Opposition MP predicts smooth ride for retransmission bill through committee

Bill C-48, the federal government's proposed legislation to amend Canada's retransmission laws to clarify the role of the Internet, is likely in for an easy ride at the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, according to one member of the committee. Wendy Lill, the New Democrat MP representing Dartmouth, says her party supports the bill's aim to protect television content from unauthorized Internet retransmission, though she will demand to see proposed regulations attached to the bill before making up her mind.

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Enhanced television likely to attract older demographic: CHUM executive

CHUM Television expects to tap an older audience with its new enhanced television (ETV) service than it currently targets with its web offering. While the youth demographic is likely demanding more interactivity than current TV technology can provide, a slightly older audience that constitutes the bulk of TV viewers will welcome enhanced content that will let them view additional news and even shop from the comfort of their couches, says Maria Hale, managing director of the broadcaster's interactive division.

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CCR Update

Rogers Cable unveils plans for VOD
Rogers Cable Inc. unveiled plans for a video-on-demand (VOD) service that it anticipates rolling out commercially this June. In the meantime, it is testing the service with 50 households in Toronto, and plans to expand the trial to 1,000 employees and customers. At a news conference Feb. 19, Rogers Cable president and chief executive John Tory said VOD should help drive digital television in Canada. Shaw Cablesystems is also testing VOD in Calgary, and is targeting a commercial rollout by year-end. Cogeco Cable Inc. is believed to have begun field trials of its VOD service, run in conjunction with solutions provider Atlanta-based Concurrent Computer Corp. Cogeco is targeting the summer of 2002 to have the service available on a wider basis. For more information, see the upcoming edition of CCR. More details.
 

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RoW 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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RoW Short Takes

Sierra Wireless expands into Nordic region
Vancouver-based Sierra Wireless Inc. is expanding into the Nordic region through a distribution agreement with Nordic-Gate, a Norway-based company. The two companies will work together to introduce the AirCard 750 wireless modem PC card to the corporate and business market segments throughout Norway and other Nordic countries. The AirCard 750 is a tri-band wireless modem card operating on GSM and GPRS networks. Sierra Wireless has been aggressively expanding into many regions of the world in a bid to build upon its leadership in the wireless PC modem card market.

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RoW International Short Takes

Giants to develop multimedia messaging system
Apple Computer Inc., Sun Microsystems Inc. and Ericsson are teaming up to develop a system for bringing multimedia content such as movie clips to cell phones and other wireless devices. The three companies are banding together to battle rivals such as Microsoft Corp. and RealNetworks in the emerging multimedia messaging market. Dubbed the Ericsson Content Delivery Solution, the system would enable video clips to run on a variety of devices without having to reformat the file. It will include Apple's QuickTime streaming video system, content distribution software from Sun, and wireless infrastructure from Ericsson.

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RoW People

Last week, Nortel Networks Corp.'s CFO Terry Hungle abruptly resigned from his position as CFO of the company amid concerns over controversial stock trades he made during the last year. With the Enron situation getting international play in the media, Nortel reacted quickly to avert any potential serious consequences with security exchange officials, both here in Canada and the United States. He resigned on Monday, Feb. 11, a day before an analysts meeting, after questions arose from personal investments he made ahead of corporate announcements.

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Rogers only wireless carrier willing to spend heavily on capex, says new survey

Capital expenditures by Canadian wireless companies will be consistent, but not spectacular, a new study by IDC Canada finds. Only Rogers Wireless Communications Inc. is projected to invest heavily, the market research firm predicts in its annual Canadian Telecom Market Drivers and Strategies.

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Edmonton firm poised for growth from wireless video game controller market

A small but growing Edmonton-based wireless engineering firm is ready to take on the gaming world with its wireless RF technology that connects multiple peripherals to game consoles such as the PlayStation 2, the Xbox and the GameCube. Eleven Engineering Inc. has already made public one major deal, and will soon unveil details of a second. In both agreements, the major third-party video game controller manufacturers will integrate the company's Spike wireless chip sets into various types of controllers.

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Wireless telecom veteran Kedar calls for new spectrum licensing structure

One of the country's most experienced and respected telecommunications leaders is once again calling on the federal government to overhaul the current telecommunications regulatory framework, and implement a new structure that would favour more sustainable competition. Specifically, Mike Kedar, chair of MobilExchange Ltd., wants Ottawa to take away spectrum licensing powers from Industry Canada and centralize them with all other telecommunications licensing procedures at the CRTC where, he believes, they would be less political.

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