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2008

Wednesday 06 August 2008 OTTAWA: DIGITAL TV IMPENDS
In three years, all television in Canada will be in 'digital-only' format. Satellite or cable subscribers are not affected. Those who do not change to digital format will require a converter box in order to receive local television stations. The change happens in the U.S. in February. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission says digital signals give consumers a clearer picture. The Commission says it is also more efficient in that a viewer can put many more channels through the frequency, and it will free up the radio spectrum for other uses, such as emergency services.

Saturday 02 August 2008 Cable making headway in TV and phone sectors
CRTC figures show cable now has 18 per cent of residential phone market; TV revenue growing faster than that of broadcasters

Tuesday Jul 29, 2008 CRTC broadcasts doubt over merger plans
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said yesterday it will demand that XM Canada and Sirius ...

Sunday 29 June 2008 QUEBEC CITY: AND CRY OVER PLAN TO AXE TV NEW
S Premier Jean Charest says the announcement on Wednesday by the proposed buyer of bankrupt television network TQS that it would suppress all news is proof that his government's demand for full control over telecommunications is justified. The premier on Thursday released a letter sent to three federal ministers two weeks ago saying that the province wants to begin negotiations to obtain control over telecommunications and cultural policies in Quebec. Remstar Corporation Inc. has proposed the acquisition of all TQS shares held by Cogeco Radio-Television Inc. and CTV Television Inc., the two shareholders of TQS. Remstar says it would lay off more than 270 news room employees in Montreal, Quebec City, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières and Saguenay. The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission must approve the transaction. A CRTC official told The Globe and Mail newspaper that no other Canadian television network has ever tried to eliminate all its regional newscasts. Mr. Charest told the provincial legislature on Wednesday that the granting of a licence to TQS was conditional on its maintaining local newscast, noting as well that the federal government and Parliament have the power to overturn the CRTC's decision if it accepts Remstar's proposal. Remstar says TQS loses $1.4 million a month and can no longer afford news.

Friday 27 June 2008 MONTREAL: CRTC RENEWS RESTRUCTURING OF BANKRUPT TV NETWORK
Canada's telecom watchdog has renewed the licence of bankrupt Quebec-based Télévision Quatre Saisons starting in September for seven years, but will review its respect for the conditions imposed om 2011. The new owners of TQS, Remstar, had caused a public debate after the company proposed to restructure the network by abolishing newscasts. As a condition of renewal, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission obliges TQS to broadcast one hour a week of local news at the Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières and Saguenay stations and two hours a week in Montreal and Quebec City. The CRTC says the exemption to its rules take account of the network's "technical bankruptcy."

Sunday 15 June 2008 GATINEAU: TV NETWORK RELENTS ON NEWS REQUIREMENT
Remstar Corp., which is trying to complete its acquisition of the French-language Télévision Quatre Saisons, has promised the federal telecom watchdog that it would carry some form of news. Remstar had previously said it would eliminate all news in September and lay off the 270 employees who produced it. The company said the move was necessary to help TQS to emerge from bankruptcy. Remstar reversed its position at a hearing on Thursday before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission by committing itself to headline news and brief updates but not traditional newscasts. The company also filed a letter with the CRTC concerning its financial capacity stating it had deposited $20 million in a bank account.

Friday May 16, 2008 CRTC tells Bell to justify Internet 'shaping'
The country's top telecom watchdog wants BCE Inc. to explain exactly how and why it decided to slow down certain file-sharing...

Tuesday 06 May 2008 OTTAWA: BROADCASTERS PERSIST IN FIGHT AGAINST LICENCE FEES
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters says it will appeal its fight against licence fees levied by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to the Supreme Court of Canada. The CAB won an action against the fees in 2003 but the decision was overturned last December by Federal Court of Appeal. CAB President Glenn O'Farrell says its members are disappointed by that reversal and will seek leave to appeal against it to the high court. The licence fees are above what the CRTC needs to regulate broadcasting and revert to the federal government's general fees rather that to itself. The regulator says that if the fees are ruled legal, it will bill the broadcasters for back payments.

Saturday 26 April 2008 GATINEAU: SPECIALTY TV CHANNELS PROSPER
The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission reports that speciality television channels achieved better financial results last year than in 2006. The channels brought in revenue of $2.7 billion in 2007, a 9.1 per cent increase. Profits before rose 13 per cent to $647.1 million. The greatest amount of revenue was generated by cable and satellite TV subscribers. The CRTC also reports that the speciality channels spent more on programming, but that spending for Canadian programming rose by only a modest 3.3 per cent to $917.9 million.

Friday 25 April 2008 MONTREAL: NETWORK'S NEWS AXED
The new owner of the bankrupt Télévision Quatre Saisons network intends to stop broadcasting news and to lay off that service's 270 employees. The revelation came not from the new owner of TQS, Remstar, but rather from employees and a union leader. The sources say the complete disappearance of news from TQS will be effective on Sept. 1. Remstar will need the approval of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission because the network's current licence requires the broadcast of 14 hours of news a week. TQS has been under bankruptcy protection since December.

GATINEAU: CABLE FIRM DEMANDS FEWER RULES
Shaw Communications Inc. has called for a radical make-over of Canadian television at hearings by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission on the industry's future. Shaw wants the broadcast regulator to tear down regulations, permit more American programs and give cable distributors the power to stop showing unpopular Canadian stations. CRTC Chairman Konrad von Finckenstein expressed surprise that Shaw founder Jim Shaw was a no-show at the hearing, suggesting that the cable distributor had sent a "B-team." Last week, Mr. Shaw wrote an angry letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper accusing the CRTC of sabotaging the government's policy of opening up the broadcasting industry to more competition.

Thursday Apr 17, 2008 Bloc prepares bill allowing Quebec to sidestep CRTC
The Bloc Québécois is poised to table potentially controversial legislation, giving Quebec the power...
...But yesterday, the Conservatives did not comment on the idea of a made-in-Quebec telecommunications regulator. Nor did Liberal heritage critic Denis Coderre.
New Democrat Thomas Mulcair voted in favour of the Bloc bill to extend Bill 101 to workplaces that fall under federal jurisdiction, but he said he won't be supporting its proposal for Quebec to opt out of the CRTC.

