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OTTAWA — Consumer advocacy groups are cautioning MPs against proposals that would make site-blocking in Canada easier, after a push for those anti-piracy policies failed at the CRTC failed last month. 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 …
Continue reading "Consumer groups warn MPs against site-blocking pitches"
Wireless prices drove overall average monthly communication service pricing down 1.6 per cent in 2017 compared to the year prior, according to the pricing installment of the CRTC’s latest Communications Monitoring 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 …
Continue reading "Cheaper wireless plans lowered telecom service prices in 2017: CRTC"
OTTAWA — Members of the panel tasked with providing recommendations to bring Canada’s communications laws into the digital era are urging public submissions be “concrete” and “practical” to hasten the resulting report’s ability to pass government scrutiny. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
Continue reading "Comms acts review panel urges ‘practical’ submissions"
An organization representing Canada’s electricity providers has filed a Part 1 application with the CRTC asking for changes to wireless regulations it says are necessary for the roll out of smart electrical grids. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
Continue reading "Electrical utilities ask CRTC to become MVNOs"
OTTAWA — The head of Canada’s telecom regulator says clarity on where it stands when it comes to resolving disagreements over the rollout of 5G infrastructure is one question the Senate should consider in its review of Canada’s communications laws. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
Continue reading "CRTC needs clarity over who can resolve 5G rollout disputes: Scott"
Last week, ministers of innovation and economic development from three levels of government committed to working together toward internet speed requirements that match the CRTC’s basic services objective, but ISED confirmed Thursday that Ontario and Saskatchewan did not explicitly agree to the initiative. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …
Continue reading "Ontario, Saskatchewan didn’t agree to ISED broadband strategy"
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 …
Continue reading "Bell, Rogers defend sales practices to CRTC"
Shaw Communications Inc. is proposing a ban on third-party door-to-door sales to curb aggressive and misleading sales practices in the telecom industry. 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 …
Continue reading "Shaw proposes banning third-party door-to-door sales"
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 …
Continue reading "Quebecor blames bigger providers for sales practices hearings"
GATINEAU — TekSavvy Solutions Inc. told the CRTC Wednesday that a sales code of conduct for the telecom industry should cover technician service visits because its customers have complained about bigger companies using those encounters to pitch their own services. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
Continue reading "TekSavvy tells CRTC about incumbents trying to ‘poach’ customers"
GATINEAU — Consumer protection and seniors advocacy groups told the CRTC Tuesday Canada needs new rules for the telecom industry to deal with aggressive and misleading sales practices, and that seniors are frequently targeted by pushy salespeople. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
Continue reading "Consumer, seniors groups ask for telecom sales code of conduct"
Colin McKay, head of public policy and government relations for Alphabet Inc.’s Google Canada, faced critical questions about his parent company’s activities from MPs of all political stripes 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 and digital media …
Continue reading "Google Canada on the defense over Google+, Sidewalk Labs"
Stingray Digital Group Inc.’s move to enter the Canadian radio market has received the approval of the CRTC, as the regulator said Stingray could go ahead with its purchase of the second-largest private radio player in the country. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
Continue reading "CRTC says Stingray can buy Newcap; deal to close this week"
GATINEAU— CRTC Chairman Ian Scott opened public hearings on aggressive and misleading telecom sales practices by saying the commission is “concerned” by the information it’s collected from consumers, even before hearing witness testimony. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
Continue reading "Alleged sales practices wouldn’t be ‘tolerated’ elsewhere: CRTC chairman"
Iristel Inc. is suing Telus Corp. for $135 million in withheld payments it said is owed to the company for terminating Telus’ customer calls, escalating tensions between the two in an ongoing fight over alleged traffic simulation practices. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
Continue reading "Iristel sues Telus for $135M in unpaid call services"
The government should combine the Heritage and Innovation ministries, and give responsibility for spectrum to the CRTC, a Senate committee study into the modernization of Canada’s communications legislation heard Wednesday evening. 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 …
Continue reading "Combine Heritage and ISED, move spectrum to CRTC: professor"
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? …
Continue reading "Allow ISPs to access inside wire — for a fee: CNOC"
