LATEST BRIEFS
Northwestel ordered to abandon DSL surcharge after eight years
telecom | 05/09/2024 11:48 am EDT
BCE Inc. subsidiary Northwestel has been told by the CRTC to stop charging DSL customers an extra $20 if they do not subscribe to home phone service as well. The decision was released Thursday.
The surcharge was originally approved in 2016. Northwestel said it could not...
Sylvain Lafrance named chair of Telefilm Canada
Media | 05/08/2024 7:33 pm EDT
Sylvain Lafrance has been appointed the new chair of Telefilm Canada, effective Thursday. His term will run for five years.
He is currently an adjunct professor at HEC Montreal and director of its Media Management Hub. He also chairs the board of directors of TV5, a...
Bloc continues to hammer CBC integration plans
Media | 05/06/2024 7:36 pm EDT
Monday the Bloc Québécois continued its assault on plans for CBC/Radio-Canada to merge some of its...
CRTC denies expedited decision on Big Three’s FTTP wholesale access
telecom | 05/06/2024 7:28 pm EDT
Friday the CRTC denied an application by several stakeholders for an...
INDU committee stuck on amendments to ‘sensitive data’ in Digital Charter Act
Internet and Governance | 05/06/2024 4:23 pm EDT
The House of Commons industry committee continued...
Staffieri touts Rogers accomplishments in Toronto speech
telecom | 05/01/2024 3:49 pm EDT
Rogers Communications Inc. CEO Tony Staffieri gave a rosy picture of life...
Miracle Channel gets licence for discretionary service
Media | 04/29/2024 4:00 pm EDT
The Miracle Channel Association (MCA) has been granted a licence for a discretionary service, the CRTC announced Monday. It had been operating Corco as an exempt service with fewer than 200,000 subscribers but has now passed that threshold.
Corco broadcasts original...
Rogers sells Monday night NHL rights to Amazon Prime streaming service
Media | 04/25/2024 1:24 pm EDT
Rogers Communications Inc. announced Thursday that it is entering into an...
Bell Media launches FAST channels in English and French
Media | 04/25/2024 1:14 pm EDT
BCE Inc. announced Thursday that it is launching seven English and three...
CCTS reports surge in Rogers, Bell, and Telus complaints
telecom | 04/25/2024 9:38 am EDT
Customer complaints against telecom and TV service providers surged by 43...
Updated: Quebecor scales back Manitoba expansion after CRTC access rate decision
Internet and Governance | 04/22/2024 6:16 pm EDT
Quebecor Inc. announced that it is suspending the launch of its "data-rich"...
WildBrain appoints Mark Trachuk as general counsel
Media | 04/22/2024 12:29 pm EDT
Toronto entertainment company WildBrain Ltd. has named Mark Trachuk as its general counsel. He will also...
Loblaws releases No Name mobile plans across Canada
Media | 04/15/2024 3:41 pm EDT
Grocery giant Loblaw Companies Ltd. is entering the mobile data market with the launch of its No Name...
INDU committee takes out “accepted practices” language from C-27
Internet and Governance | 04/15/2024 3:23 pm EDT
The House of Commons industry Committee continued its clause-by-clause...
Videotron wants City of Ottawa to pay for relocation of equipment and lines
telecom | 04/10/2024 5:18 pm EDT
Quebecor Inc. subsidiary Videotron has filed a Part 1 application with the...
Fizz launches expansion after successful beta testing outside Quebec
telecom | 04/10/2024 4:56 pm EDT
Quebecor Inc.’s flanker wireless brand Fizz has completed the beta testing of its services in Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia. On Wednesday, the company...
Wireless networks withstand effects of solar eclipse
telecom | 04/09/2024 6:26 pm EDT
Canada’s four major wireless carriers experienced major upticks in usage during Monday’s solar...
CRTC releases final figures on broadcasting fees
telecom | 04/05/2024 6:14 pm EDT
The CRTC issued follow-up numbers to an earlier decision on broadcasting fees. The initial ruling was...
CRTC sets final conditions of service on three broadcast licence holders
Media | 04/05/2024 6:12 pm EDT
The CRTC issued a series of decisions providing addenda to...