Wednesday 16 April 2008 GATINEAU: QUEBECOR SHOCKED BY CBC DEMAND
Hearings on the future of Canada's television industry held by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission continued on Tuesday. The Commission heard from media firm Quebecor, the owner of the Videotron cable service, the conventional broadcaster TVA and the LCN cable speciality service. Quebecor made a pitch for greater deregulation of the TV industry, citing 520 regulations which it obliged to observe. Quebecor also expressed agreement that conventional broadcasters should have access to some of the revenue generated by the cable operations that carry their programs. However, the company says this should only apply to private stations like its own TVA, professing "shock" that this could also be the case for the public broadcaster, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

Tuesday 15 April 2008 MONTREAL: CABLE FIRM REJECTS DEMAND BY CONVENTIONAL BROADCASTERS
The president and CEO of cable firm Cogéco has rejected a demand by television broadcasters that they receive a portion of cable companies' revenue because they transit the broadcasters' programs. Louis Audet presented that rejection at the hearings on the future of television held in Gatineau, QC, by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commissions. Mr. Audet says the broadcasters have entirely failed to prove their case. The CRTC hearings are aimed at finding the best way to deregulate the television industry.

Wednesday 09 April 2008 GATINEAU: CRTC HEARINGS ON BROADCASTING INDUSTRY START
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commissions has begun its first major review of the country's broadcasting system in more than a decade. Cable stations, conventional broadcasters, speciality stations and program producers will weigh in during three weeks of hearings. The CRTC heard on Tuesday from Rogers Communications, a major cable provider. Vice-chairman Phil Lind says that many existing restrictions on Canadian television have outlived their usefulness and should be removed if customers aren't to desert TV for the Internet. Mr. Lind stated that the TV industry must offer the same choices as the Internet but with better quality, one way being to allow anybody who wants to start a speciality channel to do so, regardless of whether a similar service exists. Rogers officials also recommended that the CRTC reject a proposal to force cable operators to pay to provide over-the-air network programming, complaining that their customers would refuse to pay an extra $5 to $10 a month. The executive vice-president of CTV, a conventional broadcaster, denounced Rogers for wanting "to continue the free ride they've been getting."

Saturday 05 April 2008 Bitove's national TV dream dashed by CRTC
Regulator denies application for new national network, saying proposal would not have produced enough local programming and news

Tuesday 26 February 2008 GATINEAU: OWNERSHIP QUESTION RAISED AT BELL TAKEOVER HEARING
The chairman of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has raised the issue of real control at the first day of hearings concerning the acquisition of Bell Canada's parent corporation, BCE, the biggest such transaction in Canada corporate history. The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and three American private equity firms want to pay $52 billion for BCE. The pension plan would hold a stake of 51.6 per cent of BCE. Canadian law imposes a limit of 46.7 per cent for foreigners in a Canadian telecommunications firm. CRTC Chairman Konrad von Finckenstein says he worried that the Canadians named to BCE's board of directors would in fact answer to Americans. But Teachers' CEO Jim Leech responded that the American buyers of the minority share of BCE would leave operational control in the hands of Canadians.

Thursday 21 February 2008 OTTAWA: GOVT. TO DECIDE FATE OF TV FUND
Heritage Minister Josée Verner has told the country's telecom watchdog that the federal government will make all decisions regarding the future of the Canadian Television Fund. Mrs. Verner says that the government appreciates the need for change at the CTF, while valuing the input of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. The CRTC held one week of hearings on the subject earlier this month. The hearings resulted from the wish of two major cable concerns, Quebecor Inc. and Show Communications Inc. to stop paying into the CTF on the grounds that the programs which it funds are watched by few, with which its supporters disagree. The CTF is a major source of funding for private productions in the country. Its own funding comes from both cable fees and the government. The Commission will issue its own finding in two months.

Thursday 14 February 2008 GATINEAU:FIRST HIGH-DEFINITION TV NETWORK PROPOSED
Canada's broadcasting regulator has received a proposal for the startup of the country's first high-definition television network. John Bitove presented his plan on Tuesday to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. The HDTV network would be based in the eight biggest cities and be free of charge to viewers, existing off advertising alone. The network would spend $350 million over seven years to present original Canadian films, documentaries and series but no local programming, the latter aspect of the project eliciting skepticism from CRTC Chairman Konrad von Finckenstein. Mr. Bitove justified the need for HDTV by the failure of conventional broadcasters to bring the new technology to Canadians.

Thursday 07 February 2008 GATINEAU: TV FUND'S BUDGET WOULD BE SPLIT
Broadcaster Astral Media has recommended that the Canadian Television Fund's budget be split in two, one-half to be devoted to public broadcasters and the rest reserved for private producers. The former part of the budget would be financed by the federal government, the latter by private broadcasters. Astral put forth the suggestion on the third of five days of hearings on the CTF's future held by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. The CTF helps finance much of the country's domestic production. The CRTC ordered the hearings after a financial crisis erupted when the Videotron and Shaw Communications cable firms temporarily suspended their contributions to the Fund on the grounds that it was sponsoring programming that viewers don't watch.

Tuesday 05 February 2008 GATINEAU: TV FUND DEFENDS ITSELF
The Canadian Television Fund has defended its operations in a first day of hearings into them by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. The CTF finances many domestic programs and is itself funded by $120 million of government money and $150 million of fees from private cable and satellite subscribers. The hearings are being held in response to a crisis which occurred a year ago when Quebecor Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc., major cable players, temporarily stopped paying the fees on the grounds that, among other things, the CTF was wasting their money by supporting unpopular shows. But CTF President Valerie Creighton denied it, arguing that such shows as "Little Mosque on the Prairie" are quite popular and are being rebroadcast by major U.S. networks. Mrs. Creighton says the shows wouldn't exist without CTF support. Quebecor is scheduled to appear on Thursday. There also was input from ACTRA, the Canadian writers' guild. Its president, Richard Hardacre, told a news conference that a proposal to split the CTF's budget into a government-fund "stream" to fund cultural productions and a second such to support commercial programming would harm Canadian television content.

2007

Friday 21 December 2007 OTTAWA: CRTC APPROVES CANWEST TAKEOVER
The telecom watchdog, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission has given it stamp of approval to the bid by CanWest Global Communications to take over one of the country's biggest entertainment firms. CanWest will pay $2.3 billion to acquire Alliance Atlantis Communications. The CRTC's ruling says that the transaction meets federal broadcast rules. The proposed deal was controversial because 64 per cent of the funding is coming from New York-based Goldman Sachs, one of the world's biggest investment banks. Unions and special interest groups had pressed the CRTC to reject the deal on the grounds that Goldman Sachs would end up running the new concern. CRTC Chairman Konrad von Finckenstein said the decision had been difficult because of concerns about media concentration so that the Commission had to be sure there would be a general benefit. Ian Morrison of the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting lobby disagreed, saying the foreign media ownership fees have been altered surreptitiously and accusing the Commission of lacking "backbone." Under the terms of the deal, Goldman Sachs will have one-third of the voting shares and 64 per cent of its equity.

