Harper promises $200M for fibre-based rural Internet

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Wednesday that, if re-elected, he will put another $200 million into fibre-based infrastructure for rural and remote locations currently lacking high-speed Internet.

“Quite simply, there is probably no infrastructure more critical than the Internet to ensuring the future prosperity of our vast country,” Harper said in a press release Wednesday. “In today’s digital economy, access to the Internet is essential to create jobs, realize economic opportunities and connect Canadians to online services.”

Bell Aliant jobs being outsourced to India: union

Jobs with BCE Inc.’s Bell Aliant operations in Atlantic Canada are being outsourced to India despite a commitment from Bell when it took full control of Aliant's operations last year to protect these jobs, according to a union representing workers there.

Stingray, Google, Rdio joining Videotron for announcement

Representatives from Stingray Digital Group Inc., Google Inc.’s Google Music and Rdio Inc. will take part in the announcement about the new music service from Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron on Thursday, company spokeswoman France Gaignard said in an email Wednesday.

Court rules against Videotron in Internet-cap lawsuit

The Superior Court of Quebec has ruled against Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron in a class action lawsuit over usage caps Videotron imposed on what it had billed as unlimited Internet plans.

Quebec's Union des consommateurs said in a press release Tuesday that, in a decision rendered Aug. 21, the court ruled that Videotron had unilaterally changed the terms of the contract and imposed illegal charges.

CBS, Cablevision carriage agreement features streaming

CBS Corp. and Cablevision Systems Corp. announced on Tuesday that CBS All Access and Showtime streaming services will be delivered to Cablevision’s Optimum Online customers as part of a multi-platform carriage agreement.

Experts question feasibility of low-orbit satellites for Internet

Some of the world’s most well-known investors, including Richard Branson and Elon Musk, are betting that new projects that involve putting thousands of satellites into low orbit will bring the Internet to millions of people who don’t have access.

While some have indicated these initiatives has could improve access in remote and rural parts in Canada, some experts are skeptical about their chances of success.

Videotron to launch new music service

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron announced Tuesday it will be launching a new music service later this week.

It said in a news release that a service called Unlimited Music will be “a Canadian first in mobile services,” adding that more information will be released at a press conference on Thursday. 

Bell Media shakes up executive ranks

BCE Inc.'s Bell Media division has undergone a number of changes to its executive ranks, with four individuals leaving and one new one coming in.

The company confirmed in an email Tuesday that Phil King, president of CTV, sports and entertainment programming, has left. Also gone are: Adam Ashton, senior vice-president of English television and business operations; Chris Gordon, president of radio and local TV; and Charles Benoit, president of television and radio in Quebec. No explanation was provided for their departures.

Privacy commish investigates Ashley Madison breach

The federal Office of the Privacy Commissioner has started an investigation into a data breach of customers of Ashley Madison, the website that helps married people have affairs.

Valerie Lawton, a spokeswoman for the privacy commissioner, said in an email that it has been in contact with the Toronto-based parent company of Ashley Madison, Avid Life Media Inc., to attempt to determine how the data breach occurred.

Reports indicate a hacker group was able to leak data containing the information of millions of the website's customers.

Instagram users more tech savvy: MTM

A new report released Monday from Media Technology Monitor (MTM) says 85 per cent of Canadian users of Facebook Inc.’s photo and video-sharing app, Instagram, are younger than 50 and most are prone to owning new technology.

Internet transaction volume to rise 60% by 2018: Juniper

Worldwide transactions using devices connected to the Internet will reach 125 billion annually in volume by 2018, a gain of 60 per cent over what's expected this year, Juniper Research Ltd. said Monday.

Juniper said in a press release that some of the factors that will drive this growth will be more access to WiFi or 4G mobile signals on public transportation, the continued transition to more digital versions of products that were previously bought on CDs or DVDs, and the rise in subscription streaming services.

Telus launches Business Connect in Quebec

Telus Corp. said Monday that it has launched in Quebec a service called Business Connect, an advanced cloud-communications business service, in partnership with RingCentral Inc.

It said in a press release that the service was launched to help small businesses that do not use traditional phone services but rely more on smartphones as primary means of voice communications.

