IN-DEPTH NEWS STORIES
Senate committee passes internet service quality bill
Internet and Governance | 05/07/2024 2:01 pm EDT
The Senate Committee on Transport and Communications hastily adopted a private member’s bill on internet service quality Tuesday. The legislation, Bill C-288, had previously passed the House of Commons unanimously.
In its second day of consideration of the bill, the...
Bloc condemns reported integration of CBC English and French services
Internet and Governance | 05/03/2024 3:07 pm EDT
The Bloc Québécois has sounded the alarm after a report in La Presse that CBC/Radio-Canada is planning to merge some of its operations between English and French services....
Bell pleased with subscription numbers as it releases Q1 figures
Media | 05/02/2024 5:08 pm EDT
BCE Inc. issued its first quarter 2024 results Thursday morning and...
Canadian telecom prices fall, remain high internationally: ISED report
telecom | 05/01/2024 1:30 pm EDT
Canadian wireless and broadband internet prices declined in 2023, however...
Senate committee takes up study of internet service quality bill
Internet and Governance | 04/30/2024 6:01 pm EDT
The Senate Committee on Transport and Communications began its study of...
Rogers backs Bell’s SRDU request while creatives oppose
telecom | 04/29/2024 6:58 pm EDT
Rogers Communications Inc. is endorsing a Part 1 application by BCE Inc....
Bill C-27 sees amendments to minor and personal information definitions
Internet and Governance | 04/29/2024 6:38 pm EDT
The clause-by-clause study of Bill C-27, the Digital Charter Act, continued at the House of Commons Industry Committee meeting on Monday. Three amendments were made to the...
Open telecom to foreign investment, former competition commissioner says
Internet and Governance | 04/26/2024 5:25 pm EDT
A past Competition Bureau Commissioner is calling on the federal government...
Listeners open wallets to help Alberta public broadcaster stay on the air
Media | 04/25/2024 3:32 pm EDT
Canada’s oldest public broadcaster is in a funding crunch but listeners...
Digital divide still exists in Northern Ontario, study finds
Internet and Governance | 04/24/2024 6:27 pm EDT
Northern Ontario is lagging behind the rest of the province when it comes...
CRTC responding to industry concerns, commissioner tells BC telecoms
telecom | 04/24/2024 6:03 pm EDT
The CRTC is making headway in improving the telecommunications landscape, a...
Rogers releases Q1 results, announces 10-year deal with Comcast
Media | 04/24/2024 5:18 pm EDT
Following the release of its first quarter results of 2024, Rogers...
Irekvist promotes Ericsson’s efforts to reach net-zero emissions
telecom | 04/23/2024 5:56 pm EDT
To celebrate Earth Day on Monday, Ericsson AB signed on with the federal...
CRTC told not to grant FTTP access to big telecoms
telecom | 04/22/2024 6:25 pm EDT
A wealth of intervenors have told the CRTC that the large established telecoms should not be allowed to...
Bell appeal case against CRTC fibre access decision underway
telecom | 04/19/2024 10:43 pm EDT
BCE Inc.’s appeal against the CRTC’s November decision to require the...
INDU passes several amendments to C-27
telecom | 04/18/2024 8:14 pm EDT
The House of Commons Industry Committee is continuing its clause-by-clause study of Bill C-27, the Digital Charter Act. Wednesday evening it made haste in getting through many facets of the legislation.
The panel picked up where it left off, with a sub-amendment from...
Google still opposes ‘unworkable’ bargaining process as stakeholders give CRTC Online News Act recommendations
Internet and Governance | 04/17/2024 6:52 pm EDT
Canadian broadcasters are encouraging the CRTC to...
Budget finds money for CBC, public interest broadcasters
Media | 04/16/2024 11:05 pm EDT
A group of public interest broadcasters is getting more money from the...
Corus still waiting for regulatory relief from CRTC as revenues continue to fall in Q2
Media | 04/15/2024 6:40 pm EDT
As it reported further declines in revenue for the...
Bell failed to give feds advance notice of layoffs, defends cuts in committee testimony
Media | 04/12/2024 9:07 pm EDT
BCE Inc. did not give the federal government...
Strong internet growth in Q2, Cogeco reports
telecom | 04/12/2024 9:01 pm EDT
Cogeco Inc. reported strong internet subscriber growth for the second quarter of the 2024 fiscal year, it reported Thursday night after markets closed.
