CRTC

Bell ‘Blackmailing’ Canadians in CRTC Internet Decision, Says MP

Bell recently announced a $1 billion reduction in its investment for high-speed internet networks over the next two years in Ontario and Quebec, a move following the CRTC's mandate to allow internet service providers wholesale access to its network. This decision comes after a $100 million decrease in its capital expenditure budget last year, also...

CRTC Mandate on Telus and Bell Lacks Sense, Says TekSavvy

Independent internet service provider (ISP) TekSavvy has voiced concerns over the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's (CRTC) recent interim wholesale internet decision made yesterday. The ruling mandates Bell and Telus to provide wholesale access to their fibre networks in Ontario and Quebec to smaller ISPs within six months. Although TekSavvy sees the decision as a...

Bell Cuts $1 Billion in Network Investments, Blames CRTC

Bell has announced a significant reduction in its capital expenditure plans for the years 2024 and 2025, with a projected cut of over $1 billion. This includes a reduction of $500 to $600 million in 2024 alone, funds that it says were earmarked for the expansion of high-speed fibre Internet to numerous homes and businesses...

CRTC Moves to Boost High-Speed Internet Competition in Canada

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) says it has launched measures to enhance the choice and affordability of high-speed Internet for over five million households in Canada. The CRTC has launched a fast-tracked process aimed at opening up access to fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) networks owned by major telephone and cable companies to their competitors, particularly...

CRTC Mulls Broadcasting Rules for Netflix, Disney+ and More

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is contemplating imposing broadcasting policy objectives on foreign streaming services like Netflix and Disney+. Scott Shortliffe, the regulator's executive director of broadcasting, stated that the CRTC is in the initial stages of implementing the Online Streaming Act. The act aims to require streaming platforms to contribute to Canadian...

CRTC Sets $10 Million Revenue Rule for Streaming Services in Canada

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) says it has taken steps to modernize Canada's broadcasting framework, focusing on the contributions of online streaming services to Canadian and Indigenous content. Back in May, the CRTC launched its first round of public consultations. After reviewing over 200 interventions, the commission has issued its initial two decisions....

CRTC Website Goes Down for 16 Hours and Counting

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's (CRTC) website went down for the count on Monday morning, and remains unavailable as of writing. The website outage has persisted for over 16 hours now. The CRTC first noted its website was down as of 6:16am PDT/9:16am EDT. "Please note that our website and all related applications are...

CRTC Paying $230,000 for Firm to Probe 2022 Rogers Outage

According to CBC News, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has confirmed the hiring of engineering consultant Xona Partners to investigate the massive Rogers outage last year. The private firm is tasked with investigating the 2022 Rogers outage that left over 10 million customers without services. The CRTC will be paying $230,000 for this...

CRTC Approves Natyf TV for Basic TV in Quebec

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has approved the addition of Natyf TV to Quebec's basic TV package. This inclusion aims to serve Francophone racialized communities who previously did not have access to this service, said the Commission on Friday. Natyf TV offers a wide array of programming tailored to the interests of French-speaking...

CRTC’s Lack of Probe into Rogers Network Outage Draws Criticism

Matt Malone, an assistant professor in the faculty of law at Thompson Rivers University, has criticized the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for its lack of formal investigation into Rogers’ infamous network outage last summer. The outage led to widespread disruptions in emergency services, chaos among first responders, and even a fatality. "Records I’ve...

CRTC Halts New Radio Applications, Surprising Broadcasters

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has unexpectedly announced a halt on all new radio applications and complaints for a period of approximately two years. The move has left many radio broadcasters reeling, especially those facing immediate challenges. Kevin Desjardins, president of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, expressed concern, stating that many stations have...

CRTC Announces Online News Act Timeline vs Meta and Google

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on Thursday outlined how it will implement the Online News Act and the latter’s bargaining framework between Meta and Google. The basic timeline will be as follows: Fall 2023 The CRTC will hold a public consultation. The CRTC will also issue a call for proposals for an independent...