Terago appoints new CFO
telecom | 04/04/2024 5:57 pm EDT
Toronto wireless network manager Terago Inc. has appointed Rajneesh Sapra as its new CFO, effective the beginning of April. He replaces Parveen Mithra who was serving as...
Telecoms prepare responses for solar eclipse
telecom | 04/02/2024 5:22 pm EDT
The April 8 solar eclipse is expected to have an impact on wireless networks as people increase their usage of cell phones. The four major carriers in Canada anticipated this and have made preparations.
BCE Inc.’s Bell Canada is taking various steps to ward off...
Sunco launches expansion with purchase of Zayo PBX business
telecom | 03/28/2024 9:17 pm EDT
Alberta IT system integrator Sunco Communication and Installation Ltd. is...
Xplore expands broadband footprint in Prince Edward Island
telecom | 03/27/2024 4:31 pm EDT
Xplore Inc. announced Wednesday that it is rolling out high-speed internet...
CANARIE gets more federal funding as it waits for long-term cash
Internet and Governance | 03/27/2024 4:26 pm EDT
The department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) has...
Eastlink unveils video streaming app
Media | 03/26/2024 5:34 pm EDT
Bragg Communications Inc.’s Eastlink announced Tuesday that it is introducing a video streaming...
ISED auctioning off 225 leftover spectrum licences
telecom | 03/25/2024 5:49 pm EDT
The department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) is auctioning off 225 spectrum...
CRTC approves Rogers wireless project to boost connectivity in northern B.C.
telecom | 03/22/2024 6:42 pm EDT
The CRTC has approved Rogers Communications Inc.’s funding application...
Competition Bureau wants feedback on artificial intelligence
Internet and Governance | 03/21/2024 6:41 pm EDT
The Competition Bureau announced Thursday that it is seeking feedback from...
Feds provide funding to expand broadband in Nunavut
telecom | 03/21/2024 6:28 pm EDT
The federal government is spending an additional $2.8 million to advance clean energy and roll out...
Falling wireless and internet prices battle inflation, StatsCan says
Internet and Governance | 03/19/2024 5:52 pm EDT
A day after the leaders of Canada’s biggest three telecoms told Parliament that prices for telephone services are falling, Statistics Canada released data illustrating the...
CRTC to consider new radio station for Yellowknife
Media | 03/14/2024 4:19 pm EDT
The CRTC has decided to look at whether the town of Yellowknife, NWT can support another FM radio...
Indigenous Screen Office to receive permanent funding
Media | 03/14/2024 4:01 pm EDT
The Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) will receive permanent government funding to support Indigenous-led...
Bell increases security on network grid to battle copper thefts
telecom | 03/13/2024 4:59 pm EDT
As copper prices increase, BCE Inc. is enhancing its security around its...
Champagne second-most lobbied minister, Hill Times finds
telecom | 03/12/2024 3:33 pm EDT
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne...
Frédéric Perron replaces Philippe Jetté at Cogeco
telecom | 03/11/2024 12:00 pm EDT
Cogeco Inc. and Cogeco Communications Inc. announced Monday morning that president and CEO Philippe Jetté is retiring immediately from the companies and will be replaced by Frédéric Perron. Perron was most recently president of Cogeco Connexion, the firms’ broadband subsidiary. In addition to being president and CEO, he will serve as a director of both companies.
Perron has been with the Quebec company since 2020. Before signing on to Cogeco, he worked for...
Beanfield appoints new SVP of commercial services
telecom | 03/07/2024 4:44 pm EST
Beanfield Technologies Inc. has hired Chris Adamkowski as its new SVP of commercial services, the company announced Thursday.
“I am thrilled to be joining Beanfield and contributing to the mission of connecting communities...
Canadian government spends $7.5 million on Manitoba connectivity
telecom | 03/07/2024 2:44 pm EST
Minister of Rural Economic Development Gudie Hutchings continued her tour...
Feds and Alberta spend $112 million on broadband deployment
telecom | 03/06/2024 11:18 am EST
The governments of Canada and Alberta announced Tuesday that they are...
Canada and British Columbia fund high-speed internet rollout in province
telecom | 03/05/2024 9:47 am EST
Monday the federal government and the government of British Columbia joined...