Oil decline could affect Shaw, Telus: analyst

The plunge in oil prices could end up hurting telecommunications service providers like Shaw Communications Inc. and Telus Corp., which have a high proportion of their business operations in Alberta, according to a Bay Street analyst.

Quebecor shuts down Zik music service

Quebecor Inc. on Friday announced it has shut down its Zik music-streaming service, citing a pattern of consolidation in global industry for online music.

"Despite the efforts of many independent sites around the world, many have gone out of business or were bought by very large global companies," Quebecor said in a press release issued in French.

Ontera approved for higher subsidies

The CRTC said Thursday it is has approved an application from BCE Inc.-owned Ontera to receive higher subsidies for serving high-cost areas, due to a change in its tax status.

Gerry Vanderpost joins Distributel as CFO

Distributel Communications Ltd. on Thursday announced that it has hired Gerry Vanderpost as its chief financial officer.

Vanderpost had been vice-president of financial at Primus Telecommunications Canada Inc., and joined Distributel earlier this month, the company said in a press release.

Kik gets $50M US investment from Chinese company

Canadian chat-app maker Kik Interactive Inc. said Tuesday that it has received a $50-million US investment from China's Tencent Holdings Ltd., maker of WeChat messaging app.

Kik CEO Ted Livingston said in a blog post on the company's website that Tencent is an ideal company to have as a partner.

As OTA leaves 600 MHz, stations set for ‘difficult transition’: expert

Industry Canada will repurpose the 600 MHz spectrum band for mobile use and collaborate with the United States on the move, which means at least some over-the-air (OTA) television stations will have to find new frequencies if they want to continue broadcasting.

One question is how many of those stations will actually make the switch, Gregory Taylor, an assistant professor of mass communications at the University of Calgary, said in a phone interview.

CBC sued for using U.S. YouTube video of storm: report

CBC/Radio-Canada is being sued by a resident of Buffalo, N.Y., for allegedly using a video he posted on YouTube without his permission, according to a report from the Canadian Press.

An article appearing online Thursday said the suit from Alfonzo Cutaia accused CBC of obtaining the video from Time Warner Inc.'s CNN, which is also named in the suit, and putting it on CBC's website with a CBC logo. Cutaia said CBC also uploaded the video to Yahoo Inc.'s Screen website, according to the report.

Vertical integration helps Canadian TV sector transition: analyst

The tendency of major players in Canada's television industry to be involved in both content and distribution is helping the sector deal better with issues such as cord cutting and a declining advertising market, according to an investment analyst.

Jeff Fan, a telecom analyst with Scotia Capital, in a research note issued this week contrasted the Canadian industry with the situation in the United States, where just one major TV-service provider, Comcast Corp., also owns TV stations.

Google releases new WiFi router

Google Inc., in partnership with TP-LINK Technologies Co. Ltd., announced Tuesday it is launching a new WiFi router that it says will provide faster and more efficient Internet connections.

Canadian OTT startup looks to take on the world

An emerging Canadian provider of over-the-top (OTT) video content hopes that reaching viewers around the world, and particularly those with very specific interests, translates into keys to success in the fast-changing television market.

Shaw to stop offering old wholesale plans to new customers

The CRTC said Shaw Communications Inc. can stop offering four of its Internet plans to new wholesale customers.

The decision, issued Monday, affects Shaw’s High Speed 10, Extreme Speed, Broadband 50, and Broadband 100 plans, which Shaw has already stopped offering its retail customers.

Apple television service delayed: report

Apple Inc.'s plans to offer live Internet-based television to residents of the United States have been delayed, said a report from Bloomberg on Friday.

An article said sources have indicated talks are progressing slowly between Apple and broadcasters such as CBC Corp. and 21st Century Fox Inc. Price was reported to be a stumbling block as Apple seeks to provide a service for $40 US a month, about half the average cable bill in the United States. 

More small BDUs sanctioned with CRTC denial

The CRTC has given two more companies permission to provide television services to small audiences, even though it has technically denied their applications for licences.

Bell says non-refundable monthly payments are OK

BCE Inc. says in a filing with the CRTC that it is not violating regulations by requiring customers to pay for various services by the month in advance and not providing partial refunds if subscriptions are ended before the paid-for period is finished.