Revenues fell by 0.7 per cent to $751.9 million as increases in Canadian numbers were offset by declines in American...
Industry Committee starts clause-by-clause study of C-27
telecom | 04/11/2024 7:36 pm EDT
The House of Commons industry committee continued its clause-by-clause...
Broadcasters oppose AMI’s proposed mandatory carriage rate increase
Media | 04/10/2024 6:49 pm EDT
Major broadcasters are opposed to Accessible Media Inc.’s (AMI) request...
Cardozo calls on government to renew digital tax credit for media
Media | 04/10/2024 5:08 pm EDT
A member of the Progressive Senators Group is calling on the federal...
Billions of ad dollars leaving Canada through “tax loophole”: Friends of Canadian Media
Internet and Governance | 04/09/2024 8:11 pm EDT
Advertising on foreign digital media like Meta...
UPDATED: CRTC orders Cogeco to maintain TekSavvy’s access to facilities
telecom | 04/09/2024 1:15 pm EDT
The CRTC has ordered Cogeco Inc. to maintain TekSavvy Solutions Inc.’s...
Trudeau announces AI measures will be in budget
Internet and Governance | 04/08/2024 7:43 pm EDT
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Sunday that next week’s federal budget will include $2.4...
Big Three push for wireless and SMS service revenues to be excluded from CNAC funding
telecom | 04/05/2024 6:15 pm EDT
Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp. are...
Bell confirms appearance at heritage committee; responds to criticisms over job cuts
Media | 04/04/2024 6:16 pm EDT
In the wake of recent controversy surrounding BCE Inc.’s restructuring...
Housing organization calls Neighbourhood Connect’s claims in MDU access dispute “unreasonable”
telecom | 04/04/2024 6:01 pm EDT
Bethlehem Housing and Support Services denies claims made by Neighbourhood Connect (NHC) that the affordable housing organization is in violation of the CRTC's multi-dwelling...
Telesat receives loan from federal government, reports declines for Q4 and fiscal year results
Internet and Governance | 04/02/2024 5:31 pm EDT
The federal government is loaning $2.14 billion to...
Social media companies sued by school boards in Ontario
Internet and Governance | 03/28/2024 5:12 pm EDT
Four Ontario school boards have launched a lawsuit against three social...
Bell asks CRTC to lift regulations on satellite TV distributors
telecom | 03/27/2024 4:17 pm EDT
BCE Inc. asked the CRTC to lighten licensing requirements for ExpressVu,...
CRTC issues Indigenous broadcasting policy consult; asks about quotas
Media | 03/22/2024 6:16 pm EDT
The CRTC has issued a call for comments as part of Phase 2 of the...
CRTC releases new broadcasting fees regulations
Internet and Governance | 03/22/2024 5:52 pm EDT
After months of consultations, the CRTC has issued its Broadcasting Fees Regulations for all broadcasting undertakings in Canada. The decision, released late Thursday, stems from the provisions of the Online Streaming Act.
“Under the new Broadcasting Fees Regulations,...
Globe and Mail reporter digs into story of Rogers Communications
Media | 03/21/2024 10:06 am EDT
The recent history of Rogers Communications Inc. has had more drama than anything broadcast on its CityTV network. The company poached its CEO Joe Natale from Telus Corp. only to ultimately dismiss...
Unifor demands Bell be held accountable for layoffs
Media | 03/19/2024 6:23 pm EDT
Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, called on BCE Inc. to answer for its recent layoff...
High spectrum costs are the villain in cellular prices, Big 3 tell INDU
telecom | 03/18/2024 3:52 pm EDT
The presidents of the Big Three telecoms told the House of Commons Industry...
CRTC looking to add a new radio station in Calgary, Alta.
Media | 03/15/2024 1:14 pm EDT
The CRTC is issuing a call for applications from interested parties wishing...
CRTC adopts interim basic 911 features for remote regions, pushes NG911 deadlines
telecom | 03/14/2024 5:42 pm EDT
The CRTC is delaying transition of next-generation 911 (NG911) services in...
CRTC kicks off Online News Act consultation
Internet and Governance | 03/13/2024 4:46 pm EDT
The CRTC launched its first public consultation on the Online News Act’s regulatory framework to gain...