Four in 10 Canadians say they’ve been at the receiving end of “aggressive” or “misleading” sales practices by Canadian telecommunications companies, according to an Ipsos Public Affairs poll commissioned for 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 …
Continue reading "40% of Canadians experienced ‘aggressive’ telecom tactics: poll"
Internet service providers (ISPs) in rural and remote communities are trying to keep up with the appetite of users consuming ever-higher amounts of data, especially as video streaming services and gaming become mainstays in the household. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
Continue reading "Bandwidth pressures a concern for indigenous ISPs"
The CRTC has approved Cogeco Inc. to purchase 10 radio stations from RNC Media Inc., it said in a decision 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 …
Continue reading "Cogeco gets CRTC go-ahead for acquisition of RNC stations"
Streaming video platforms in the European Union will have to ensure 30 per cent of their catalogues are made up of European content, according to new preliminary rules approved by the European Parliament this week. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
Continue reading "EU, Canada move closer on telecom regulation, further apart on OTT"
The CRTC is reviewing Canadian ISPs’ traffic management and differential pricing practices for compliance with its net neutrality framework, according to a letter sent out by the commission requesting specific information from ISPs. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
Continue reading "CRTC reviewing ISPs’ differential pricing practices"
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 …
Continue reading "Court reversal of Wholesale Code to have little effect: CCSA"
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 …
Continue reading "New NAFTA allows Super Bowl simsub ahead of SCC review"
The CRTC has opened up a comment period after it received applications from Vista Radio Ltd. for two new commercial radio stations in North Bay and Timmins, Ont. 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 …
Continue reading "CRTC consulting on new radio stations in Northern Ontario"
A CRTC decision outlining how its $750 million fund for rural broadband will be administered “looks quite encouraging,” according to the president of the Canadian Network Operators’ Consortium (CNOC). 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 …
Continue reading "Small ISPs ‘optimistic’ about CRTC broadband fund"
The Independent Telecommunications Providers Association (ITPA) has filed a review-and-vary application with the CRTC, asking the regulator to bring back its landline subsidy. 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 …
Continue reading "ITPA asks CRTC to reconsider ending voice subsidy"
The CRTC revealed Thursday the details of the $750 million rural broadband fund that’s been in the works for nearly two years, prompting criticism from some groups concerned about what they say are low speed criteria. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
Continue reading "CRTC rural broadband fund speed targets draw criticism"
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 …
Continue reading "Telecom execs praise ‘healthier,’ ‘balanced’ regulatory environment"
OTTAWA — The expert panel in charge of reviewing Canada’s communications legislation launched its consultation process Tuesday, on the same day a former CRTC chairman urged a Senate committee to adopt an “internet-centric” approach and completely separate telecom and broadcasting laws and regulators. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …
Continue reading "Broadcast, telecom acts review panel kicks off consultation"
OTTAWA — Those in charge of the wireless emergency alert system overestimated how many Canadians had compatible phones that allow them to receive the alerts, Patrick Tanguy, assistant deputy minister of emergency management and programs at Public Safety Canada said Monday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
Continue reading "Fewer phones than expected emergency alert compatible: official"
The CRTC won’t take any punitive actions against six small telecoms for not joining the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS), since they have now become participants. 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 …
Continue reading "CRTC lets CCTS-avoiding telecoms off with a warning"
OTTAWA — Lawmakers need to make net neutrality a major priority and imprint the principle into any new communications legislation, University of Ottawa law professor Michael Geist and Carleton University communication studies professor Dwayne Winseck told Senators Tuesday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
Continue reading "Senators asked to champion net neutrality in comms laws review"
Rogers Communications Inc. is backing Telus Corp. in its traffic stimulation fight with Iristel Inc., claiming that the phone traffic that was supposed to be eliminated by an earlier CRTC decision has reemerged. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
Continue reading "Rogers claims Iristel inflated its call traffic by over 295%"
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 …
Continue reading "Big 3 offer twice the data in new low-cost plan proposals"
Five months after ushering the internet into the quality of service regime, the CRTC said Friday it is directing cable incumbents to provide status of service reports to customers of wholesale clients within a reasonable time. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
Continue reading "CRTC requiring next-day status of service reports to TPIA subscribers"
