set in a tense stand-off with BCE Inc. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free …
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Bell opts out of 600 MHz, Rogers nabs 52 licenses for $1.7B
BCE Inc. was among three prospective applicants who didn’t grab licenses for the coveted 600 MHz spectrum, widely considered to be the last chance to get valuable low-band frequencies. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you …
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Comp Bureau investigating Bell sales practices, going to court for CCTS info
The Competition Bureau is going to court to compel the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-Television Services (CCTS) to hand over information related to its investigation into the alleged unfair sales practices of BCE Inc., according to court records. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
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Freedom says ads intended to ‘stir the market,’ induce churn
An ad launched over the weekend depicting a fictitious version of the big three incumbent wireless providers gloating about high prices charged to consumers is another effort by Shaw Communications Inc.’s Freedom to rile up the industry, its president said on Tuesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …
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Péladeau willing to pull TVA Sports signal in fight with Bell
OTTAWA — Quebecor Inc. president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau said Monday that he would yank TVA Sports from BCE Inc.’s TV service over carriage fees — and denied that doing so would violate CRTC rules. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
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CRTC wants answers on $10 customer service interaction fees
The $10 fees on some customer service calls and chats that have been in the headlines in recent weeks may be against the Wireless Code, according to the CRTC. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media …
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Competition Bureau attempting to ‘hijack’ CRTC process, telecoms say
A request from the Competition Bureau asking the CRTC to require telecoms to disclose detailed, confidential information about their wireless operations is unreasonable, BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. are arguing. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital …
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Complaints to CCTS increase again, TV issues up 500%
Complaints about TV service to the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) skyrocketed to 18 per cent of all complaints in CCTS’ latest report. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a …
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Defendant in pre-loaded set-top box case settles for $5M
One of the defendants in a long-running lawsuit against companies selling pre-loaded set-top boxes will pay three Canadian telecoms $5 million to settle the case, according to a March 20 consent judgment. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …
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Bell asks to shut down 28 rebroadcasting transmitters
BCE Inc.’s media division is asking the CRTC to allow it to shutter 28 of its rebroadcasting transmitters that it says “generate no incremental revenue and attract little to no viewership.” This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital …
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Expect industry pushback on new CRTC directive, MVNOs: experts
The Liberal government should expect some amount of industry opposition against the wording of the government’s new, consumer-focused CRTC policy direction and the regulator’s new pro-MVNO stance, according to some industry-watchers and insiders. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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ACORN asks review panel for low-income $10 internet
All Canadians whose earnings fall below the government’s low-income measure should have access to internet service for $10, an advocacy group is telling the panel reviewing the broadcasting and telecom acts. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital …
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Telecoms added over 1.4 million new wireless subs in 2018
Canada’s publicly traded telecom companies added more than one million total wireless customers last year, putting an exclamation point on a year of explosive growth in the sector. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you …
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Quebecor asks CRTC to make Bell include TVA Sports in its Bon TV package
Quebecor Inc. has filed a complaint with the CRTC against BCE Inc., alleging undue preference against its sports channel because it’s been excluded from a popular Bell TV package in Quebec. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital …
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Calgary asking to appeal CRTC decision in bylaw case
The CRTC misunderstood the scope of the issues when it denied an application by Calgary to formally require telecoms to go through its new bylaw — and get the city’s consent — to access municipal infrastructure, the city said in new court documents. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …
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Radio interference, 5G delays raised in new spectrum tier consult
BCE Inc., Shaw Communications Inc., and Quebecor Inc. are warning against a proposed new smaller spectrum licensing tier, while smaller players and other interested groups cheer on the idea and pitch their own ideas on how to draw up the new area sizes. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …
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Samsung readying 5G PR blitz in Canada: internal comms
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. is embarking this year on a massive information and marketing campaign to promote its leadership on, and rollout of, 5G in Canada, according to a high level presentation seen by The Wire Report on Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
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Press council warns BTLR of ‘gap’ in complaints process for broadcasters
The National NewsMedia Council wrote to the expert panel reviewing Canada’s broadcasting laws to express concern about a “gap in the current public complaints framework vis-à-vis traditional broadcasting news organizations” when it comes to complaints about online broadcast content. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …
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Financial hit of a Huawei 5G ban likely ‘non-material’ to Bell, Telus: Desjardins
If the Canadian government eventually decides to ban Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. from Canada’s 5G networks, the financial consequences suffered by Canada’s big telecom companies would likely be negligible, according to a Desjardins analyst. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …
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Bell urged Bains not to send back MVNO decision a second time
Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains weighed sending back the CRTC’s decision not to mandate wholesale access by WiFi-based mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) for a second time, according to a letter from BCE Inc. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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Don’t mandate text message warning for emergency alerts: telecoms
The majority of Canadian wireless providers who weighed in on a proposal to harmonize emergency alert tests told the CRTC that they shouldn’t be required to send text messages to users warning them of upcoming tests. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
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Bell grows fixed wireless plans by 400,000 homes
BCE Inc. says it will grow its rural fixed-wireless plans by 50 per cent, thanks to new tax measures the Liberal government announced last fall aimed at promoting investments in rural areas. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …
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Huawei ban wouldn’t delay BCE’s 5G rollout: Cope
The head of BCE Inc. says he doesn’t expect that a ban on Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.’s equipment from Canada’s 5G networks would hamper or delay Bell’s 5G rollout. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …
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CBC president likens Netflix to colonialism
OTTAWA — CBC/Radio-Canada’s president Catherine Tait compared Netflix Inc.’s worldwide presence to the damage done by European colonialism, comments she made at a high-profile industry event Thursday where representatives from every sector of Canadian broadcasting outflanked the global streaming giant with calls for it to be regulated. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …
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Bell’s panel submission calls for CMF to get 20% of foreign OTT revenues
BCE Inc. wants to inject the Canada Media Fund (CMF) with a potentially significant influx of cash by forcing foreign over-the-top (OTT) services to fork over 20 per cent of their Canadian revenues to the non-profit every year. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
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Canada investing $40M in Nokia partnership
The federal government will give Nokia Corp. up to $40 million for a number of the company’s projects in Canada. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to …
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Bell asked gov’t to ban some VPNs: documents
BCE Inc. urged the federal government to make virtual private networks (VPNs) used to circumvent copyright illegal, ahead of the renegotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). VPN services, normally offered at a monthly rate, mask users’ real IP address via encryption, allowing them to surf the internet without being traced. It is a tool used …
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Bell offering day access to TSN/RDS for $5
BCE Inc. is now selling one-day subscriptions to its TSN and RDS streaming service for $5, the company said Friday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to …
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Rural spectrum for backhaul should be cheaper than urban: telecoms
Telecom companies are largely supportive of Innovation Canada’s efforts to update how it sets licence fees for point-to-point systems, though some are calling for that process to be sped up and others are arguing fees in rural areas should be lowered. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …
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Forbearance means CRTC has no place in rate dispute: Bell
The CRTC has no jurisdiction to determine the outcome of a disagreement over the rates BCE Inc. charges Iristel Inc. for wholesale access, because it chose to forebear from regulating legacy services, Bell is arguing. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
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Don’t lift 100 Mbps wholesale speed cap: big telecoms
Canada’s large internet service providers say granting the Canadian Network Operators Consortium (CNOC) request to lift the CRTC’s speed cap of 100 Mbps for wholesale internet would eliminate the motivation for providers to adopt its disaggregated wholesale regime. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
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CRTC dismisses bias complaint against Bell Fund
The CRTC has dismissed in part a complaint lodged against BCE Inc.’s Bell Fund earlier this year by a coalition of media producers including CBC/Radio Canada and Blue Ant Media Inc., which alleged bias in how it decides on distributing funding. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …
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Bell expanding targeted ads program to all services
BCE Inc. is rolling out to more services a pre-existing program that asks its subscribers to consider giving the company their personal information to better target relevant ads to them. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media …
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CRTC approves telecoms’ proposed low-cost data plans
The CRTC has chosen not to make changes to lower-cost data plans suggested by telecoms, accepting the plans as envisioned by the companies, in a decision that angered consumer advocates — whose proposals for cheaper alternatives went unheeded. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
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Bell ends infringement suit against Videotron
BCE Inc. has dropped a $100-million lawsuit leveled against Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron for allegedly broadcasting CraveTV content without a licence. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to …
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CRTC tells wireless providers to offer message relay services
Wireless operators will have to begin offering message relay services (MRS) by June 2019, the CRTC said Friday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire …
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Lower CRTC latency standards, say large telecoms, northern gov’ts
An application by BCE Inc.’s Northwestel arguing the CRTC’s basic service standards are impossible to meet in the North is finding support from telecoms and the governments of Yukon and Northwest Territories. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …
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Cogeco won’t be among bidders for 600 MHz spectrum
Cogeco Inc. isn’t among the list of participants in the 600 MHz auction, released by Innovation Canada Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire …
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English Canadian subs to OTT jumps to 65%: MTM
The number of English-speaking adults in Canada subscribing to over-the-top streaming services continues to rise at a brisk pace, according to newly released results from CBC/Radio-Canada‘s Media Technology Monitor. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …
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CRTC has no jurisdiction over content on single programs, SCC hears
OTTAWA — The CRTC can’t decide what commercials broadcasters can show on individual programs, as that authority lies beyond the jurisdictional boundaries the commission is confined to, the Supreme Court heard on Tuesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
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Canadian Netflix had best value-for-money compared to other countries: study
A new analysis published by the consumer website Comparitech this week claims that Canadian Netflix Inc. subscribers have enjoyed the best value-for-money, based on catalogue-size and price-point, compared to 78 other countries around the world. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
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Bell emphasizes original, ‘boots on the ground’ content for ethnic licence
GATINEAU, QUE. — Seeking to differentiate itself from other applicants, BCE Inc. said it would not outsource, and commit to limit dubbing over, ethnic and third-language content it produces for its must-carry channel licence application. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
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‘We’re repeating it again’: CCTS sees complaints jump nearly 60 per cent
The Commission for Complaints for Telecom-Television Services (CCTS) saw a “rapid” and “significant” spike in telecom and TV complaints this year –– a figure that jumped nearly 60 per cent for 2017-18, according to its annual report released Tuesday, which also showed Wireless Code breaches up 30 per cent. This content is available to wirereport.ca …
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Rogers focuses on past shortcomings for ethnic must-carry licence
GATINEAU, QUE. — Rogers Communications Inc. is taking what it learned a year ago and is proposing to rectify what a previous CRTC panel said were shortcomings to run its national ethnic channel for a full five-year term. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
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ISED announces signing of first supercluster funding agreement
Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains announced the federal government has signed a funding agreement with the group constituting its “advanced manufacturing” supercluster Tuesday, showing that Ottawa is ready to start handing out funding for its supercluster initiative. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
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Videotron appeals trade tribunal ruling on Bell G7 Summit contracts
Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron is appealing a ruling by the Canadian International Trade Tribunal over a procurement complaint the company lodged against the federal government, alleging it sole-sourced G7 Summit-related contract work worth more than $24 million to its main competitor BCE Inc. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …
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CRTC rejects Bell’s ask to simsub Canadian Super Bowl ads in 2019
The CRTC has rejected a request by BCE Inc. to bring back simultaneous commercial substitution in time for next year’s Super Bowl, pending a ruling by Canada’s top court and implementation of the new free trade deal with the U.S. and Mexico. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …
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Bell hits Videotron with $100M infringement suit
BCE Inc.’s Bell Media is suing Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron for copyright and trademark infringement after a licencing agreement between the two companies expired. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial …
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Bell posts subscriber gains, but wireless ARPU dips
BCE Inc. reported its wireless average revenue per user (ARPU) dipped in its third quarter results Thursday, though CEO George Cope cautioned analysts to keep in mind that the company’s prepaid base, with its lower revenues, is no longer declining. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
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Bell, Rogers defend sales practices to CRTC
GATINEAU –– BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. defended their sales tactics Friday after a week of CRTC hearings on aggressive and misleading sales practices, where numerous witnesses and smaller carriers pointed fingers at the big players for creating a problem. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …
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Quebecor blames bigger providers for sales practices hearings
GATINEAU — Telecom providers who appeared before the CRTC Thursday said the whole industry shouldn’t face more regulation — which could cost them millions — because of a few bad actors, with some pointing fingers at Canada’s biggest telecom companies. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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Alberta court rules city bylaw lacks jurisdiction over telecom builds
Canada’s major telecoms have succeeded in getting an Alberta court to rule that a municipal access bylaw in Calgary can’t regulate the building of telecommunications networks. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. …
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Rogers plans to advance Ignite at ‘thoughtful pace’ to replace legacy systems
Rogers Communications Inc. top brass say they expect to see enough long-term growth from the recently-launched IPTV service Ignite TV that the company can eventually sunset legacy TV product sales – but won’t rush the roll-out nor put a timeline on it. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …
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Bell partners with Ford on built-in wireless service for cars
BCE Inc. said Thursday it will be the first Canadian telecom to offer built-in wireless service for cars. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire …
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Bell introduces virtual network services platform
BCE Inc. is now offering its enterprise customers the ability to manage their networks remotely, the company said in a press release Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial …
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Allow ISPs to access inside wire — for a fee: CNOC
The CRTC should set up a regime to allow internet service providers to use the inside wire of a multi-unit building, but they should have to pay for that access, a group representing small internet service providers is arguing. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …
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Bell, Rogers re-raise site-blocking request to MPs
OTTAWA — BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. are asking the House heritage committee to amend parts of the copyright and telecommunications acts to compel a number of intermediaries to take down websites that make available pirated content, resurrecting a request the companies spearheaded that was denied by the CRTC earlier this month. This content …
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Bell retiring MTS brand for mobile customers
BCE Inc. is beginning to phase-out its Bell MTS wireless brand in Manitoba, according to a company spokesperson. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire …
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ISED OKs North Bay spectrum transfer to Bell
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has approved the transfer of an AWS-1 licence in North Bay, Ont. from Bragg Communications Inc. to BCE Inc. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take …
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Only 3% of anglophones subscribe to sports streaming: MTM
While services like Perform Group’s Dazn and Rogers Communications Inc.’s Sportsnet Now have been emerging in recent years, they “haven’t yet caught on in the Anglophone market,” Media Technology Monitor said in a new report. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
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Court reversal of Wholesale Code to have little effect: CCSA
The Federal Court of Appeal said in a Monday decision that the CRTC lacks the jurisdiction to implement its Wholesale Code — governing the business relationships between TV service providers and broadcasters — though overturning the CRTC’s order enforcing the code may not have much practical effect. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already …
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As CRTC rejects FairPlay, proposal could move to legislative reviews
The CRTC has no jurisdiction to implement a system to block websites allegedly engaging in piracy, it said in a highly-anticipated decision Tuesday, cracking open another debate as to whether the federal government will consider doing so flush in the middle of its reviews of related legislation. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already …
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New NAFTA allows Super Bowl simsub ahead of SCC review
The new trade pact forged by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) holds onto a key exemption for Canada’s cultural industries but contains a range of revisions to intellectual property, digital trade and broadcasting policies, including the overturning of a controversial CRTC decision preventing substituting American ads …
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Big telecoms ask MPs for beefed up anti-piracy measures
Some of the battles taking place before the CRTC related to site-blocking are now playing out on Parliament Hill, as big telecoms ask MPs studying the Copyright Act to strengthen anti-piracy measures to respond to a new wave of commercial piracy. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …
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Telecom execs praise ‘healthier,’ ‘balanced’ regulatory environment
Representatives from BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. described a favourable relationship with regulators at a CIBC investors conference Wednesday, where they also addressed competition between the largest telecoms. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news …
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Feds paid $190,000 in late-fees to telecoms: documents
The federal government spent at least $190,600 on late-payment fees and interest charges to telecom companies since September 2016, according to documents tabled recently in Parliament. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need. Take a …
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Bell standing by Huawei amidst security concerns
BCE Inc. head George Cope said Wednesday that his company is aware of concerns involving Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., though he didn’t indicate Bell has any plans to alter its use of technology from the Chinese telecom equipment maker. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …
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Content exec Vanessa Case to head Vice Canada studios
Former Blue Ant Media Inc. content executive Vanessa Case has joined the ranks of Vice Media Inc.‘s Canadian division to become its new senior vice-president of studio Canada, Vice announced in a press release Wednesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …
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Big 3 offer twice the data in new low-cost plan proposals
BCE Inc., Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp. have each proposed a set of new-and-improved low-cost wireless data plans to the CRTC that would be available through their flanker brands and effectively double their original data offers. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
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CRTC to decide if mandated access to inside wire applies to fibre
A small internet service provider (ISP) is asking the CRTC to order BCE Inc. to give it access to Bell’s fibre connections inside a Toronto apartment building in a case that could set a precedent as wireless internet becomes more common in urban areas. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign …
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