Next CRTC decision on TV won’t be about pick-and-pay

Media | 02/26/2015 9:04 pm EST

The CRTC on March 12 will announce most decisions related to its Let's Talk TV consultation, but it won't be about whether to force TV-service providers to unbundle channels. The Canadian Club of Ottawa will host a lunchtime presentation by CRTC Chairman Jean-Pierre Blais on that day. CRTC spokeswoman Patricia Valadao said in an email he will be announcing decisions related to Canadian content and genres, though he will not address the issue of a pick-and-pay TV regime. Decisions resulting from the CRTC's review of the television industry so far include the maintaining of simultaneous substitution with the exception of during the Super Bowl starting in 2017, and stating broadcasters who don't maintain over-the-air transmitters will lose their "privileges" of...

Payphone use ‘decreasing’ but still ‘important’: CRTC

telecom | 02/26/2015 8:58 pm EST

The CRTC said Thursday that it has found use of payphones in Canada is "decreasing steadily" though they remain "important" and careful consideration should be given before removing a community's access to them. The commission said in report that a fact-finding mission found that just 32 per cent of Canadians say they have used a payphone at least once in the last year. That compares to 50 per cent who said they used them occasionally in 2004. However, it added that payphones are "an important complementary or convenience service" because of accessibility and affordability. The CRTC is recommending that its policy of requiring public notification from an...