Regional broadcast distribution approved

The CRTC approved two applications for broadcasting distribution operations, which would serve Stratford, St. Mary’s and Kingston, Ont.

CRTC can regulate roaming rates: Wind

BCE Inc. and Telus Corp. are “distorting” Industry Canada’s wireless roaming rules in an effort to encourage the CRTC not to regulate wireless carriers' roaming agreements and practices, said Ed Antecol, Wind Mobile’s vice-president of regulatory affairs and carrier relations.

57% of Canadians had access to four or more carriers in 2012: CRTC report

Fifty-seven per cent of Canadians had access to four or more wireless carriers in 2012, while a 6.3 per cent increase in revenues to $20.37 billion for wireless providers was powered by higher use of data services, newly released CRTC data shows.

According to data in the CRTC’s annual Communications Monitoring Report, released Thursday, wireless revenues per user went up in nine out of 10 provinces in 2012, including in three of the four provinces that have four or more competitors.

Bell supports U.K.-style broadcast system, blocking U.S. networks

BCE Inc., Canada's largest broadcaster, would support the establishment of broadcasting rules similar to those of the United Kingdom, where American channels cannot be aired and broadcasters can license and air shows exclusively, the company said.

Federal Court of Appeal to hear wireless code challenge

The Federal Court of Appeal granted Canada’s incumbent mobile providers leave to appeal part of the CRTC’s wireless code.

CRTC, Competition Bureau sign cooperation agreement

The CRTC and the federal Competition Bureau reached a deal to encourage more cooperation between the two organizations, the CRTC said.

CRTC consulting on radio licence renewal

The CRTC is consulting on a radio licence renewal by Faithway Communications Inc. for its Fredericton, N.B. Christian music radio station.

Efforts to lower roaming costs internationally as CRTC looks into roaming rates

In the Middle East and Africa, the expansion of pan-regional networks have eliminated the need to roam. In Asia, the spread of competing regional alliances offer reduced roaming rates across international boundaries. And in Europe, politicians seem ready to move on the threat of roaming regulation.

As the CRTC engages in a fact-finding exercise on roaming rates, regulators and industry players in other parts of the world are taking different approaches to lowering international roaming rates and responding to consumer angst about the cost of using their mobile phones abroad.

CRTC to consider new Toronto FM station

The CRTC will consider applications to use the 102.7 FM frequency in the Toronto area, which could offer applicants an entry into Canada’s largest radio market.

CRTC spokesman Guillaume Castonguay said when the regulator published an application by Scarborough ethnic radio station 105.9 CJVF FM to operate on the 102.7 frequency, it received interventions from others who were also interested in the frequency.

“At a future date, we will determine how to proceed, most likely by a notice of consultation, but not necessarily,” he said.

Bell cuts roaming rates as CRTC ponders regulations

BCE Inc. chopped its U.S. mobile roaming pricing as telecom carriers face possible regulatory intervention from the CRTC on roaming rates.

In a release Monday, BCE said it was cutting the cost of its monthly U.S. roaming package in half, from $50 to $25. That package, which allows BCE’s wireless consumers to piggyback on American carriers’ networks when travelling to the United States, includes 50 MB of monthly data usage, 50 minutes of calls to the U.S. or Canada, unlimited incoming text messages and 200 outgoing texts, the release said.

Sun News outperformed projections, ramped up subscribers: Giganomics report

Sun News Network has performed better than forecasted, reaching 4.9 million subscribers in 2012 and almost matching the channel's subscriber revenue projections under a business model involving mandatory carriage, Giganomics Consulting said in an analysis prepared for Cogeco Cable Inc.

Citing CRTC data, Giganomics said subscriber revenues for Quebecor Media Inc.'s Sun News Network indicate that, in 2012, the channel outperformed its 2010 forecast by more than 150 per cent when operating as a standard specialty channel.

CRTC looking into wireless roaming agreements

The CRTC is ordering Canada’s mobile providers to answer questions about the roaming agreements they enter into with other wireless carriers after hearing “concerns” from consumers and new entrant players about roaming rates.

CRTC consulting on 16 applications

The CRTC will hold a hearing on Nov. 5 regarding applications by Corus Entertainment Inc. and RNC Media Inc., the commission said.

CRTC rejects broadcasting complaints

The CRTC rejected two broadcasting complaints, one by the former Astral Media Inc. about Quebecor Media Inc.’s illico Club Unlimited service and another about CBC/Radio-Canada’s Explora specialty service, the commission said.