Friday 14 December 2007 A national TV dream, in High Def
...Details of an application by HDTV Networks Inc., a company backed by fast food and satellite radio investor John Bitove, were made public Thursday by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Wednesday 19 September 2007 GATINEAU: TELECOM WATCHDOG AGAIN TOLD CONSOLIDATION NOT A PROBLEM
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunication Commission has again been told at a public hearing that its wrong to worry about media mergers. The latest version of the message has come from Quebecor Media Inc. The company's spokesman told commissioners that the problem of domestic consolidation doesn't exist and that the real problem is competition from huge media players from outside the country. Quebecor Media is a partnership between Quebecor Inc. and the Quebec pension fund. The CRTC called the hearings after concern stemming from the CTV television network's acquisition of CHUM Ltd. and CanWest's proposed takeover of Alliance Atlantis Communications. The media regulator had received similar messages on the subject from CTVglobemedia, CanWest Global Communications and Shaw Communications.

Saturday 15 September 2007 GATINEAU:TELECOM WATCHDOG DELAYS DECISION ON TV FUND
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission says it will delay its decision on the future of the Canadian Television Fund until December. The decision had been scheduled for this week. The CRTC says the delay is due to the complexity of the issues involved. The telecom regulator has been studying the conclusions of a report on the CTF delivered in June. The Fund is jointly funded by the federal government and cable companies, which contribute as a condition of their licenses. Its purpose is to finance Canadian TV productions. But last year, two of the companies, Vidéotron and Shaw Communications Inc., stopped payments, a decision which they later reversed. Jim Shaw says the financing of the CTF is flawed because it subsidizes Canadian programs to allow broadcasters to spend more money acquiring American programming. Shaw and Vidéotron contribute $74 million a year to the $250-million fund.

Thursday 13 September 2007 Rewrite rules, CRTC told
Landmark report seeks laissez-faire shakeup of domestic airwaves

Wednesday 01 August 2007 rci CONSUMERS TUNING IN INTERNET MORE
Canada's telecommunications watchdog reports that Canadians are increasingly turning on the Internet and decreasingly watching television or listening to radio. The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunication Commission offered the assessment in its annual report on the state of conventional broadcasting. The report finds that more and more people are accessing the Internet from personal computers, cellphones or Blackberries and that 70 per cent of Canadian homes had Internet access in 2006, up six per cent from the previous year. The number of households with high-speed Internet access rose from 51 per cent to 60 per cent. The CRTC says that the number of hours spent watching TV or listening to radio decline in 2006 but only slightly.

Thursday 26 July 2007 rci GATINEAU: LANDLINE PHONE DEREGULATION STARTSbr> Canada's telecom regulator has delivered the first in what will be a series of decisions to deregulate home telephone service. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has ruled that Telus Corp. and Bell Aliant won't need its permission to set local rates in Fort McMurray, AB, or in parts of the three Maritime provinces, including in the cities of Halifax, Fredericton and Charlottetown. However, the two providers cannot increase existing rates. The CRTC has received numerous deregulation requests since the Canadian government ordered it to deregulate telephone markets where consumers have the choice of at least three providers, including providers of cell phone service.

Wednesday 25 July 2007 OTTAWA: TELECOMS ESTABLISH COMPLAINT OFFICE
Canada's major telecommunications companies have established an office to receive customer complaints. The creation of the office is intended as a precaution prior to the next stage of deregulation to help ensure it will create more not less competition. David McKendry, a former commissioner for the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, will serve as the interim Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services. The CRTC still must approve its structure and mandate.

Wednesday Jul 4, 2007 CRTC moves to stop pesky calls from telemarketersbr> Canadians are one step closer to saying goodbye to annoying phone calls from telemarketers.
[...outlaw all telemarketers!]

Saturday Jun 30, 2007 rci OTTAWA: CHANGES SUGGESTED FOR TV FUND
A task force mandated by Canada's telecommunications watchdog has recommended that the functioning of the Canadian Television Fund be modified. The task force has suggested to the Canadian Radiio-television and Telecommunications Commission that the CTF be operated according to market standards. The experts suggest that the CTF start an internal wing that would subsidize television production with an eye to commercial success and that it subsidize productions destined for new media like pay-video. The task force appeared to have responded to complaints about how the CTF operates that were put forward last winter by the Shaw Communications and Quebecor's Videotron cable services. Both stopped paying the fees which they owed to the CTF as a condition of their licenses. The two cable firms pay $60 million of the CTF's $260 million budget. After several weeks, the two companies resumed payments and the CRTC announced the task force. The CRTC will hold public hearings on the suggested changes, after which it will make recommendations to the CTF at the end of August.

Tuesday 26 June 2007 OTTAWA: CRTC REJECTS PHONE FIRMS 'CONNECTION' CHANGE PROPOSAL
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has rejected a suggestion by the country's three biggest telephone companies concerning the fees they change customers who are new or are moving. At present, Bell Canada, Bell Aliant Regional Communications and Telus Corp.
charge such between $55 and $100. The companies had proposed to the communications watchdog that the connection charge be eliminated in return for higher rates for all home phone users. The Commission reminded the companies that it had given them more scope to compete to attract new and win back old customers, including among other things through promotions, and that if they wish to eliminate connection fees they are free to apply at any time to do so. The companies' requests were opposed by several public interest groups which argued that the proposed change discriminated against those who did not move and had already paid the connection fees. The companies argued vainly the the changes would have favoured poorer customers who move often.

Sunday 17 December 2006 OTTAWA: TELECOM WATCHDOG ORDERS MORE CANADIAN RADIO CONTENT The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has ordered commercial radio stations to play more Canadian music. The Commission has ordained that the percentage of Canadian jazz and blues played must rise from 10 per cent to 25 per cent. Classical music will rise from 10 per cent to 20 per cent. The requirement for Canadian popular music will remain at 35 per cent. The CRTC also is raising the fees which it charges stations to support Canadian talent.