In a rare move, the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) has kicked the Canadian telecom company AllCore Communications Inc. out of its organization and referred it to the CRTC for further action after the company failed to comply on a number of complaints-process related issues, according to the CCTS. This content is available …
Continue reading "CCTS refers Allcore to CRTC after ending its membership"
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 …
Continue reading "CRTC to decide if mandated access to inside wire applies to fibre"
As cultural protection emerges as a last-stretch NAFTA sticking point, Canadian media unions say they’re concerned but hopeful because Canada’s negotiators have indicated they won’t give up key trade exemptions that have protected Canadian media for decades. David Sparrow, the national president of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), said it’s …
Continue reading "Big concessions on NAFTA cultural exemption unlikely, experts say"
The CRTC said Thursday it is considering taking action on potential changes it outlined in a May report looking at programming distribution models. 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 …
Continue reading "CRTC outlines potential moves on Harnessing Change suggestions"
The CRTC should focus its efforts on taking action against telecoms that have been directly accused of unethical sales practices instead of applying blanket rules on the entire industry, smaller providers argued ahead of the commission’s October hearing on the matter. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN …
Continue reading "Don’t penalize industry over bad actors’ sales practices, CRTC hears"
The provinces of New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador will get new relief area codes as well as a switch to ten digit dialling, according to two CRTC decisions published on 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 …
Continue reading "N.B., N.L. to get new area codes in early 2020s"
The CRTC published its reassessed baseline spending requirements for programs of national interest (PNI) following industry backlash and a government request to revisit the decision that set minimums at five per cent of a broadcaster’s previous year revenues. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
Continue reading "CRTC walks back on licence renewals, ups PNI spending"
The CRTC outlined Monday the details of an online public opinion survey concerning the regulator’s efforts to look into the allegedly unethical sales practises of the country’s 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 you need. …
Continue reading "CRTC seeks public opinion in telecom sales practises"
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters registered to lobby the federal government on its review of the Copyright Act in July, which was otherwise a sleepy month in telecom and media government relations. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …
Continue reading "Broadcasters’ association, Corus, add new lobby registrations"
Conservative MP Maxime Bernier announced Thursday that Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) analyst Martin Masse will be joining him as he attempts to form a new national political party after leaving the Conservative Party of Canada. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
Continue reading "Libertarian telecom analyst joining Bernier’s new party effort"
Canadian Heritage has posted the job application for the CRTC’s regional commissioner for Quebec, a year before the incumbent’s term is up. 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 …
Continue reading "Heritage seeking Que. CRTC commish for next year"
The CRTC have merged two Part 1 applications filed by Iristel Inc. and Telus Corp. earlier this month into one proceeding. 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 …
Continue reading "CRTC combines Telus, Iristel applications"
Canadian households spent an average of $222.83 a month on communications services in 2016, the CRTC said in a report released 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 …
Continue reading "Household spending on telecom services up 2%: CRTC"
There is no need to set thresholds for jitter as part of the basic service standard, telecoms said in interventions to a CRTC consultation 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 you need. Take a …
Continue reading "Don’t set metrics for jitter, telecoms tell CRTC"
The Jim Pattison Group of Companies is adding to its stable of radio holdings with the acquisition of Fabmar Investments Ltd.’s Fabmar Communications and its four radio stations. 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 …
Continue reading "Jim Pattison buying 4 radio stations in western Canada"
The CRTC has approved the sale of a Fort McMurray, Alta. radio station and granted an exemption to the requirement to pay tangible benefits. 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 …
Continue reading "CRTC says no tangible benefits necessary in radio station sale"
Fines of $25,000 and $5,000 were levied against VOIS Inc. and its director Harpreet Randhawa, respectively, for not rejoining the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS) after being ordered to, according to a CRTC decision posted on Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …
Continue reading "More fines in VOIS CCTS non-compliance case"
The Canadian administrator of the video relay service (CAV), which helps hearing-impaired Canadians communicate with others over video, is asking for a budget increase to operate next year. 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 …