TVA reaches agreement with CUPE local in Quebec
Media | 03/04/2024 12:37 pm EST
Quebecor Inc. subsidiary Groupe TVA has reached an agreement with CUPE local 687, which represents...
Feds invest $2.3M to bring high-speed internet and mobile coverage in Northwest Territories
telecom | 03/01/2024 4:10 pm EST
The Government of Canada announced Friday that it...
Senator questions genocide provisions of Online Harms Bill
Media | 03/01/2024 3:58 pm EST
A member of the Independent Senators Group is questioning why penalties for...
St-Onge appoints committee to look for new CBC president
Media | 03/01/2024 3:50 pm EST
Minister of Canadian Heritage Pascale St-Onge announced Friday an...
CBC and Canadian Media Guild reach tentative agreement
Media | 03/01/2024 3:25 pm EST
CBC/Radio-Canada and the Canadian Media Guild have inked a tentative labour agreement that will cover employees of the public broadcaster for the next three years.
The deal, which must be voted on by union members, sees an immediate pay increase of 6.1 per cent, including...
UPDATED: Competition Bureau expands probe into Google’s advertising practices in Canada
Internet and Governance | 02/29/2024 4:22 pm EST
The Competition Bureau announced...
Senator urges government to increase print advertising
Media | 02/29/2024 3:56 pm EST
A Quebec senator is calling for the government to increase its spending in newspapers and magazines. During Wednesday’s Question Period, Independent Senators Group member Tony Loffreda said...
Canada signs joint statement of principles for 6G
telecom | 02/27/2024 4:49 pm EST
Canada has joined nine other nations to promote the development of next generation telecommunications...
Natalie Théberge appointed vice-chair at CRTC
Internet and Governance | 02/22/2024 1:27 pm EST
The government has named Natalie Théberge as vice-chair at the CRTC, it was announced Thursday. Her...
CRTC angry at Telus over proposed service cuts in Kamloops
telecom | 02/20/2024 11:32 am EST
The CRTC is upset with Telus Corp. over its proposal to eliminate home telephone service in three communities in the Kamloops, BC region. The commission sent a strongly worded letter to the telecom on Feb. 15 saying it was “concerned” about the move.
“Disconnecting...
Telus announced partnership with Amazon, Samsung
telecom | 02/20/2024 10:54 am EST
Telus Corp. announced Tuesday that it is partnering with Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Samsung...
Online News Act proceeding coming in March
Media | 02/13/2024 5:10 pm EST
The CRTC will initiate public consultation on Canada's Online News Act, formerly known as Bill C-18, next...
CRTC denies Distributel’s request for revised access rates for disaggregated HSA services
telecom | 02/12/2024 4:25 pm EST
The CRTC has declined an application from BCE...
CRTC expands forbearance on regulation of high-capacity digital data services
telecom | 02/12/2024 4:13 pm EST
The CRTC announced Monday an expansion in forbearance from regulating...
Telus reports quarterly growth thanks to record additions, cost efficiency, and restructuring
telecom | 02/09/2024 6:24 pm EST
Telus Corp. reported a 17 per cent increase in...
CRTC denies TerreStar’s bid for stay of contribution decision
telecom | 02/07/2024 3:41 pm EST
The CRTC has denied an application by TerreStar Solutions Inc. for a stay...
Telus forced to explain BC service disconnection to CRTC
telecom | 02/07/2024 3:11 pm EST
Telus Corp. is being called upon by the CRTC to justify its proposal to...
Stingray reports revenue growth in Q3 results
Media | 02/07/2024 1:23 pm EST
Stingray Group Inc. saw an increase in growth and revenue as it issued its third quarter results on...
Galaxy Broadband providing Eutelsat OneWeb satellite service to Shared Services Canada
telecom | 02/05/2024 4:57 pm EST
Galaxy Broadband Communications Inc., a subsidiary of Crown Capital Partners Inc., has clinched a multi-year contract with Shared Services Canada, a department of the...
Cogeco announces acquisition of municipally-owned telecom provider
telecom | 02/05/2024 1:22 pm EST
Cogeco Inc. announced Monday that Cogeco Connexion is acquiring an...