Quadruple screening on rise in English Canada: MTM

A report released Wednesday shows that 27 per cent of anglophone Canadians surveyed have four different screens that connect to the Internet — a computer, smartphone, tablet and television.

The study, from CBC/Radio-Canada's Media Technology Monitor, said that proportion is up from three per cent three years ago.

Videotron 4K box seen as cord-cutting prevention

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron announced Tuesday it will be releasing an ultra-high-definition (UHD) set-top-box for its customers, making it the first Canadian telecom provider to commercially release such technology.

Videotron said in a press release that the set-top-box processing speed will be 12 times faster than what is currently available in the market, allowing customers to navigate through content choices four times faster, record eight shows simultaneously, and store about 320 hours of standard HD content or 115 hours of UHD content.

CNOC fights Eastlink on wholesale prices

The Canadian Network Operators Consortium (CNOC), representing independent Internet service providers, has asked the CRTC to prevent Eastlink from changing the way it calculates wholesales costs for use of its network.

CNOC said in an application that appeared on the CRTC's website Tuesday that Eastlink has made it known it plans to change the way it determines prices for cable retail Internet access on a wholesale basis, starting next month.

Canadian company plans niche OTT channels

Toronto-based TableRock Media announced on Tuesday plans to launch niche Internet-based video channels for worldwide distribution, starting next year.

The company said in a press release that it would create channels dedicated to topics including guitars, aviation and motorcycles, which it described as "billion-dollar industries that attract a large consumer base within their categories."

It said it would offer a mix of original and acquired programming on these channels, including documentaries, films and hosted series.

Netflix customers should voluntarily pay sales tax: report

Canadian customers of Netflix Inc. are theoretically obliged to pay sales taxes on this service, even though Netflix does not collect the tax up front, the Toronto Star quoted a federal official as saying.

"In such cases, Canadian consumers are required to self-assess the amount of tax they owe to the Canada Revenue Agency,” a Finance Canada spokesperson, who did not want to be named, is quoted as saying in an article posted online Monday.

Bell launches gigabit Internet in Ont., Que.

BCE Inc. announced Monday it has completed the first phase of launching its Gigabit Fibe Internet service, which is now available to about 1.3 million homes across Quebec and Ontario.

Bell said in the release that the new service will be available to its Fibe Internet customers as an upgrade for $10 a month in a bundle. The service is currently available to about 50,000 homes in Ontario and 85,000 homes in Quebec and will be available to Atlantic Canada customers by the end of September, the release said.

Data revenue bolsters Telus numbers

Telus Corp. on Friday reported a 5.1 per cent year-to-year revenue gain in its second quarter, boosted by more data-generated cash from both its wireless and wireline operations.

CRTC’s hybrid-VOD category takes effect

The CRTC on Thursday released final rules for a new category of video-on-demand (VOD) services in which operators can avoid regular broadcast regulations, even if the service is offered through a broadcast-distribution subscription, on the condition that it is also available online to all Canadians.

Bell gigabit service to launch Monday

BCE Inc. said Thursday that its gigabit Internet service will launch Monday for 1.3 million households in Ontario and Quebec.

It added that it will be available to households in Atlantic Canada by the end of September, resulting in availability to 2.2 million households by the end of this year.

Harper comes out against ‘Netflix tax’ in video

Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Wednesday posted a video of himself on Twitter standing in front of a screen with a Netflix logo and criticizing calls for taxes on video-streaming services.

In the video, Harper said he is a fan of movies and TV shows, particularly Breaking Bad, which he notes is “even available on some online streaming services, if you’ve never seen it.”

5G revenue predicted to surge between 2020 and 2025

Global service revenue from 5G wireless connections will skyrocket from $100 million US in 2020 to $65 billion US in 2025, Juniper Research Ltd. said Wednesday.

The British research company said in a press release that 2020 is expected to be the first year 5G services are commercially available, though widespread adoption and sufficient spectrum licensing will take years to achieve.

Federal election debates enter YouTube era

Google Inc. said Tuesday that this Thursday's federal election debate will mark the first time such an event has been broadcast live and in full on its YouTube platform. 