Continue reading "$22.5 million requested for video relay service in 2019"
The CRTC said it wasn’t moved by an application to relook at a decision it made last year, at the behest of a group of municipalities, which determined who pays for data a service provider must give to the city for planning purposes. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …
Continue reading "CRTC denies reconsideration of Hamilton municipal access agreement"
A Colorado-based company is suing BCE Inc., Telus Corp. and Rogers Communications Inc. for allegedly violating its patents involving technology used to locate mobile phones for 911 service. 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 …
Continue reading "Big Three face lawsuit over 911-location tech"
The CRTC has set Sept. 4 as the deadline for comments in two acquisitions in the broadcasting 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 need. Take a free trial or subscribe to The Wire …
Continue reading "CRTC opens consult on Stingray-Newcap, Quebecor-Serdy deals"
The CRTC renewed the licences of a slew of broadcasters in multiple decisions on Thursday, taking a hands-off approach to issues like pricing of standalone channels, but setting conditions of license for community programming, accessibility and a firm deadline for the national set top box data program. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already …
Continue reading "BDUs need to have STB data ready for Sept. 2019: CRTC"
Matt Rapke doesn’t need a map to figure out that identifying ‘unnamed’ rural and remote places is a fundamental aspect of deploying broadband in those areas, because he comes from one such town. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting …
Continue reading "More targeted data critical to bridge rural broadband divide"
The CRTC is looking for input on whether it should issue a call for applications for three Quebec radio markets. 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 …
Continue reading "CRTC consulting on capacity of three Que. radio markets"
Rules that force providers to unlock smartphones have led to an increased level of crime targeting the supply chain and retail elements of their businesses, BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. told the CRTC. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …
Continue reading "Phone unlocking requirement has increased theft: Bell, Rogers"
The CRTC has declined a request from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) to offer protection against litigation to current and former employees who offer submissions to the regulator’s investigation of telecom sale practises. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, …
Continue reading "Current witness protections sufficient in sales tactics inquiry: CRTC"
The CRTC has granted a radio broadcasting licence for Assiniboia, Sask., which it said in a decision Thursday means the town of of 2,389 people will get its first commercial radio station. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …
Continue reading "Assiniboia, Sask. gets first commercial radio station"
The radio market in Lloydminster, on the Alberta-Saskatchewan border, can’t sustain another radio station, the CRTC said Wednesday. 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 …
Continue reading "CRTC says no additional radio stations for Lloydminster market"
The Quebec Superior Court has ruled against a plan by the Quebec government that would have forced Internet service providers (ISPs) to block unauthorized gambling websites, in a decision that could be relevant for an anti-piracy proposal currently in front of the CRTC. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in …
Continue reading "Court nixing Que. site-blocking ‘helpful’ against FairPlay: advocates"
Former chief government whip Pablo Rodriguez is the new heritage minister, replacing the embattled Mélanie Joly, after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shuffled his cabinet on Wednesday. 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 …
Continue reading "Joly out at Heritage as Pablo Rodriguez named new minister"
The CRTC has approved the acquisition of two Nova Scotia radio stations by Newfoundland Capital Corporation Ltd. 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 Report …
Continue reading "Newcap buys two radio stations ahead of Stingray acquisition"
The CRTC has issued new radio licences for stations in Georgina and Grimsby, Ont. that will broadcast classic hits and oldies, according to a pair of decisions Tuesday. 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 …
Continue reading "CRTC approves two new oldies radio stations in Ontario"
According to the latest data from the CRTC, the Canadian broadcasting and broadcast distribution industry’s loss of revenue continues to accelerate, mostly due to ongoing “significant” declines in TV provider revenue in the broadcast year ending Aug. 31, 2017. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? …
Continue reading "Broadcast revenue bleeding got worse in 2017: CRTC"
The CRTC has approved the sale of Comedy Gold from BCE Inc.’s Bell Media to Wow Unlimited Networks Inc. for $6.8 million. 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 …
Continue reading "CRTC approves Bell’s Comedy Gold sale to Wow"
The CRTC released new data Thursday for the fourth quarter of 2017 that shows wireless service accounted for more than half of telecom industry revenue, which was up 3.7 per cent from the same quarter the previous year. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock …
Continue reading "Telecom industry revenues up 3.7 per cent at 2017 year end: CRTC"
The CRTC has approved the purchase of a Medicine Hat radio station by Rogers Communications Inc., it said in a decision released on 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 …
Continue reading "Rogers Medicine Hat radio station purchase OKed"
The CRTC is asking wireless service providers to outline their current practices on phone unlocking, following an application asking the regulator to require carriers to unlock all devices, even if the individual isn’t a customer. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
Continue reading "CRTC wants details from providers on phone unlocking"
Amir Bigloo, who has a history of successful spectrum purchases as CEO of Corridor Communications Inc. (CCI), recently began lobbying on behalf of Cogeco Inc. during a period that saw the telecom vie for more wireless spectrum. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all …
Continue reading "Cogeco hires lobbyist with wireless spectrum expertise"
The big three wireless providers doubled down on their proposed low-cost, data-only plans this week, telling the CRTC that alternative proposals from other parties in the proceeding could lead to a jurisdictional challenge and harm the wireless industry if implemented. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
Continue reading "Don’t opt for alternative low-cost plans, carriers warn CRTC"
The panel appointed to lead the review of the Broadcasting Act and Telecommunications Act has met for the first time this week, and will continue to meet regularly over the summer, the federal government said in a press release Thursday. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot …
Continue reading "Broadcast, telecom act review panel plans ‘outreach’ in Sept."
The CRTC is now accepting interventions in its review of Cogeco Inc.’s plans to buy 10 radio stations from RNC Media 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 trial or …
Continue reading "CRTC opens consultation on Cogeco-RNC radio station deal"
MONTREAL — Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly outlined Tuesday the allocation of $125 million the federal government had previously earmarked for a creative content export strategy, promising both money for existing initiatives and a new $7-million-a-year fund. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the …
Continue reading "Gov’t announces new $35M fund for cultural content exports"
The CRTC is initiating intertwining reviews of two regimes, one which governs local exchange service price caps and the other on rules around exclusion from rate regulation in areas with sufficient competition. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …
Continue reading "CRTC reviewing price cap, rate forbearance regimes"
An announcement Thursday that Cogeco Inc. has bought more spectrum makes it clear the company is “exploring a viable economic model for a wireless service,” Canaccord Genuity analyst Aravinda Galappatthige said in a Friday note. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
Continue reading "Cogeco could opt for ‘hybrid’ arrangement with new spectrum: Canaccord"
The Competition Bureau is among those who are telling the CRTC that mandated low-cost, data-only plans should have more data on offer, in a move that raises the stakes of the regulator’s proceeding on the plans, according to a Desjardins Capital analyst. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here …
Continue reading "Low-cost data plans need higher caps, lower prices, CRTC hears"
OTTAWA — Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains said Thursday afternoon that he heard directly from both consumers who say they experienced aggressive sales tactics by telecoms and industry sales people who felt pressured by their management. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian …
Continue reading "Industry should know Canadians concerned about sales practices: Bains"
Iristel Inc. is suing Rogers Communications Inc. to the tune of nearly $150 million for allegedly reneging on contract agreements governing telephone traffic exchange dating back five years. 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 …
Continue reading "Iristel suing Rogers for nearly $150M in traffic agreement dispute"
The federal government released the findings of a 2018 public-opinion survey meant to assess the effectiveness of the Wireless Code this week, revealing that one out of two Canadians have paid mobile plan data overage fees at least once in the last 12 months, while one in four continue to suffer from “bill shock.” This content is …
Continue reading "Frequency of overage charges trending back up, survey suggests"
NDP Heritage critic Pierre Nantel took Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly to task for launching another consultation Tuesday instead of proposing legislative change, during Joly’s appearance at the House heritage committee Thursday morning. This content is available to wirereport.ca subscribers Already a subscriber? Sign in here LOGIN Forgot password? Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and …
Continue reading "Nantel accuses Joly of holding cultural sector ‘hostage’"
Telecom companies should have to offer paper bills to customers who ask for them, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is telling 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 news you need. Take a free …
Continue reading "Order telecoms to provide paper bills, PIAC asks CRTC"