Friday 15 December 2006 GATINEAU: NEW MEDIA IMPACT ON BROADCASTING SMALL, SO FAR
The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission says that the impact of new media like the Internet or mobile means of communication on traditional broadcasting have so far been minimal but that that could change in the short term. A report by the CRTC on the matter says that the use of electronic forms of communications that are beyond the Commission=s scope is increasing and needs to be discussed and addressed within three to seven years, after which it will be too late to do so. CRTC Chairman Charles Dalfen says traditional broadcasting must stay relevant in a "global digital environment" and continue to meet the diverse needs of all Canadians. The Commission is now conducting a three-year review of radio and television distribution.

Tuesday Dec 12, 2006 Local phone services deregulated
CRTC rules get axe. Clears way for telcos to compete with cable firms

Sunday 03 December 2006 GATINEAU: UNIONISTS URGE FEES FOR CABLE USERS
A coalition of labour unions working in Canada's telecommunications industry has weighed in with its opinions at the ongoing hearings on the future of conventional television being held by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. The coalition has urged the creation of a Canadian Broadcaster Program fund. The unions predict that the imposition of a fee of $1 or $2 a month on the users of cable and satellite television could produce a contribution of $120 million to $240 million. The fund would be used by public broadcasters to produce commercial-free public affairs shows, documentaries and children's programs. Private broadcasters could access to provide more local news and Canadian drama. The coalition includes unions at the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., TVOntario, the Aboriginal Peoples' television Network, Vision TV and Sun TV. Earlier in the week, executives of cable TV firms expressed violent opposition to the idea that they should pay fees for the right to retransmit the signals of public broadcasters like the CBC.

Wednesday 15 November 2006 Ottawa to block CRTC on Internet phone regulation
The minister's standoff with the regulator over VoIP is part of his broader efforts to overhaul Canada's lucrative telecommunications sector. He has also embraced the Liberal-appointed telecom panel review's call for a more market-based industry and has also said he's open to making changes in such areas as foreign ownership restrictions.

CRTC review targets update of telecom playing field
Essential services review will likely add to the momentum toward a more open, free-market telecom industry, analysts say

Tuesday 05 September 2006 No longer in service
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has once again given its critics ammunition to charge that it is becoming increasingly irrelevant in today's world of open markets and sophisticated technology.

Wednesday 30 August 2006 globe CRTC rejects bid to block hate sites
Lawyer asked regulating body to block access to U.S.-based sites advocating 'extermination' of Jews in Canada

Saturday 26 August 2006 TORONTO: REGULATOR WON'T SHUT INTERNET HATE SITES
Canada's communications watchdog, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission has ruled against a request that it block access in Canada to two U.S.-based sites which propagate hatred. The request was brought by the Canadian Jewish Congress on behalf of a Canadian who claims that the sites have encouraged violence against him personally, even posting his address. The sites based in the U.S. state of Virgina call for the "violent overthrow" of the Canadian government and the "extermination" of Jews. The CRTC has the power to close temporarily such sites, but declined to do so in the absence of an opportunity for other internet carriers or interested parties an opportunity to weigh in publicly.

Saturday May 13, 2006 rci The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission will start its first hearings on new radio policy since 1998 with a presentation by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, which represents private stations. Its president, Glenn O'Farrell, says that although private radio's revenues and profits were up in 2005, he expects a loss of listeners over the next decade because of competition from new audio and technologies like satellite radio and IPods. Mr. O'Farrell says that the changed media environment means its time for rules changes as well, one change being the requirement for Canadian music content. In 1998, the CRTC increased the minimum content for Canadian content from 30 to 35 per cent. Mr. O'Farrell wants the Commission to lower the requirement for Canadian music recorded before 1985 to 25 per cent, as well as a bonus system of credits for play of new artists or types of music. The Friends of Canadian Broadcasting lobby also will present a paper. The lobby says the radio industry has never been so popular and there never has been a greater demand for Canadian music, which is why the content requirement should be raised to 40 per cent.

Friday Apr 7, 2006 The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission will announce on Thursday to what extent it intends to continue to regulate Canada's biggest telephone companies. Companies like Bell Canada, Telus, Aliant and Manitoba Telecom continue to dominate their industry but have clamoured for looser controls to help them deal with such growing competitors as Rogers Communications, Shaw Communications and Videotron, which have begun offering digital phone service to their cable TV subscribers. In April 2005, the CRTC announced it wanted to establish the ground rules for forbearing from exercising its regulatory powers over phone companies. A federal panel subsequently recommended that the federal Telecommunications Act be revised as well as the role of the Commission, which enforces it.

rci Canada's telecommunications regulator has established the conditions under which local telephone service can be deregulated. Local phone markets are at present dominated by a handful of major companies like Bell Canada, which face increasing competition from cable firms like Rogers Communications that have begun offering digital telephone service. The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission says that for deregulation to occur, two criteria must be met, the first being the smaller companies gaining at least a one-quarter market share. The second is that companies like Bell and Telus must offer their competitors access to their networks for six months before deregulation to ensure "sustainable competition." Local telephone service is one of the last remaining telecom markets in the country which the CRTC regulates.

Sunday Apr 2, 2006 ts CRTC yields on Chinese channels
Buckling under public protest, the CRTC has decided to reopen a controversial application that would see the proposed addition of nine Chinese language television stations in Canada. Tony Wong reports.

Thursday Mar 23, 2006 rci A federal review panel has suggested broad changes in the regulation of Canada's telecommunications sector, the existing rules to regulate them having become "fossiles." Its report suggests that the new Conservative Party government take a more market-oriented approach to the regulation of telephone, cable television and Internet providers. The document recommends that the government offer such companies tax breaks to enable them to make better use of the Internet, thereby becoming more productive. As well, it suggests relaxing foreign ownership restriction to make telecoms more productive and competitive. At present, foreigners can only acquire 20 per cent of an operating telephone or cable firm. The cable companies have complained that the ownership restriction limits their ability to cope with burdensome capital costs. However, the report suggests the government remain involved in activities that have little interest to the private sector, such as providing Internet broadband access in remote rural areas. The panel's chairman, Gerri Sinclair, says changes in the telecom sector have to be made now or Canadians will be deprived of the benefits of technological innovation. Earlier, Industry Minister Maxime Bernier told The Globe and Mail newspaper that he'll gladly consider scrapping the rules which impose foreign ownership restrictions on Canadian telecommunications firms if he received a suggestion to that effect. He also says he'll need several months to absorb the 400-page report.

ts Telecom panel calls for less regulation
OTTAWA?Canada's telecommunications providers should be freer to set their own prices without government interference, and nearly all Canadians should have access to broadband Internet service by 2010 no matter where they live.

