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Digital technology issue may put small cablecos offside on French services rules

Some small cablecos are warning that the channels available to them as part of a new cost-effective digital solution will restrict their ability to offer a diverse range of specialty channels on a digital basis and may even make it impossible to adhere to CRTC regulations. While Canadian Satellite Communications Inc.’s Headend-in-the-Sky Quick Take (HITS QT) service drastically lowers the cost of converting to digital, a number of signals are currently unavailable on the system (CCR, Aug. 15/01).

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Some commissioners, industry experts question secrecy of CRTC decision process

Longstanding industry gripes over secrecy at the CRTC have been brought to the fore as Canadian Communications Reports has hit a brick wall in its attempt to pry voting information from the commission. Responding to CCR inquiries about the lack of transparency on commissioner voting records in the wake of a failed Access to Information request, both industry experts and even some commissioners are calling for greater openness at the broadcast and telecom regulator, and an end to unrecorded votes. Many are also calling for disclosure of staff recommendations.

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CNM Update

IBDG Category 2 digital TV licence application now public
IBDG Inc.’s application for a Category 2 digital speciality TV channel licence has now been made public by Canada’s broadcast regulator, the CRTC. The application indicates that the company intends to operate an interactive, market-driven research channel to test consumer satisfaction with innovative programming and services. The application reads: "It considers the best of existing interactive technology to accumulate information around viewer response within a programming block. The nature of the channel is market research and not content specific. Original programming will report on consumer response, research being done and consumer response studies from around the world that could measure everything from favourite television shows to a favourite kitchen utensil." IBDG, Ryerson Polytechnic University’s broadcast R&D company, indicates that because programming content would be flexible, the channel should fall within each of the categories for digital speciality licences as defined by the commission. The application also indicates that the company will be renamed Response TV Inc., wholly owned by Beverly Milligan. Ryerson’s Lucie Hall will act as secretary/treasurer, and Canadian Women in Communications’ Jannat Hammid will serve as president. The application sheds light on the plans originally sketched by Milligan to Canadian NEW MEDIA last fall.

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RoW Update

U.S. defense department to get help on spectrum issues
The U.S. Department of Defense has hired a telecom industry veteran to look after spectrum-related issues while it continues to joust with the commercial wireless industry over access to valuable slices of airwaves. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld named Steven Price as DOD’s deputy assistant secretary of Defense for spectrum and command, control and communications policy. This appointment marks the first time spectrum has taken on such a significant role within the DOD.

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NL Editorial

The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Decima Reports.

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Full Broadband Access via Fibre Optics is Right Around the Corner

Fibre-optics have long been touted as the solution for North American businesses’ ever-expanding broadband needs, but there has always been a critical obstacle – the "last mile" problem of getting fibre-optic cable from outlying networks into the buildings where people can actually put it to use.

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NL People

Isabelle Courville is the new president/CEO of Télébec and of Northern Telephone. She had been a senior VP at parent company Bell Canada and succeeds Pierre Brochu at the helm of the two regional telcos.

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NL Short Takes

Bell Canada rustles up contract with Stampede
The eastern ILEC heads out west as Bell Canada signs a five-year exclusive agreement with the Calgary Stampede to provide telecom services. The telco will offer LD, high-speed Internet, network infrastructure, wireless and satellite services. No financial terms were disclosed.

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Regulatory Roundup

Manitoba Telecom SIP rejected; telco told to file new five-year plan

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Call-Net and Bell battle over winback provisions of competitive toll market

The war of words between Call-Net Enterprises Inc. and Bell Canada over the competitive toll market is heating up as each side is accusing the other of playing fast and loose with the facts.

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