CNOC protests wholesale-wireless ruling

The Canadian Network Operators Consortium (CNOC) has filed an application that seeks to alter aspects of the CRTC's ruling this year on the wholesale-wireless market, specifically the lack of new regulations regarding mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and tower sharing.

CCTS orders Brama Telecom to refund customer after overbilling

The Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS) issued a decision Friday regarding a complaint made against Brama Telecom Inc., a Toronto-based company that provides wireless, Internet and TV services.

CCTS said in the release that it ordered Brama to refund one of its customers after billing them eight times for its monthly service fees instead of twice.

Quebecor Q2 revenue increases from last year

Quebecor Inc. reported Thursday in its quarterly results a revenue increase, with $960.9 million in revenues, up from $893 million the previous year.

President and CEO Pierre Dion said in the release the revenue increase was mainly due to the perfomance of its telecommunications segment. The company said its telecom services saw a 6.3 per cent increase in revenues to $43.9 million, and its media division saw a 17.9 per cent increase to $36.4 million from the previous year.

Gig speeds mainly about marketing for now: analyst

Canadian companies’ recent embrace of gigabit Internet isn’t meeting a need that exists in the market, but it is setting telecoms up for the day customers start demanding such speeds, according to Greg MacDonald, telecommunications analyst with Macquarie Capital Markets.

“I think a lot of it is marketing to date,” he said in a phone interview. “There are not a lot of households, even, let alone individuals that will use a gigabyte speed. Having said that, if you look at the usage patterns, they’re going up fairly substantially.”

Federal government funds Internet upgrades in Man., N.B., Que.

Industry Canada announced it will provide funds to bring high-speed Internet services to homes in Manitoba, Quebec and New Brunswick.

It said in a press release Wednesday that it would be providing $9.9 million to Manitoba NetSet, to connect nearly 48,000 homes across Manitoba and nearly 10,000 communities in the Parkland region.

MTS revenue, profits down

Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. announced in its quarterly results a decrease in revenues, which totalled $398.3 million, compared to $403.3 the previous year.

Net income was $10.4 million for the three months ending June 30, down from $28.8 million for the same period a year earlier. The company said in the release that was due "largely to increased restructuring costs and increased depreciation and amortization expense which was accelerated in Q2 to reflect the change in government policy on three-year wireless contracts."

22M Canadians watched Pan Am Games: CBC

CBC/Radio-Canada announced Tuesday that more than 22 million Canadians watched some part of the Pan Am Games that aired from July 10-26.

The public broadcaster said in a press release that nearly 2.16 million Canadians tuned in to watch the closing ceremonies that aired on July 26.

In terms of digital content, CBC said in the release that it received more than 30 million total page views, and generated more than 3.2 video views over desktops, mobiles, and its app.

Federal government funding Internet service boost in N.L.

Industry Canada announced Monday in a press release it is funding high-speed Internet services for over 820 homes and 14 communities in Newfoundland and Labrador.

It said that the federal government will provide $611,320, and the provincial government, via the Rural Broadband Initiative, will provide $291,910 to BCE Inc.’s Bell Aliant.

Are ‘hybrid’ streaming services the future of TV?

Streaming is often perceived as a competitor to the traditional TV system, but the introduction of a new service in the U.S. raises the possibility that instead of one replacing the other, the two could merge into a new hybrid offering both live TV and on-demand streaming.

CRTC denies bulk of Shaw’s request to reconsider wholesale rates

The CRTC has allowed Shaw Communications Inc. to raise the wholesale prices of one of its services, but denied most of the company’s application to reconsider the wholesale rates previously set by the regulator.

Videotron testing gigabit Internet service

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron division has been testing a new gigabit Internet service in Montreal in a pilot project, the company said in a press release Monday.

“Testing of the new service, which supports speeds of 1,000 Mbps or more under certain conditions, began in Montréal-area homes and businesses several months ago,” the company said.

Government funds Internet network boost in Ontario, Sask.

Industry Canada announced this week in three press releases it is providing $3.15 million as part of a process to expand and improve Internet service to 11,000 homes in Southwestern Ontario, and a total of $12.05 million to do the same for 42,700 homes in Saskatchewan.

FCC approves AT&T, DirecTV merger

The FCC announced Friday it has approved the merger of AT&T and cable- and satellite-TV provider DirecTV.