CRTC approves broadcast applications

The CRTC approved applications for two new Category B specialty channels and two FM radio stations, the commission said.

CRTC denies 13 mandatory carriage applications, approves three

Citing the affordability of television services, the CRTC denied 13 applications for mandatory carriage on basic TV, granting just three new must carry licences to nonprofit channels.

Among the 13 denials were two high-profile applications for mandatory carriage: Sun News Network and for an all-Canadian film service called Starlight: The Canadian Movie Channel.

CRTC consulting on radio station purchases

Andrea Rosen retiring

Andrea Rosen, the CRTC’s chief compliance and enforcement officer, is retiring and leaving the commission at the end of September, Chairman Jean-Pierre Blais said.

Rosen, former deputy commissioner of the federal Competition Bureau, established the CRTC’s compliance and enforcement sector, Blais wrote in an email to staff Thursday.

Charges for paper bills justified, providers say

Canadian consumers need incentives to make the switch to environmentally friendly electronic bills, SaskTel said in response to CRTC questions about telcos' charges for paper billing. 

CRTC manager moves to Nordicity

Stephan Meyer, a former senior manager at the CRTC, is Nordicity’s new director of technology, the consulting firm said in a release.

Meyer, whose roles at the commission included manager of network evolution policy, acting director general for convergence policy, and acting director of engineering and technology, will start the new position in Ottawa on July 22, the release said.

Prior to the CRTC, he worked for network technology firms including Movaz Networks Inc., Innovance Inc., and Nortel Networks Corp.

CRTC rejects amendments to Book Television licence

The CRTC has rejected a request by BCE Inc.’s media division to allow its Book Television specialty channel to air more drama and comedy programs.

A la carte would drop U.S. TV revenues almost 50%: analyst

The American television industry's annual revenues of $150 billion US would be cut nearly in half if broadcast distributors moved to an a la carte model, said a report by research firm Needham & Company.

Laura Martin, an Internet, entertainment and consumer analyst with Needham & Company, said in a July 11 report that a move to unbundled, or a la carte, TV services would cost the industry $70 billion US in annual revenues as advertising dried up and subscriptions for less popular channels fell.

CRTC updates throttling complaints

CRTC makes comms staff changes

Pollsters say incumbents fighting a losing battle as PM comments on wireless code

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.

CRTC consulting on radio renewal

The CRTC is consulting on an application by CHFN Communications Society to renew the broadcasting licence for its Native Type B radio station near Wiarton, Ont., the commission said.

Fibre transport could solve North’s telecom problems, Arctic Fibre says

The CRTC's or federal government's subsidies for rolling out fibre “transport” infrastructure in Canada’s northern territories would be a long-term solution to the high cost of connecting the North’s Internet, voice and mobile signals to the rest of Canada, Geoff Batstone, legal counsel for Arctic Fibre Inc., told a panel of CRTC commissioners.

Wireless carriers may take hit on retroactive wireless code

Wireless carriers may be hit with hundreds of millions of dollars in one-time additional costs as they deal with the CRTC's new wireless code of conduct and unpaid device subsidies on existing wireless contracts after June 2015.

CRTC will look at wholesale Internet access for new, fibre-to-the-home networks

TORONTO—The CRTC will hold a proceeding to look at whether incumbent Internet service providers should be required to give smaller competitors wholesale access to their fibre-to-the-home networks, CRTC Chair Jean-Pierre Blais said.

CRTC says consumers can cancel wireless contracts after two years, no fees

Canadian wireless consumers can cancel long-term wireless contracts with mobile phone providers after two years without any cancellation fees, the CRTC said in new wireless code of conduct regulations, which is expected to mean the end of three-year mobile contracts.

CRTC wireless code coming Monday

The CRTC plans to release its consumer code of conduct for wireless carriers on Monday, the commission said.

The code of conduct could place limitations on wireless carriers' contracts with consumers, such as contract cancellation fees and better disclosure of terms and conditions.

CRTC to trial landline replacement program

The CRTC will “cut the cord” and trade in some of its landline telephones for exclusive use of mobile devices, the commission said.

In a note to employees Tuesday, the CRTC said it will undertake a pilot project to transition its telecommunications and new decisions group to mobile devices starting June 3.