Friday Mar 3, 2006 globe CRTC says go and pick your own TV channels
Old system of buying networks in bundles must also be preserved, at least for another four years, to protect some TV stations, regulator says

Thursday Mar 2, 2006 globe CRTC says go and pick your own TV channels Old system of buying networks in bundles must also be preserved, at least for another four years, to protect some TV stations, regulator says

Tuesday Jan 31, 2006 CRTC wants to rein in telemarketers
Regulator urges new Tory government to revive plan for fines because lack of teeth in telecom rules has hurt the public interest. Tyler Hamilton reports.

Tuesday Jan 17, 2006 ts Chinese TV draws protest
Chinese dissident group Falun Dafa is lobbying Ottawa to stop the licensing of new Chinese-language TV channels operated by China's state-owned broadcaster. Rick Westhead reports.

2005

Wednesday Dec 21, 2005 ts CRTC speeds up `portable' numbers
Ontario cellphone subscribers itching for the ability to keep their phone number when switching service providers will now only have to wait 15 months, reports Tyler Hamilton.

Wednesday Nov 16, 2005 Industry Canada: Telecom Act reform will aid CRTC
Carriers applaud changes that allow regulator to charge fines

Tuesday Nov 8, 2005 rci One of the three satellite radio operators to have received licenses has issued a preliminary prospectus for an IPO. Canadian Satellite Radio says it would use the money to complete its infrastructure and fund operating expenses. The prospectus warns potential investors that an investment would entail risk because of the difficulty of evaluating the prospects of a beginning technology. CSR plans to offer 80 or more satellite channels, which will be publicity-free and financed through subscription. It is an affiliate of the U.S.-based XM Satellite Radio firm. Its Canadian partner is Priszm Canadian Income Fund, which operates the Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hunt and Taco Bell fast-food chain

Thursday Oct 20, 2005 globe CRTC sets VoIP-911 deadline
Canadian service providers given 90 days to notify customers about the availability and limitations of emergency services on voice-over-IP connections

Thursday Oct 20, 2005 it CRTC vice-chair: We're regulating wireless with a light touch
Richard French defends the commission at Telemanagement Live

Tuesday Oct 11, 2005 rci The Canadian Association of Broadcasters, the lobby for the conventional radio industry, has asked the Canadian Radio-Television Telecommunications Commission to delay a broad review of the industry. The review was to have begun this fall and was to last six to nine months. The Association's CEO, Glenn O'Farrell, has written a letter to the federal communications watchdog suggested that the review be delayed for as long as three years because of the dramatic and rapid repercussions from the introduction of new technologies. Radio markets have been fragmented by such innovations as wireless technology, podcasts (home-made radiocast sent over the Internet) and various types of digital devices that play new music. Earlier this year, the CRTC issued the first two licenses for satellite radio, a service which is expected to be operation by Christmas.

Friday Sep 16, 2005 rci OTTAWA: MP WANTS TELECOM WATCHDOG ABOLISHED
A Canadian Member of Parliament has demanded that the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications be abolished. Denis Coderre denounced the regulator's recent decision to grant three licenses for satellite radio service, clearing the way for the retransmission of dozens of U.S. radio stations. Mr. Coderre says there should be a public debate about the CRTC's future. The federal cabinet approved the regulator's decision after two of the three licensees promised to increase the number of French-language stations to be transmitted.

Sunday Sep 11, 2005 rci Canada's federal cabinet has approved a controversial decision by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission to issue two satellite radio licences. The licences were requested by Sirius Canada and Canadian Satellite Radio, both of which have American partners. When the CRTC approved the licences in June, radio broadcasters and producers in Canada's entertainment business objected that the satellite stations would carry relatively little Canadian content and still less in French. The applicants have agreed to increase both. The CRTC will hold hearings to allow the public to express its opinion about the licences.

Saturday Sep 10, 2005 rci OTTAWA: SATELLITE RADIO GETS GREEN LIGHT
The Canadian cabinet has maintained a decision by Canada's telecommunication regulator to grant three satellite radio licenses. The decision was announced after two of the three consortiums who applied to start the service increased the number of Canadian radio stations that will be broadcast. The Canadian Television-Radio and Telecommunications Commission will hold public hearings on the increased Canadian content. Some cabinet members had expressed doubt whether there was enough Canadian programming compared with the some 80 American stations that Sirius Canada and Canadian Satellite Radio had originally proposed.

Friday Sep 9, 2005 rci Two of the three consortiums to which the federal telecommunications regulator has granted licenses to operate satellite radio networks have offered to alter their planned programming. The Globe and Mail newspaper reports that Sirius Canada and Canadian Satellite Radio have told the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission they're willing to increase by two to 10 the numbers of Canadian domestic stations which they'll offer their customers, in addition to some 80 U.S. stations each. The move is aimed at persuading the federal cabinet not to order the regulator to review the license decision, entailing a delay in satellite radio service for as long as one year. Several cabinet ministers have expressed concern to Heritage Canada minister Liza Frulla that the two proposals don't contain sufficient Canadian content.

Tuesday Sep 6, 2005 globe Top cabinet ministers debate the fate of satellite radio Federal cabinet is split over CRTC decision to grant U.S. satellite radio licences

Friday Sep 2, 2005 rci Two of the three consortiums that have been granted licenses to launch satellite radio services say they'll alter their planned programming to satisfy the telecommunications regulator. Sirius Canada and Canadian Satellite Radio say they'll offer services which feature four French- and as many English-language channels. They say they'll inform the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission of their new programming. The three consortiums are afraid that the federal cabinet will order the CRTC to review the process by which the licenses were granted, causing more delay before they can start operating. Several cabinet colleagues of Heritage Minister Liza Frulla have been reported to have complained about insufficient French-lanugage programming.

Monday Aug 29, 2005 rci OTTAWA: SATELLITE RADIO FACING BUREAUCRATIC OBSTACLES Efforts to offer satellite radio services to Canada are facing new obstacles. Last June, the federal broadcast regulator, the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission granted the first satellite radio licences to Sirius Canada and Canadian Satellite Radio. They plan to offer subscribers between 60 and 100 free music channels, for 15 to 20 dollars a month. But the federal minister of heritage, Lisa Frulla, is asking cabinet to send the decision to licence satellite radio back to the CRTC. Business and cultural groups have been lobbying the Liberal government, arguing that the services won't carry enough Canadian content. The Liberal Party's Quebec caucus is upset with the small number of French-language stations. Canadian Satellite Radio owner John Bittof says that revoking the decision would cost the Canadian economy CDN$2 billion over the next ten years. Canadian Satellite Radio owner John Bittofis urging the government to let the licences stand as they are.