CRTC rejects Bell’s challenge against wireless attachment jurisdiction
telecom | 03/12/2024 5:06 pm EDT
The CRTC has dismissed BCE Inc.’s application challenging the...
Ontario disability advocate seeks better service from Bell
Media | 03/08/2024 5:39 pm EST
BCE Inc. is the subject of a Part 1 application before the CRTC over access...
Class action suit granted over Rogers’ 2021 service outage
telecom | 03/06/2024 1:09 pm EST
A trio of Quebecers has been granted leave to launch a class action suit against Rogers Communications Inc. and two subsidiaries over a service disruption in April 2021. The filing was submitted last month in Montreal.
The plaintiffs are Kelly Amram and Jonathan Amar, who are partners, and Jaclyn Rabin. They want all nationwide Rogers, Rogers for Business, Fido and Chatr clients as of April 19, 2021 to be added to the class action.
On that date Rogers experienced...
Court authorizes class action lawsuit for phone unlocking fees
telecom | 03/05/2024 6:40 pm EST
The Superior Court of Quebec has authorized a class action lawsuit against...
Accessible Media seeks to increase rates for mandatory carriage
Media | 03/05/2024 5:49 pm EST
Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) submitted an application to the CRTC for an...
The Wire Report is hiring an editor
Internet and Governance | 03/05/2024 10:36 am EST
The Wire Report, the leading news source covering telecom, digital communications and broadcast media in Canada, is searching for an editor to join our Ottawa office.
The Wire Report is part of The Hill Times Canada’s leading...
Court rejects station’s request for Rogers to disclose subscriber info
Media | 03/04/2024 3:32 pm EST
The Superior Court of Quebec has dismissed a request from RNC Media Inc. to...
Pornhub parent company broke privacy law by failing to obtain valid consent for content uploads: OPC
Internet and Governance | 03/01/2024 5:38 pm EST
The Montreal-based company behind Pornhub and other major adult websites broke Canada’s privacy law by sharing intimate content on its platforms without obtaining valid...
Neighbourhood Connect escalates dispute with Bethlehem Housing over MDU access
Media | 02/29/2024 4:35 pm EST
Neighbourhood Connect (NHC), operating under 2621159 Ontario Inc. DBA...
INDU committee passes motion to call on Big 3 telecom CEOs to testify
telecom | 02/29/2024 4:26 pm EST
The House of Commons committee on Industry met Wednesday to discuss...
Updated: CRTC issues consult on mandatory call traceback process for TSPs
telecom | 02/28/2024 5:46 pm EST
This story has been updated to reflect changes to deadlines made by the CRTC on Monday.
The CRTC is issuing a consultation on its proposal to make its voluntary call traceback process mandatory for...
UPDATED: Quebecor files complaints to Comp. Bureau against Bell’s alleged abuse of dominance in internet market
telecom | 02/28/2024 4:22 pm EST
Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron and its subsidiary VMedia have lodged two formal complaints with the Competition Bureau, urging an investigation into BCE Inc.'s alleged abuse of...
Building owner ordered to give Execulink access to western Ontario MDUs
telecom | 02/28/2024 4:16 pm EST
The CRTC has approved Execulink Telecom Inc.’s request for access to three multi-dwelling units (MDUs) owned by JLC Homes Ltd. in western Ontario.
The buildings, located in Tillsonburg, Ont. at...
Witnesses at Heritage committee support media forum, disagree on who should pay for it
Media | 02/28/2024 4:15 pm EST
Witnesses before the House of Commons committee on Canadian Heritage all agreed Tuesday that a forum on the future of the media is required. Whether government has a role was...
Bell challenges CRTC’s jurisdictional authority in wireless deployment consultation
telecom | 02/27/2024 5:30 pm EST
BCE Inc. is disputing the CRTC’s preliminary...
Telecommunications sector sees strong revenue growth in 2022: CRTC report
telecom | 02/27/2024 4:51 pm EST
Revenues were robust in the telecommunications sector, a new CRTC study has...
Canada’s Bill C-63 takes aim at online hate crimes and child exploitation
Internet and Governance | 02/26/2024 9:32 pm EST
The government of Canada has unveiled its long-awaited Online Harms Act aimed at addressing child exploitation and hateful content online.
Introduced in the House of...