“The adoption of cellular technology provides an opportunity for us to modernize the workplace and, at the same time, achieve significant savings,” the commission said.

Safeguards not enough to limit Bell-Astral market power, competitors say

Additional safeguards intended to protect competitors and consumers from a larger stable of media assets under BCE Inc. are not enough for the broadcast regulator to approve its purchase of Astral Media Inc., competing broadcast distributors said.

CRTC deregulates areas in Quebec, Ontario

The CRTC approved a request from Bell Aliant Inc. to deregulate residential telecom services in four markets in Quebec and Ontario and denied the company’s request to deregulate three other areas of Ontario, the commission said.

CRTC consulting on radio licence renewals

The CRTC opened a consultation on more than 100 radio licence renewal applications this week.

Greenberg requested meeting with Harper following Bell-Astral decision

Astral Media Inc. president and CEO Ian Greenberg requested—and did not receive—a personal meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to discuss the CRTC’s decision last fall to reject BCE Inc.’s $3.38-billion deal for Astral, letters show.

CRTC exempts business services in N.L.

The CRTC approved Bell Aliant Inc.’s request to deregulate business telephone services in four Newfoundland and Labarador municipalities, the commission said.

CRTC releases three-year plan, will consult on TV services

The CRTC will launch a “conversation” with Canadians about their television services this year and review its “basic service objective” regime in 2014, the commission said in an updated three-year work plan released Thursday.

VOD can’t compete with Starlight, backers say

Video-on-demand services are not a competitive alternative to the proposed Canadian film channel Starlight: The Canadian Film Channel, film industry backers of the proposed channel told commissioners.

At the CRTC’s final day of hearings Thursday for applications for mandatory carriage licences on basic cable, Hussain Amarshi, president and founder of Mongrel Media Inc. and a backer of Starlight, said an over-the-top Canadian film app would not work on a revenue sharing basis.

VMedia proposes $2 per month Canadian film app

Independent IPTV provider VMedia Inc. told CRTC commissioners that, if the regulator decides to reject the mandatory carriage application for Starlight: The Canadian Film Channel, the company plans to launch a new Canadian film app of all Canadian films.

VMedia chief executive Alexei Tchernobrivets told CRTC commissioners Friday that the company would develop an app at its own cost that would “allow Canadians to watch Canadian movies on all their screens, at any time.”

CPAC, airing more content online, questioned on need for 9(1)(h)

The Cable Public Affairs Channel Inc. faced questions Wednesday about what it would do if it lost its 9(1)(h) mandatory carriage fee as the channel puts more programming free online and sees TV subscribers moving to other platforms.

Focus on brand, innovation, Pentefountas tells radio stations

Radio broadcasters should build their brands and be willing to innovate to maintain listeners in a changing media environment in which traditional broadcasters “no longer rule the roost,” said Tom Pentefountas, the CRTC’s vice-chair of broadcasting. 

CRTC approves VMedia expansion

The CRTC approved a VMedia application to expand its IPTV business into new areas of Southern Ontario, the commission said.

CRTC says new website will emphasize consumer access

The CRTC's efforts to revamp its website will focus on consumer access over concerns from industry, Paulette Leclair, the commission’s director of public affairs, said in an interview.

Home to the public records for more than two decades' worth of commission decisions and consultations—as well as interventions, tariff notices, letters and other documents—the CRTC’s website is vital to anyone who works in or researches telecom or broadcasting policy.

Kapatid TV approved for distribution

The CRTC approved a request from Ethnic Channels Group Ltd. to add Kapatid TV5 to the list of non-Canadian channels authorized for broadcast distribution in Canada.

Two companies pay $80,000 in telemarketing fines

Ontario Consumer Credit Assistance and Quick Connect Solutions paid penalties of $69,000 and $11,000, respectively, for violations of the CRTC's telemarketing rules, the regulator said.

CRTC consulting on video sign language service for phone users

The CRTC opened a consultation on whether video sign language services should be available to telephone users who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired.

CRTC accepting applications for Vancouver FM slot

The CRTC opened a call for applications to fill an FM radio slot in the Vancouver market.

Hindi Music TV approved

The CRTC said it approved a licence to Ethnic Channels Group Ltd. to operate Hindi Music TV.

CRTC approves Bollywood movie channel

The CRTC said it approved a licence to Ethnic Channels Group Ltd. to operate Bollywood Movies TV.