Wednesday Aug 17, 2005 it Judge, jury, executioner, regulator
The lines are being drawn as a panel re-examines the role of the CRTC

Monday Aug 15, 2005 idem Le mauvais numéro du CRTC
Le ministre canadien de l’Industrie, David Emerson, a constitué en avril dernier un Groupe d’experts, mandatés pour étudier la modernisation du cadre réglementaire des télécommunications. Il faut espérer que le groupe d’étude tiendra compte des innovations technologiques afin que nous puissions profiter de la nouvelle téléphonie. Chronique de Michel Kelly-Gagnon, président de l’IEDM, publiée le 6 août dans Les Affaires.

Sunday Jun 26, 2005 ts Satellite decision serves public, Canadian artists
From policy decisions on Internet telephony to third-language television broadcasters, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has faced more than its fair share of criticism in recent months. With last week`s much anticipated pay radio decision, the commission was no doubt prepared for yet another flurry of negative commentary.

Saturday Jun 18, 2005 rci OTTAWA: REGULATOR APPROVES SATELLITE RADIO APPLICATIONS
The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications has approved two applications to offer satellite radio service. The recipients of the licenses are Sirius Canada Inc. a consortium of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., Standard Radio and U.S.-based Sirius Satellite Radio; and Canadian Satellite Radio, which has a partnership with U.S.-based XM Radio. The CRTC has imposed strict Canadian content rules as a condition for the licenses. Satellite radio offers sound quality superior to that possible on AM and FM bands and its subscription service is uninterrupted by commercials.

Jun. 17, 2005.ts
CRTC likely to make its rules stick There was no maple-syrup-pure Canadian solution to the conundrum of U.S. satellite radio.

Jun. 17, 2005.ts
Radio ruling draws static from CHUM-Astral team
OTTAWA—The federal broadcast regulator approved three new satellite and digital radio services yesterday. But the one all-Canadian player in the race immediately complained that its competitors were let off too easily in terms of Canadian content.

Wednesday Jun 8, 2005 ts
Satellite radio beams its way here
OTTAWA—A new universe of digital music has opened up for radio listeners across Canada — if they`re willing to pay the price.

Wednesday Jun 8, 2005 ts
Pay-radio hungry for CRTC nod
By the end of next week, possibly sooner, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is expected to issue its much-anticipated decision on whether to grant licences for pay-as-you-listen satellite and digital radio in Canada .... To do that, Canadians will pay up to $300 for the hardware and subscribe to one of the three approved services at $9.95 to $12.99 a month.

Tuesday Jun 7, 2005 ts Don`t push panic button for radio If I were to fork over $9.95 or $12.95 a month for satellite radio — which I wouldn`t, but let`s just say — I`d have to move into my car to feel I was getting my money`s worth. Antonia Zerbisias comments.

Tuesday Jun 7, 2005 ts Music industry can sue, but many questions remain The recent Federal Court of Appeal music file sharing case, in which the court rejected the Canadian Recording Industry Association`s bid to uncover the identities of 29 alleged file sharers, raises important privacy and copyright issues. Last week`s column reviewed the court`s test to protect personal privacy; this week`s column assesses the copyright implications of that decision.

Monday May 16, 2005 ts CRTC decision dealt blow to Bell, an ace to Rogers Ted Rogers is on a tear.Rogers Communications Inc.`s wireless business is booming in a market that`s been whittled down to three. It has bulked up by making three significant acquisitions or strategic investments within the past year, including last week`s $330 million deal to buy Sprint Canada.

Friday May 6, 2005 globe CRTC expected to rein in big phone companies on VoIP service Ruling would please upstarts, cable firms

Friday Apr 29, 2005 globe
CRTC to revamp telco rules Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission seeks to reduce regulation of Local Telephone Markets 3 chosen to review CRTC`s policy: Sources The former head of Microsoft Corp.`s Canadian Web portal and a prominent communications lawyer from Toronto are among three panellists who will conduct a sweeping review of Canada`s telephone regulator, industry sources say.

Thursday Mar 31, 2005 ts
Launch of new Bell service challenges CRTC`s rules An increasingly impatient Bell Canada directly challenged the authority of the federal telecom watchdog yesterday by launching an Internet-based phone service in three Quebec cities without filing for regulatory approval.

Tuesday Mar 22, 2005 ts
CRTC pushes diversity strategies The federal broadcast regulator has rejected a task force`s recommendation to stop requiring private broadcasters to file cultural diversity strategies, saying annual reporting will guarantee accountability.

Thursday Mar 17, 2005 globe
CRTC opens customer data door By CATHERINE MCLEAN
Canada's smaller telephone companies expect they will be able to hook up new customers more quickly after the federal regulator ruled yesterday that Bell Canada and Telus Corp. must grant them electronic access to parts of their operational support systems within a year.

Thursday 10 Mar 2005 CRTC's new telecom boss ,
Richard French vice-chair of telecommunications, CRTC
Duration:5m 42s

Friday Feb 11, 2005 globe
CRTC keeps Internet phone ruling on hold Companies left in limbo, for now, on how revolutionary service will be regulated

Monday Dec 20, 2004 ts Banner year for digital decisions This past year saw several landmark developments in Canadian technology law. The Supreme Court of Canada released a trio of important rulings, federal policy makers grappled with difficult issues such as copyright and spam, and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) held hearings to consider the optimal regulatory approach to emerging technologies such as satellite radio and Internet telephony.

Friday Dec 17, 2004 ts CRTC clears the way for RAI
In what is being hailed as a landmark ruling, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission threw the door open yesterday to foreign third-language television channels such as Italy's popular RAI International.

Friday Nov 26, 2004 TORONTO: BIG TELECOMS CONTINUE TO DOMINATE LOCAL SERVICE
Canada's telecommunications watchdog says that the major telephone companies continue to dominate local telephone service despite deregulation. The annual report of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission on the telecommunications sector in 2003, says the smaller firms are making little headway, as firms like Bell Canada and Telus Corp. remain dominant. The CRTC says that in some of the larger cities the smaller companies provide as little as 1.6 per cent of residential phone service and .1 per cent of business service. The CRTC's chairman, Charles Dalfen, notes that while Canadians continue to be well connected, more must be done to encourage competition. The report also takes note, however, of the lively and growing competition between wireline and wireless telephone. It says that wireless revenues grew from $7.1 billion in 2002 to $8 billion in the following year. But two of the four national wireless services, Bell Mobility and Telus Mobility, are owned by Bell and Telus respectively.