FCC said in a press release that the terms of the merger between the largest U.S. telephone and Internet service provider and the largest U.S. satellite video provider will require the merged company to expand and deploy its services to 12.5 million customer locations, schools, and libraries.

New CRTC wholesale rules won’t change telco FTTH strategies: analysts

A day after the CRTC said it would mandate wholesale access to fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks by small ISPs, financial analysts said the move likely won’t have a significant impact on investments in FTTH networks by large telecoms.

Rogers Q2 revenues up

Rogers Communications Inc. said in its quarterly results that its revenues grew six per cent over the past year, from $3.2 billion to $3.4 billion.

‘Good day’ for small ISPs as CRTC mandates FTTH access

GATINEAU, Que. — Small ISPs and advocacy groups praised a move by the CRTC Wednesday mandating wholesale access to fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks and allowing small Internet service providers (ISPs) to build their own “middle mile” connections.

“We think it’s great,” Canadian Network Operators Consortium (CNOC) president Bill Sandiford said in an interview following the release of the CRTC’s decision on its wholesale wireline review.

Canadian millennials most active on mobile devices: study

Canadian millennials are more active on mobile devices than other demographics, while Canadians aged 35 and above still slightly prefer using a desktop, according to the new global mobile report by comScore Inc.

The report, which was released Tuesday, noted that 52 per cent of millenials spent time on mobile phones or tablets, while 48 per cent spent time on a desktop computer.

TekSavvy files appeal for cost order in Voltage case

TekSavvy Solutions Inc. is appealing a cost award in a dispute over filesharing with Voltage Pictures LLC.

Wholesale wireline decision coming Wednesday

The CRTC will issue its decision on wireline wholesale services on Wednesday, the CRTC announced Monday.

It will hold a lock-up session for the media at 2 p.m. and the decision will be released at 4 p.m., it said in a press release.

Credential sharing could help, or harm, OTT services

The practice of sharing passwords so that more than one person or household can access a streaming service has financial ramifications for the industry, according to a new report, though it could also provide new services with a boost in the market, said 3Macs analyst Troy Crandall.

“In a way, sharing credentials can sometimes be somewhat of a marketing tool, especially if you’re just starting out,” he said in a phone interview. “Over time, obviously you do have to get a better handle on it.”

Switch to IPv6 on as old IP addresses run out

The Internet has run out of new IP addresses based on the most commonly-used format, and one Canadian expert says service providers in the country are being too slow in making the switch to the newer protocol.

Telus launches $7-a-day U.S. roaming

Telus Corp. on Thursday announced a $7-a-day option for U.S. roaming.

It said in a press release that the service is called US Easy Roam, and that customers opting for this option will be able to enjoy their regular allotments for voice, text and data while in the United States. It added that customers using this service who exceed their limits will be charged at Canadian pay-per-use rates instead of U.S. rates.

Shaw announces new data centre for Calgary

Shaw Communications Inc. on Thursday announced that it will have a new "state-of-the-art" data centre in Calgary that will begin operations this fall.

It said in a press release the 40,000-square-foot facility will offer business customers options for storing data, cloud operations and related services.

Netflix subs, revenue up, profit down

Netflix Inc.'s growth in subscriber numbers and revenue continued on an upward trajectory in the second quarter, yet its profit was cut to about a third of what it made last year as international expansion costs added up.

Netflix said Wednesday in a letter to shareholders that revenue in the three months ended June 30 was $1.48 billion US, up 29.2 per cent from a year earlier. Total memberships came to 65.6 million, with 62.7 million being paid subscriptions, up from 50.1 million memberships a year before, of which 48 million were paid.

Big telecoms urge market approach for CRTC in basic-service review

Canada’s largest Internet service providers told the CRTC it’s not necessary to implement a subsidy system for broadband Internet service, while advocacy groups argued that relying on market forces and government funding alone hasn’t worked to ensure all Canadians have satisfactory Internet access.

Government plans Spectrum Analytics Centre

The federal government is planning to create a Spectrum Analytics Centre by 2017, according to a new document on Industry Canada's website.

White House announces program to bring broadband to poor

The office of U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday announced a program to bring broadband Internet to 275,000 low-income households across the country, in partnership with local governments and Internet service providers.