CBC to pay costs to Ontario after losing case before Supreme Court
Media | 02/02/2024 4:16 pm EST
CBC/Radio Canada has been ordered to pay costs after it lost a case over...
BQ calls for support of CBC/Radio Canada and other media outlets
Media | 02/01/2024 12:29 pm EST
The Bloc Québécois is calling for CBC/Radio-Canada to have its funding...
Government announces $100M for Telefilm
Media | 01/31/2024 4:37 pm EST
The Government of Canada is supporting Canadian feature films and television productions by investing...
New “use it or lose it” policy helps Indigenous spectrum connectivity
telecom | 01/31/2024 3:42 pm EST
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne introduced a new spectrum licensing framework that will concentrate on rural and remote regions of...
Corus restructures content leadership team
Media | 01/29/2024 3:40 pm EST
Corus Entertainment Inc. announced Monday its plans to restructure its original content leadership team...
Calgary 911 operator charged with leaking information
telecom | 01/26/2024 4:44 pm EST
A 911 operator in Calgary has had three charges laid against her in a corruption investigation, local...
Eatrides pledges to support minority language 911 services
telecom | 01/26/2024 12:23 pm EST
CRTC chair Vicky Eatrides has promised to look into recent problems with...
Bell still not allowed to repair and restore services in Kitchener MDU
telecom | 01/24/2024 5:27 pm EST
The access dispute between BCE Inc. and the owner of a multi-dwelling unit (MDU) in Kitchener, Ontario continues as Bell stands by its claims that it is blocking the company from accessing its facilities. Bell’s response in the Part 1 proceeding, filed last Friday, said that although the MDU owner claims to acknowledge...
Privacy Commissioner unveils its privacy rights strategic plan 2024-2027
Internet and Governance | 01/22/2024 4:53 pm EST
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) unveiled its Strategic Plan...
CRTC commissioner encourages participation in upcoming consultations
Media | 01/22/2024 4:02 pm EST
As it gears up to launch several public consultations aimed at modernizing...
Ericsson and Telus extend 5G network nationally
telecom | 01/22/2024 12:42 pm EST
Ericsson AB and Telus Corp. have linked up to roll out a 5G standalone network, it was announced Monday....
Best Buy, Bell, announce partnership to rebrand The Source
telecom | 01/19/2024 4:53 pm EST
Best Buy Canada Ltd. and BCE Inc. have joined forces to rebrand 165 small-format consumer electronics stores under the banner "Best Buy Express."
The Source (formerly Radio Shack), a wholly-owned...
SaskTel brings hyper-fast connectivity to Saskatchewan’s rural heartland
telecom | 01/17/2024 3:53 pm EST
Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. announced Wednesday the deployment of 5G technology across more than 40 additional cell sites, extending its reach to rural...
CMPA joins international call for streaming regulation
Media | 01/17/2024 3:50 pm EST
The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) has joined up with other...
Federal and provincial governments bring more broadband to BC
telecom | 01/16/2024 6:28 pm EST
The governments of Canada and British Columbia have announced a joint...
Supreme Court dismisses leaves to appeal in CBC, Samsung cases
Media | 01/11/2024 4:36 pm EST
CBC/Radio-Canada will not be permitted to appeal a lower court’s ruling...
Cogeco Media to adopt Quickplay’s OTT platform
Media | 01/09/2024 5:30 pm EST
Cogeco Inc. is partnering with Quickplay to adopt their cloud-native OTT platform, the company announced in a Tuesday press release.
The collaboration will offer Cogeco Media's five million listeners...
CRTC’s vice-chair of broadcasting steps down
Internet and Governance | 01/08/2024 4:30 pm EST
The CRTC’s interim vice-chair of broadcasting and commissioner for Quebec, Alicia Barin, stepped down from her position last week.
In a statement provided to The Wire Report, Barin said she is taking a break from her professional career to focus on family.
“My...
ISED establishes fee structure for non-competitive local spectrum licences
telecom | 01/08/2024 12:59 pm EST
The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development (ISED) has...
Champagne says planned telecom price hikes go against policy direction
telecom | 01/05/2024 5:26 pm EST
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry is calling on Canadian...
Terago appoints new CFO
telecom | 01/04/2024 5:05 pm EST
Terago Inc. announced the appointment of Jason Toledano as its new CFO, effective last Tuesday.