Friday Nov 19, 2004 cbc
CRTC CLEARS CRAIG MEDIA SALE TO CHUM Canada's broadcast regulator on Friday cleared the way for CHUM Ltd. to acquire Craig Media and shift the Toronto1 station to Quebecor Inc. :

Friday Nov 19, 2004 cbc
CRTC APPROVES FOX NEWS FOR CANADA The conservative-leaning Fox News Channel will soon be coming to Canadian digital television channels.

Monday Nov 8, 2004 ts
Advancing technology threatens cultural policy
In the fall of 1998, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) held its closely-watched New Media hearings, which addressed the contentious question of whether it should regulate the Internet. Several months later, the Commission heeded the advice of the parade of witnesses who urged it to leave the Internet alone, announcing that though the intersection of the Internet and broadcast regulation left it legally entitled to regulate, it would not do so.

Sunday Oct 17, 2004 ts
Going ballistic over linguistic logistics
OTTAWA— Keith Spicer is back from Paris, where he has lived since 1996, and concedes that it feels like a time warp.

Sunday Oct 17, 2004 ts
Italian TV network gets nod
OTTAWA—Canadians will be able to watch a 24-hour Italian television service within months, Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew says.

The Globe and Mail, September 24, 2004,
Why the CRTC should keep its hands off VoIP

Monday Sep 27, 2004 ts
VoIP A eureka moment at the CRTC There`s no better cure for insomnia than slapping on computer headphones a nd listening to a CRTC hearing via Webcast.

Thursday Sep 23, 2004 cbc
CRTC HEARINGS CONSIDER POSSIBLE REGULATION OF VOICE OVER INTERNET PHONE SERVICE The CRTC has opened hearings that will determine whether Internet-based phone service should be regulated just like traditional phone service, or whether it should be regulated at all.

Wednesday Jul 28, 2004 ts
Media still labelling minorities
After being commissioned by the CRTC in 2001, the Task Force for Cultural Diversity on Television found that "there is a persistence of stereotyping and excessive negative or inaccurate portrayals of minorities" in Canadian programming.

Wed Jul 14 2004 wn


click for WN on /freespeech
& CRTC won't renew licence for radio station it says carried offensive comments -->

Tuesday Jul 13, 2004 TORONTO:RECORDING INDUSTRY APPEALS COPYRIGHT RULING The Canadian Recording Industry Association has appealed to the Federal Court of Appeal to try to overturn a ruling concerning the rights of music producers over copyrights. The Association want the higher court to overrule the decision of Federal Court that it has no right to force five Internet service providers to disclose the names of 29 individuals who it claims are distributing music. The court said it was permissible to upload songs into shared folders on a home computer.

Tuesday Jul 13, 2004 FIRMS END TV RATINGS COMPETITION The Nielsen Media Research and BBM firms have announced they've reached a tentative deal to end their competition to measure television audiences. Nielsen and BBM say they'll set up a joint enterprise to carry out the measurements. Neither firm provided details nor said when the proposed joint enterprise would be launched.

Tuesday Jun 15, 2004 IEDM
Do we still need to regulate telephone services?
Economic Note on the CRTC’s regulation of telecommunications
In the field of telecommunications, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) protected monopolies against entry when it should not have, and it now grants privileges to their competitors while there are no more economic reasons to do so. Even if it could be argued that telephone services were a natural monopoly before the development of the new telecommunications technology, this is not the case any more, and it seems that the CRTC no longer has any reason to intervene in this sector. A good economic case can be made for a real and complete deregulation of telecommunications in Canada.

2003

Tuesday Nov 11, 2003 QUEBEC:
CABLE INDUSTRY WILL REAPPLY FOR RIGHT TO BROADCAST U.S. SHOWS
The chairman of the Canadian Cable Television Association says the group will again try to persuade Canada's media watchdog, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, to let its member companies offer their viewers fare from American cable channels. Dean MacDonald says the issue of allowing Canadians to view such Americans offerings as HBO or ESPN won't go away because the cause has merit. Such American shows are now banned or are permitted years after the original shows air in the U.S. However, as many as 500,000 Canadians view them illegally through satellite signals. Mr. MacDonald says people are going to use available technology, regardless of the rules. But he says that many such illegal viewers would return to the legal cable system if they could see their favourite American programming. Mr. MacDonald made the remarks in Quebec City at the annual meeting of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. Its president, Glenn O'Farrell, said if the CRTC had allowed the American programming on Canadian cable, the decision would have led to a more fragmented market, more competition for advertising dollars and disruption of the program rights markets.

Thursday Jul 31, 2003 TORONTO: LANDLORDS FIGHT CRTC RULING
Two groups representing landlords and building owners say they will appeal a recent ruling by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to the Federal Court of Canada. The appeal will be launched by the Canadian Institute of Public and Private Real Estate Companies and the Building Owners and Managers Association Canada. They object to a ruling by the CRTC which found in favour of junior telecommunications firms which complained that the major telephone companies and landlords connive to prevent tenants from the choice of service providers. A statement by the building owners say they have the right to consider a number of factors in deciding which telephone firms gain access to their property, including security, building safety, fire protection, and future tenant needs. The statement also says some smaller telecoms have been poor custodians of building space.

Monday Jul 21, 2003 cbc
CRTC SAYS BIG TELCOS MUST SPLIT RESIDENTIAL PHONE AND HIGH-SPEED NET SERVICES The federal broadcast regulator has ordered Canada's biggest telephone companies to offer high-speed Internet access to consumers in their areas who buy their phone service from another company.

Friday May 2, 2003TELUS (T : TSX : $19.63)
Net Change: 0.33, % Change: 1.71%, Volume: 819,100
Dow Jones reported Monday that a Canadian Parliamentary Committee report has recommended that the government review foreign ownership controls on the telecommunications industry. The committee blamed foreign ownership restrictions for impeding investment by new entrants, and for financial instability in the industry, and has recommended that minimum Canadian ownership and control requirements be removed. Shares of Telus and competitor BCE (BCE) picked up on the news.