Google Inc. is among the private-sector partners in this program, which will provide its Fiber Internet service at no cost to public housing facilities in Atlanta, Durham, Kansas City and Nashville, with a focus on connecting families with school-age children, the White House said in a press release.

Distributel expands Internet services in Quebec

Distributel Communications Ltd. is expanding its high-speed cable Internet services to 29 more markets throughout Quebec.

Some of new communities covered include Asbestos, Baie Comeau, Chelsea, Drummondville, Trois Rivières and Shawinigan, Distributel said in a press release.

Cogeco Cable earnings boosted by U.S. operations

Cogeco Cable Inc. reported higher third-quarter earnings on Tuesday, attributing gains largely to its U.S. operations, which benefited from favourable terms when translating U.S. dollars to Canadian.

The company said in a press release that it had revenue of $516.4 million for the three months, which ended May 31, up four per cent from a year earlier. Its quarterly profit was $64.1 million, up from $35.5 million in the same period a year before.

Telus sells Blacks website

Telus Corp. said Tuesday that it has reached an agreement to sell the website of the Blacks photography retail operation to Montreal-based photo finishing company Les Pros de la Photo.

It said in an emailed statement the sale will close on Aug. 4, at which time the purchasing company will do business as Blacks.ca.

"The timing of this sale ensures our customers will be able to continue using the site and app without interruption to order the same quality products they’ve come to expect from Blacks," Telus said.

Wearable tech could eliminate need for smartphones: exec

Wearable devices could replace everything in our pockets, eventually wiping out smartphones in five to 10 years, says one wearable-technology company CEO. However, others say functionality, design and comfort are among the issues that make that prediction unlikely.

Bell’s CraveTV to go pure OTT

BCE Inc. will make its CraveTV streaming service available to all Canadians as of Jan 1., 2016, it said in a press release Monday, in what marks a change in strategy for the company.

Bell Media president Mary Ann Turcke said in the press release that as “our business model has continued to evolve the time is right to also offer CraveTV as a standalone product.”

No-link rule removed from Pan Am website

The website for the Pan Am Games, underway in Toronto, has had a rule indicating a ban on unauthorized links removed.

On Friday, the following quote appeared on the terms-of-use section for the website Toronto2015.org: "Links to this Site are not permitted except with the written consent of TO2015™. If you wish to link to the Site, you must submit a written request to TO2015™ to do so. ... TO2015™ reserves the right to withhold its consent to link, such right to be exercised in its sole and unfettered discretion."

Comcast to launch video-streaming service

Comcast Corp. is launching an Internet-based video streaming service to be available to subscribers of its Xfinity Internet service.

The company said in a blog post Sunday that the service, called Stream, will allow customers to “watch live TV from about a dozen networks — including all the major broadcast nets and HBO — on laptops, tablets and phones in their home.”

It added the service also includes on-demand programming, as well as TV-everywhere access and a cloud-based PVR.

Digital activists push for free wireless Internet for all

A movement is underway to make wireless Internet access ubiquitous and free in most urban environments, with people's home routers as the source of these public connections.

The people behind this idea have a few specific goals in mind to help their vision become reality: creating a highly secure router that efficiently divides a home's private network from that accessible to the public, and convincing people that using such technology is worth their while.

Wireless price hikes affecting other telecom spending: report

“Sharp” price hikes in wireless service over the past year are prompting people to reduce how much they spend on other telecommunications services, according to a Conference Board of Canada report released Thursday, though some analysts say they wouldn’t necessarily draw the same conclusion.

The Conference Board said in a press release that the cost of telecom services, along with “changing consumption habits and a slower economy, will cause Canadian consumers to reassess their telecommunications spending in 2015."

T-Mobile to provide free roaming in Canada, Mexico

T-Mobile U.S. Inc. announced Thursday a "Mobile without Borders" upgrade that will remove roaming charges for U.S. customers when using wireless service from Canada or Mexico, and also for customers making calls to these countries.

Openface to be main WiFi provider in Montreal project

Openface Internet announced Thursday it will provide the main bandwidth to power a public WiFi project in Montreal.

The company, based in Montreal, said in a press release it will provide a 20 Gbps Internet connection, following an agreement made with Palais des congrès in Montreal.