INDU wants to force Big 3 CEOs to appear before committee
telecom | 02/26/2024 5:19 pm EST
With the heads of Canada’s big three telecoms threatening to boycott a...
Beyond tractors: Farmers navigating the digital transition, and broadband barriers
telecom | 02/23/2024 2:35 pm EST
By Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca
Technology is changing the family...
Quebecor reports revenue increase in Q4
Media | 02/22/2024 5:52 pm EST
Quebecor Inc. reported a successful fourth-quarter as it closed out the 2023 fiscal year, which it said...
Stingray, Corus, Pattison oppose Durham Radio’s expansion; Rogers wants CRTC to reconsider its plans
Media | 02/21/2024 4:20 pm EST
Corus Entertainment Inc., Stingray Radio Inc., and...
Aggregated access to FTTP needed for independent ISPs, CRTC told
telecom | 02/20/2024 10:24 am EST
The crisis in competition when it comes to internet connectivity is longstanding and will only get worse, a CRTC panel heard. The commission held its final day of a week-long proceeding Friday.
Bob Allen, president of the BC Broadband Association, read a statement into...
Rogers, Cogeco, Quebecor challenge ILECs at CRTC hearings
telecom | 02/16/2024 3:02 pm EST
Representatives from Cogeco Inc. and Rogers Communications Inc. told the...
Reseller market is healthy, incumbents tell CRTC internet hearing
telecom | 02/15/2024 1:39 pm EST
Two large incumbent telecoms told the CRTC that broadband resellers are not...
Providers debate wholesale fibre access in rural areas at CRTC hearing
telecom | 02/14/2024 4:24 pm EST
To bring affordable internet and consumer choice to rural communities, the...
Cogeco defends infrastructure upgrade amid TekSavvy dispute
telecom | 02/13/2024 4:58 pm EST
Cogeco Inc. is adamantly defending its right to upgrade infrastructure for...
Fibre needed for viable third-party access framework, CRTC hears
telecom | 02/13/2024 2:42 pm EST
If Canada is to have a viable wholesale market, high speed access needs to...
Creative orgs call for copyright protections to be added to AI bill
Internet and Governance | 02/13/2024 11:13 am EST
Organizations representing Canada’s creative industries are calling on...
Court denies stay in Bell vs CRTC case
telecom | 02/12/2024 4:40 pm EST
The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed BCE Inc.’s motion for a stay against the CRTC’s decision to...
Proposed AI law risks “chilling” innovation, out of step with global standards, Big Tech tells MPs
telecom | 02/09/2024 6:37 pm EST
Representatives from major tech companies warned...
Trudeau says Bell decision to cut jobs is “garbage”; CNOC not surprised
telecom | 02/09/2024 5:07 pm EST
Reaction has been swift and condemnatory to the announcement Thursday by BCE Inc. that it is laying off 4,800 workers, selling 45 radio stations and slashing news programming...
CRTC uses forensic tools sparingly, ETHI committee told
Internet and Governance | 02/08/2024 5:37 pm EST
The CRTC has forensic investigative tools but deploys them rarely, the...
CRTC, St-Onge highlight Bell’s profitability in response to 4.8K job cut, CTV and radio closures
Media | 02/08/2024 3:57 pm EST
BCE Inc. announced Thursday that it will be...
CRTC accepts Quebecor application for arbitration over MVNO with Telus
telecom | 02/07/2024 2:14 pm EST
Quebecor Inc.'s Videotron and Freedom Mobile divisions have been granted a...
Canadian telecom provider challenges CRTC’s decision in face of dominant carriers’ access to last mile fibre
telecom | 02/07/2024 2:01 pm EST
CIK Telecom is arguing to the CRTC that the...
Bell asks cabinet to overturn CRTC decision on fibre network access
telecom | 02/06/2024 5:48 pm EST
BCE Inc., filed a petition to cabinet Friday urging it to reverse a ruling by the CRTC which mandated Bell to grant independent competitors access to its fibre network at...
ETHI committee hears departments don’t use tools to spy on Canadians
Internet and Governance | 02/06/2024 5:14 pm EST
Federal departments have forensic diagnostic tools that can be used for...
“Godfather” of AI says Canada must start regulating now
Internet and Governance | 02/06/2024 3:53 pm EST
The government must regulate artificial intelligence (AI) quickly to...