The telecommunications industry veteran succeeds Phil Jones, who is...
SpaceX launches satellites for international coverage
telecom | 01/03/2024 4:21 pm EST
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) has launched a group of satellites which will facilitate...
Canadian Telecommunications Contribution Consortium seeks approval to renew Welch as administration of NCF
telecom | 12/22/2023 5:29 pm EST
The Canadian Telecommunications Contribution...
CRTC advises telecoms it will not meet deadlines for TPIA action
telecom | 12/19/2023 4:47 pm EST
The CRTC has told several telecommunications providers it will not be able...
Bell Aliant customers in New Brunswick experience storm outage
telecom | 12/19/2023 4:44 pm EST
BCE Inc. customers in New Brunswick have been without telephone and...
Rogers activates three new cell towers along B.C.’s Highway 16
telecom | 12/15/2023 2:49 pm EST
Rogers Communications Inc. has activated three...
Civil society groups call for AIDA to be considered separately from C-27
Internet and Governance | 12/14/2023 3:00 pm EST
A coalition of 30 individuals and civil society groups have released an open letter to the House of Commons committee on Industry asking that the Artificial Intelligence and...
Ministers reluctant to endorse Catherine Tait’s leadership at CBC
Internet and Governance | 12/12/2023 3:04 pm EST
The current and past Minister of Canadian Heritage were loath to endorse...
Rogers sells all Cogeco shares to CDPQ to reduce Shaw debt
telecom | 12/12/2023 1:10 pm EST
Rogers Communications Inc. has divested itself of all of its shares in...
SaskTel rolls out next-gen WiFi across province
telecom | 12/11/2023 3:42 pm EST
Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corp. announced Monday that it was providing state of the art WiFi across the prairie province. SaskTel is joining forces with Eero, a subsidiary of Amazon.com Inc., to deliver...
St-Onge refuses to say if she will fire CBC president Catherine Tait
Media | 12/11/2023 1:19 pm EST
Canadian Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge would not take the bait when the...
Bell still opposed to Rogers’ application seeking changes to BNS services
telecom | 12/01/2023 4:58 pm EST
BCE Inc. has responded to a commission staff letter regarding Rogers Communications Inc.’s 2019 Part 1 Application concerning Bell's Billed Number Screening (BNS) database...
988 crisis line now available to all Canadians
telecom | 11/30/2023 5:31 pm EST
The federal government made its three-digit suicide crisis helpline, 988, officially available across Canada on Thursday.
According to a press release, the helpline, is now available to call or text, in English and French, 24...
BQ media fund idea won’t solve problems, St-Onge maintains
Media | 11/27/2023 5:31 pm EST
The Bloc Québécois is continuing its fight for a fund to help Canadian...
Canada and EU reiterate digital cooperation framework
Internet and Governance | 11/27/2023 4:07 pm EST
In a Friday statement, leaders from Canada and the European Union announced the creation of a new...
CRTC issues new deadlines for Far North proceedings
telecom | 11/24/2023 5:16 pm EST
The deadline for interventions and replies to the CRTC proceedings into service in the Far North has been...
Bell being denied MDU access in Kitchener, company complains to CRTC
telecom | 11/24/2023 1:53 pm EST
BCE Inc. has asked the CRTC for urgent relief in a dispute with a building...
Eatrides defends CRTC independence at CHPC meeting
Internet and Governance | 11/23/2023 1:41 pm EST
In a House of Commons heritage committee meeting that was marked more by partisan feuding than for what...
Fall economic statement directs CRTC investigation of international roaming
Internet and Governance | 11/22/2023 1:40 pm EST
As part of what it says is an effort to reduce the cost of living for...
Freedom launches new roaming plan covering 73 destinations
telecom | 11/21/2023 5:27 pm EST
Quebecor Inc.’s Freedom Mobile announced its new roaming plan, Roam...
Chamber of Commerce sets up council to look at AI
Internet and Governance | 11/21/2023 3:55 pm EST
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce has jumped on the Artificial Intelligence bandwagon. On Nov. 20 it announced it had formed a 30-member council on the future of AI. This comes on the heels of a decision by the United Nations to create an advisory body on the technology....