Industry Canada funds Internet service boost in B.C.

Industry Canada announced Wednesday it is providing $3.34 million as part of a process to expand and improve Internet services to 11,000 homes in British Columbia.

It said in a press release that Columbia Basin Trust would receive the funds to bring services to the Kootenay region, specifically Cranbrook, east Kootenay and Columbia Shuswap.

The government said this project is expected to be completed by the end of 2017 and will deliver Internet speeds of up to 10 Mbps.

Pros and cons of Periscope as journalism tool

The use of live-streaming apps such as Periscope and Meerkat has helped journalists provide unfiltered, live as-it-happens moments for viewers, according to some proponents, though others claim such technology compromises the quality and accuracy of news.  

Periscope, which was bought by Twitter Inc. in March, is among the most popular live-streaming apps journalists have been using. Users download the app on smartphones, log in and begin a live broadcast of whatever they’re doing.

Industry Canada announces $41M for small-town Internet projects

Industry Canada said Tuesday it will spend $35 million to improve or expand Internet service for 8,400 homes in Nunavut, and in a separate announcement said $6 million would go toward doing the same for 14,000 homes in Nova Scotia.

It said in one press release that SSi Micro Ltd. would receive the funding to make satellite Internet services with download speeds of at least 3 Mbps available in Nunavut, starting in 2016. Communities affected include Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Resolute Bay and several others.

Bell overcharging departing customers, says Quebecor

Quebecor Inc. has filed an application asking the CRTC to force BCE Inc. to stop charging customers after the date they cancel telecommunications services.

U.S. kids prefer video content on mobile devices: survey

A new study conducted by Miner & Co. Studio. suggests watching regular cable TV is declining among kids in the United States, who would prefer to watch their favourite shows on a smartphone or tablet.

The report released Monday noted that 57 per cent of parents surveyed said their children would prefer to watch shows on other devices because they are able to take the device anywhere, the devices have easy interfaces, and kids are able to watch and re-watch shows at any time.

Government provides $2M to upgrade Internet in Quebec

Industry Canada said Monday that it is providing $2 million to bring faster Internet service to residents in the Quebec region of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.

It said in a press release it would provide $2 million to two Internet service providers, Télénet Informatique Inc. and Digicom Internet Sans fil, to connect more than 6,000 homes in the area.

The government said the connections will provide download speeds of more than 5 Mbps and be completed by the end of 2017.

International Datacasting names co-CEOs

International Datacasting Corp., the Ottawa-based maker of broadcasting technology, said Monday that Chris Barrett and Steeve Huin have been appointed co-CEOs of the company.

Barrett and Huin replace Doug Lowther, who will be available to assist the company transition to the new management, International Datacasting said in a press release. It said Barrett was formerly vice-president of engineering and operations, Huin was vice president of products and services, and both have held leadership roles with the company for the last two years.

Ontario farmers want better Internet access, says group

Most Ontario farmers have issues with the quality of their Internet connections and more than 90 per cent feel the Internet is important to their livelihoods, according to a provincial farming advocate.

Brent Royce, a board member for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, said in an article on the group's website, dated July 3, that the organization did a recent survey that found two out of three farmers have unreliable Internet connections.

CRTC postpones deadline for wholesale-Internet tariff process

The CRTC said Friday it has moved the deadline for comments in its review of wholesale high-speed Internet tariffs by two weeks.

Netflix hires another lobbyist for Canada

Seasonality losing importance in TV: study

Shifts in TV consumption reveal most Canadians aren't concerned about seasonality of popular TV shows, according to a new study conducted by Videology Inc.

Videology said Thursday in a press release that 39 per cent of consumers aren’t aware that most new seasons begin in September, and another 25 per cent don’t bother waiting for the September TV season "because good TV is available all year long."

‘Arbitrary’ limits in Industry Canada transparency guidelines: critics

Industry Canada’s new guidelines for transparency reports released by telecom companies put unnecessary limits on how information should be reported, according to two academics with expertise in privacy and surveillance.

“There is no general legal impediment to making these reports, which means the government shouldn’t be imposing any ad hoc restrictions,” Tamir Israel, a lawyer with the Samuel-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC), said in a phone interview.