Let distributors experiment with online, on-demand TV, Bell tells CRTC

BCE Inc. division Bell Media is not concerned about potential competition issues from Quebecor Media Inc.'s new illico Club Unlimited service online as broadcast distributors experiment with online and mobile TV services, Bell said.

CRTC consulting on telemarketing rules

The CRTC is asking consumers and telephone advertisers to participate in a “comprehensive review” of its rules for unsolicited telemarketing.

Bell asks for fewer licence requirements, less Cancon, for five specialty channels

BCE Inc. division Bell Media asked the CRTC to expand its programming categories for five of the company's specialty channels, according to regulatory filings.

In four applications filed with the CRTC in February, Bell said its requests are in line with the commission decisions to give broadcasters more regulatory flexibility, and requested that its Animal Planet, Discovery World HD, Investigation Discovery and Comedy Gold channels be permitted to draw programming from “all categories.”

Télé Santé+ licence approved

Télé Santé+ was approved for a new Category B specialty channel licence, the CRTC said.

CRTC orders Telus to turn down ad volume

The CRTC issued letters to Telus Corp. and three smaller broadcast distributors saying they failed to meet a commission deadline for turning down the volume on TV commercials.

In four separate letters dated Feb. 5, CRTC chief compliance and enforcement officer Andrea Rosen said Telus, Wightman Telecom Ltd., Westman Media Cooperative Ltd. and Access Communications Co-operative Ltd. had not ensured that all commercials running on the channels they distribute adhere to new standards to limit the loudness of TV ads.

Competition Bureau supports regs for shorter wireless contracts, free device unlocking

The CRTC should introduce rules to prevent wireless carriers from hindering customers who want to switch providers and require carriers to provide clearer service and pricing information to the public, the Competition Bureau said in regulatory a filing.

Tories to phase out CRTC national commissioners, sources say

The Conservative federal government will allow the CRTC’s decision-making panel to shrink in size and has told some sitting commissioners that their expiring terms will not be renewed, industry sources said.

Four people familiar with the issue spoke on a background basis to The Wire Report this week and said the government will trim the commission by allowing four national commissioner positions to remain vacant as those terms expire.

CWTA to update stolen phone program

The CRTC asked the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) for an update by Nov. 1, 2013 on its efforts to combat cellphone theft.

CRTC issues draft code for wireless carriers

A CRTC code of conduct for wireless carriers would not prevent consumers from seeking additional benefits or protections under provincial laws governing carriers’ relationships with subscribers.

CRTC orders text message 911 services

The CRTC is directing wireless carriers and incumbent telcos to allow their hearing- or speech-impaired subscribers to contact 911 call centres through text messaging, the commission said.

BCE ‘reverse onus’ challenge in court next month

The Federal Court of Appeal will hold a February hearing on BCE Inc.’s challenge of the CRTC’s “reverse onus” rule for complaints about anti-competitive practices, according to court documents.

Internet throttling complaints drop after March

The CRTC received 75 complaints about Internet throttling in 2012 but saw complaints decline after the first three months, the commission said in a status report released Thursday.

Flaherty letter to CRTC broke ethics rules: Dawson

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty broke government conflict of interest rules when he wrote to the CRTC in support of Durham Radio Inc.’s application for a highly coveted FM radio slot in the Toronto market, the federal ethics commission said Friday.

Flaherty, who signed the letter using his ministerial title, came under fire Thursday after the letter was first revealed by the Canadian Press.

Interactive fantasy sports channel approved

The CRTC approved new specialty licences for a fantasy sports channel and a science, technology and nature channel.

Rogers approved for CJNT-DT Montreal

The CRTC approved Rogers Communication Inc.’s request to acquire Montreal ethnic television station CJNT-DT from Channel Zero Inc. for $10.3 million.

Court challenges of CRTC regs expected following Supreme Court decision

The Supreme Court's decision that quashed the CRTC's value for signal regime narrowed the commission's authority under the Broadcasting Act, potentially affecting a range of policy powers from establishing signal rights to intervening in competition issues, industry sources said.

The Wire Report interviewed six broadcasting industry sources familiar with the decision who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the subject.

CRTC exempts small Category B channels

The CRTC will allow small, Category B specialty channels to operate without obtaining broadcasting licences in an effort to get more channels up and running, the commission said.

CRTC consults on 911 services

The CRTC opened a consultation on the future of Canada’s 911 emergency services.