CRTC releases consult over its jurisdiction on small cell pole attachments
telecom | 02/05/2024 5:54 pm EST
The CRTC has issued a call for comments on the attachment of wireless...
Don’t fear the advent of artificial intelligence: Prime Time panelists
Media | 02/05/2024 4:40 pm EST
OTTAWA–While artificial intelligence (AI) may seem daunting to people in...
Foreign streamers a problem for all Canadian broadcasters, CMPA hears
Media | 02/05/2024 4:39 pm EST
OTTAWA–Foreign streamers will be a prickly problem for mainstream...
CRTC implements thousand-block pooling to address telephone number exhaustion
telecom | 02/05/2024 12:32 pm EST
The CRTC is implementing thousand-block pooling (TBP) as a proactive...
Bloc continues fight to counteract CBC job cuts
Media | 02/02/2024 4:25 pm EST
The Bloc Québécois is continuing to protest the job cuts at CBC/Radio-Canada announced last year. For...
Demographic data provides solid evidence for diversity and inclusion, conference told
Internet and Governance | 02/01/2024 8:12 pm EST
OTTAWA–Demographic reporting is essential if we...
Rogers announces Q4 results and completion of network slicing trial
telecom | 02/01/2024 3:49 pm EST
Rogers Communications Inc., in partnership with Ericsson AB, announced it has successfully tested 5G network slicing technology, marking the first nationwide live test....
Canadians won’t get consulted on new CBC mandate, St-Onge tells Prime Time conference
Media | 02/01/2024 2:50 pm EST
Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge said...
Attacks on CBC are concerning, says CMPA president at Prime Time conference
Media | 02/01/2024 12:35 pm EST
OTTAWA, Ont. – No public institution, including Canada’s public...
Bell and Rogers accuse Quebecor of abusing procedure in disaggregated FTTP rates application
telecom | 01/31/2024 4:38 pm EST
Quebecor Inc.’s request for the CRTC to set new...
Tait won’t rule out bonus pay for CBC’s top brass despite job cuts
Media | 01/30/2024 6:42 pm EST
CBC-Radio Canada CEO Catherine Tait won’t say if she, or the public...
CRTC initiates special process for official language minorities input for English content on French radio
Internet and Governance | 01/25/2024 4:38 pm EST
The CRTC has initiated a special consultation process regarding an application for amendments to the conditions of service for a French-language community radio station based...
CRTC receives final replies on service to Far North
telecom | 01/25/2024 3:26 pm EST
Stakeholders have sent their final replies on telecom service in the Far North to the CRTC. The incumbent telecoms are at odds with most other applicants when it comes to the remedy for competition in the region.
BCE Inc....
Bell tells CRTC to dismiss Quebecor complaint due to lack of legal grounds and unjustified demands
telecom | 01/23/2024 5:32 pm EST
Quebecor Inc.'s Part 1 application to the CRTC for...
CRTC to investigate lack of French 911 service
telecom | 01/23/2024 5:30 pm EST
The CRTC has sent letters on Jan. 22 to interested parties to try to get to the bottom of two incidents...
Advocacy groups call on CRTC to share schedule for upcoming Online Streaming Act proceedings
Media | 01/23/2024 5:08 pm EST
A coalition of nine advocacy groups and community...
Rogers sisters leave board of directors in private settlement
telecom | 01/17/2024 3:07 pm EST
Melinda Rogers-Hixon and Martha Rogers are retiring from the telecom...
CCTS: Rogers received the most complaints about telecom services last year
telecom | 01/17/2024 11:13 am EST
Rogers Communications Inc. has become Canada’s most complained-about service provider, according to the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services’ (CCTS) annual report released on...
CCTS says complaints on Bell prison call rates fall outside its scope; Telus advocates for CRTC jurisdiction in dispute
telecom | 01/16/2024 7:00 am EST
The Commission for Complaints for...
INDU debates study of mobile plan price hikes
telecom | 01/15/2024 5:46 pm EST
After almost two hours of deliberation last Thursday, the House industry and technology committee failed...
Bell seeks CRTC clarity amid class action alleging unreasonable prison call rates
telecom | 01/15/2024 4:56 pm EST
BCE Inc. filed a Part 1 application with the CRTC seeking clarity on three key areas of uncertainty identified by the Ontario Court of Appeal, in response to a proposed class...