Tuesday Apr 29, 2003 OTTAWA:
COMMONS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS REMOVAL OF TELECOM OWNERSHIP LIMITATIONS A committee of Canada's House of Commons has recommended the removal of limitations on foreign ownership of Canadian telecommunications and cable companies. The committee confirmed information obtained by the Canadian Press news agency on Friday. The House standing committee on industry, science and technology says the government should entirely remove limits on foreign ownership of Canadian telecoms and cable firms. At present, the law requires that foreigners own no more than 46.7 per cent of such enterprises. The committee's chairman, Walt Lastewka, representing of the governing Liberal Party, says that telecom firms that appeared before the committee complained that the existing restrictions make it harder for them to obtain access to the capital they need for expansion. The committee's report was not unanimous. New Democratic Party Member of Parliament Brian Masse says the committee should further study the issue before any decision is made. Mr. Masse says there's no proof that removing the foreign ownership restraint will solve the telecom firms' need for capital. The federal industry minister, Allan Rock, had asked the committee to look at the issue. Mr. Rock says he'll study its report carefully.

Saturday Jan 18, 2003 cbc
PHONE COMPANIES TOLD TO GIVE UP ON PROMOTIONS Canada's telecommunications regulator has told telephone companies to hang up on their promotions to win back old customers.

2002

Fri, 05 Jul 2002 cbc
CRTC HEAD WANTS CRACK DOWN ON SATELLITE PIRACY The head of Canada's broadcast regulator is declaring satellite TV piracy a "nationwide epidemic."

Fri, 05 Jul 2002 cbc
CRTC CLEARS WAY FOR TORONTO AIRPORT TO CUT CELLPHONE SERVICE Canada's telecom regulator on Friday denied a move by cellphone companies to prevent the authority that runs Pearson International Airport from cutting off wireless access inside the complex. see w-n Cellphones

Monday Jul 1, 2002
MONTREAL: CANADIANS ANXIOUS OVER CULTURE
A new survey says six out of 10 Canadians feel the prevalence of American culture in the country is a threat to their own culture's survival. The Leger Marketing poll indicated 61 per cent of the 1,500 Canadians surveyed defined the threat as very or somewhat important. A spokeswoman for a Canadian arts funding body says such concern about cultural sovereignty is heightened in the face of increased globalization. The Canada Council's Donna Balkan pointed to statistics suggesting that 97 per cent of screen time in Canadian movie theatres is taken up by non-Canadian films. There's no doubt Canadians care about their culture, said Mike Gasher, an assistant professor of journalism at Concordia University who has written extensively on cultural policy. But he said it's not a contradiction for people to enjoy both Canadian and American popular culture.

Saturday Jun 15, 2002 cbc
CANADIANS PAYING MORE FOR SAME PHONE SERVICE: CONSUMER GROUP Most Canadians are paying more for the same phone service they had a decade ago, says a consumer group.

Friday Jun 14, 2002 cbc
BELL CANADA SPELLS OUT IMPACT OF CRTC RULING: $1 BILLION
BCE Inc. said operating profits at Bell Canada will be reduced by $250 million in each of the next four years as a result of a recent regulatory decision.

Friday Jun 7, 2002 Canadian Telcos
We are reducing our one-year share price targets for incumbent carriers to reflect the comments from Telus' management that indicate last week's CRTC decision will be materially worse than expected. Telus' preliminary assessment of the CRTC decision is that it will have an approximately $75 million negative impact on EBITDA per year, likely worse than the market expected. BCE management is expected to hold a conference call next week detailing its guidance. We estimate the negative share price impact at about $1.00 per share of each the incumbent carriers reflecting lower forecast EBITDA. Our new target prices are as follows: Aliant Inc. $34 (was $35); BCE Inc. $36 (was $37); Manitoba Telecom $33 (was $34); and Telus Corp. $16 (was $17). BCE Inc. and Manitoba Telecom remain rated 1-Strong Buy wile we have lowered our rating on Aliant to 2-Buy from 1-Strong Buy and Telus Corp. to 3-Hold from 2-Buy. –– John K. Henderson

Saturday Jun 1, 2002 cbc
NO INCREASES ON PHONE RATES: CRTC Residential phone rates have been capped for four years, the federal regulator says.

Saturday Jun 1, 2002 cbc
BCE, TELUS SHARES RISE ON CRTC RULING; CALL-NET SHARES COLLAPSE None of the telephone companies got what they wanted in Thursday's CRTC ruling on phone rates and access fees. But in Friday trading, the market evidently thought the incumbent telcos, led by Bell Canada and Telus, got the best of it.

Saturday Jun 1, 2002 cbc
CRTC TRIMS ACCESS FEES FOR SMALLER TELCOS; LOCAL PHONE RATES FROZEN
In a wide-ranging decision on the future of telecommunications competition, the CRTC ruled Thursday that the established phone giants like Bell Canada and Telus must cut the network access fees they charge their new competitors like Call-Net (operator of Sprint Canada) and AT&T Canada by 15 to 20 per cent.

Friday May 31, 2002 GATINEAU: LOCAL RESIDENTIAL PHONE RATES CAPPED
Canada's communications regulator has ruled that residential telephone rates are to be capped for the next four years. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has thus rejected a bid by the biggest telephone companies for large rate increases. The CRTC says the companies may only raise rates in one region if it decreases them by the same percentage in another. The Commission says it will reconsider its decision only if the inflation rate exceeds 3.5 per cent. The rate last month was 1.7 per cent. The CRTC says it based its decision on the need to ensure affordable residential telephone rates. However, its ruling allows companies to raise business telephone rates by as much as 10 per cent.

Tuesday Apr 9, 2002 cbc CRTC GIVES NEW ONTARIO TV LICENCES TO CRAIG, ROGERS Canada's broadcasting regulator has awarded Craig Broadcast Systems and Rogers Communications two new television licences in the already crowded southern Ontario market.

Sunday, November 18, 2001 Toronto's pirate TV broadcaster continues to defy CRTC shutdown order
...Shadow is a year-old German shepherd that is not only official mascot and security guard for the low-power UHF station, but also a neighbourhood celebrity in her own right. She co-stars with her human host on the Creature Feature movie, apparently one of the community station's most popular programs. "All I wanted to do was run a TV station. I love broadcasting," says Jan Pachul, Star Ray's founder and owner.
"This cause-celebre thing came afterwards because I was just too outraged at what the CRTC was up to and I was sick of them getting away with it."

5/Oct/2001 CRTC LIFTS PRICE CAPS FOR CABLE SERVICE IN FOUR ONT. CITIES
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commision has allowed Rogers Cable to charge whatever it wants for basic cable in four communities in Ontario. The decision is considered a precedent and could spread to other cities in Canada.