Telus packaging an undue preference, CRTC says

Telus Corp. put OUTtv Network Inc. at a competitive disadvantage by placing its specialty channel in a low-penetration theme pack on its Optik TV service when a higher-penetration theme pack was available, the CRTC said.

Follow Quebec law for new national wireless code, carriers say

The CRTC should model its future code of conduct for wireless carriers on similar consumer wireless legislation passed in the Quebec legislature, Canada’s wireless carriers said.

Capacity billing rates make or break for wholesale Internet regime, small ISPs say

The CRTC's review of the “capacity-based billing” rates it established in November 2011 will make or break wholesale Internet services provided by the incumbent cable and telecom companies, the chief executives of two small Internet service providers (ISPs) said.

Rate of lost, stolen cellphones falling, CWTA says

Incidents of lost or stolen mobile phones fell by 15 per cent in 2011 and are on track to fall again in 2012, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) said, citing carrier data.

Corus-Shaw deal did not break VI rules: CRTC

Corus Entertainment Inc. did not break the CRTC’s rules for vertically integrated companies by giving Shaw Communications Inc. advance access to Movie Central and HBO content for online and mobile platforms, the CRTC said.

CRTC tentatively schedules 9(1)(h) hearing

The CRTC tentatively scheduled a public hearing in April 2013 to consider mandatory distribution orders for the carriage of specialty channels, according to the commission's website.

The CRTC is considering confidential, new applications for mandatory distribution of channels under section 9(1)(h) of the Broadcasting Act. Those applications have not yet been published and it is not yet clear which specialty channel owners, or how many, have applied for distribution orders according to a June 1, 2012 deadline to file applications for them.

CRTC updates wholesale Internet framework

The CRTC released new rates for service charges related to wholesale Internet access services and said it will allow cablecos Rogers Communications Inc. and Quebecor Media Inc. to offer higher-capacity wholesale connections.

Leave fibre to the home free from wholesale access regs, Bell says

The CRTC should not mandate wholesale Internet access to next-generation fibre-to-the-home networks, said Mirko Bibic, chief legal and regulatory officer at BCE Inc.

“The problem with mandated access is that it always undermines the returns on investments and it can act as a disincentive to further investment,” Bibic said in a telephone interview this week.

Hearings not the place to mingle with commissioners, Blais says

Company officials and other broadcasting and telecom industry stakeholders should not socialize with CRTC commissioners at regulatory hearings, CRTC Chair Jean-Pierre Blais said.

New Asian movie channel approved

The CRTC gave L S Movie Channel Ltd. a licence for a new Category B specialty channel that would provide feature films from China and Taiwan.

CRTC approves sale of CBC’s Bold

The CRTC approved an application by Blue Ant Media Inc. to acquire CBC/Radio-Canada’s digital specialty channel Bold.

CRTC local loop decision good for competition, small ISPs: MTS

The CRTC lowered the rates BCE Inc. can charge small competing telcos for use of its “local loop” lines that connect to consumers' homes.

CRTC decision on free phone service challenged

GATPE Services filed an application to overturn a CRTC decision that allowed Dellvoice.ca and the Fibernetics Group of Companies to offer free telephone connections in Montreal.

CRTC expedites Primus complaint against incumbents

The CRTC is expediting a complaint from Primus Telecommunications Canada Inc. that said Telus Corp. and BCE Inc. are delaying proposed rates for network transport services facing deregulation.

Lift foreign ownership and control rules for broadcasting, Katz says

Leonard Katz, the CRTC's former vice-chair of telecom, says the federal government should step back from legislating Canadian control of the country's telecom and broadcasting systems.

CRTC consulting on broadcasting applications

The CRTC opened a call for comments on broadcasting licence applications that will be considered in January.

CBC Yellowknife switching to FM

The CRTC approved CBC/Radio-Canada’s request to convert an existing AM radio station in Yellowknife to the FM band, the commission said Wednesday.

CRTC wholesale Internet review to evaluate cost pricing model: Blais

An upcoming review of how the CRTC determines wholesale Internet pricing will consider whether measuring incumbent telcos' costs is always the best way to determine wholesale pricing, CRTC Chair Jean-Pierre Blais said Monday.

CRTC to issue draft wireless code for carriers

CRTC staff will develop a draft code in advance of a week-long hearing to establish a national code of conduct for wireless carriers, the commission said.

Bell ordered to provide rural rollout updates

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.