Friday, May 28, 2010
Need for speed: ISPs to plead case before CRTC Independent Internet providers will ask the federal regulator to order telcos and cablecos to let them match the fastest speeds the incumbents offer on their new networks. The incumbents will say it isn’t necessary, or, considering the money they're spending, fair. 
Friday, May 14, 2010
Mobilicity opens for service in Toronto The second new wireless entrant opened its doors on the weekend with plans aimed at the country's expanding Asian residents. An industry analyst says the approach could yield results
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Clement stoutly defends Globalive ruling to MPs Overturning the federal telecom regulator and declaring Globalive a Canadian-controlled firm was justified, the Industry minister said. However, his plans to liberalize foreign telecom ownership are still unknown
Monday, May 10, 2010
Foreign ownership rules hurt satellite operators: Telesat During testimony before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, Dan Goldberg of Telesat Holdings Inc. said foreign companies competing with this do not have to follow the same Canadian rules
Thursday, May 06, 2010
ISPs may raise rates after CRTC ruling One industry analyst says the decision on usage-based billing handcuffs the Bell companies. But two independent service providers believe their Internet rates will be affected
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
U.S. providers join Canadian fibre war A bitter exchange of words has marked a fight between Telus and a U.S.-based operator before the Canadian telecom regulator. Its decision will have an impact on the number of providers selling fibre optic services
Friday, April 23, 2010
CRTC asks Public Mobile for ‘minor’ changes Federal regulator tells wireless startup it has to make changes to ensure Canadians are in control. A company spokesman said the alterations in the shareholders agreement are small, suggesting it won't be long before it starts business
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Foreign ownership hearings to hear from Clement Tony Clement, the federal Minister of Industry, will testify before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology. His appearance on Thursday was postponed
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
New wireless entrants encourage foreign ownership Officials from Public Mobile and Globalive wireless say allowing more foreign investment in Canadian telecommunications carriers, it will be easier for new wireless entrants to raise money so they can compete against the incumbents. Read the latest in the House of Commons industry committee hearings on foreign ownership
Friday, April 16, 2010
Rogers slams Globalive Wireless' focus on cities At a House of Commons committee meeting, Rogers Communications Inc. executives said Wind Mobile, operated by Globalive Wireless Management Corp., will not do anything for rural areas
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
CRTC supports mandatory Canadian telco ownership Konrad von Fickenstein testified before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, which is looking into the foreign ownership limits on Canadian telecommunications carriers. He recommended the current limit of 20 per cent be increased to 49 per cent
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
How Canada, U.S. differ on ISP traffic management U.S. Internet providers suddenly have complete freedom to manage their traffic in any way they see fit. By contrast Canadian providers have to tread carefully, although they have wide lattitude. Here's how it happened
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Communities abandoned by CRTC, says commissioner It isn't often a member of a CRTC panel issues a dissent. But a decision to deregulate the way incumbent phone companies deal with requests to expand local calling areas in many cities was called 'unfair' by one commissioner. Find out why
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Wireless data regulation off the hearing table: CRTC The wireless industry has scored a win by convincing the federal telecom regulator to limit its look into regulating mobile wireless data services. How far those limits will extend, however, has yet to be determined. One group says traffic management should be included.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Lighting a fire over lighting fibre Telus is objecting to the subsidiary of U.S. provider that wants to light and sell dark fibre it buys from the Canadian telco from being declared a reseller of telecom services. Instead, it has asked the telecom regulator to declare the subsidiary a telecom carrier. That, industry analysts say, would set off a foreign control fight, a fight Telus says isn't its intention
Thursday, March 18, 2010
In Conversation: eHealth's new CEO, open government VIDEO: Who is Greg Reed and why is he eHealth Ontario's pick for its new CEO? What's the fuss about open government? And will the CRTC regulate wireless data? IT World Canada staff discuss the issues
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Telecom industry divided on need for broadband plan The U.S. communications regulator has a wide-ranging plan for the country to become the nation with the fastest wireless network in the world. Some industry experts here say we should have a plan of our own, while other say it's not needed
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Analysis: Is the wireless industry paranoid? The federal telecom regulator has been saying for months it wants to look at its hands-off policy of regulating wireless data. But the wireless industry can’t make out how far it will go. Has CRTC been sending conflicting signals? Or is the message clear and the industry can’t read?
Monday, March 08, 2010
CRTC starts DAVE Wireless ownership review The telecom regulator has decided the startup's ownership structure isn't complex to justifiy a public hearing. However, the closed-door review it has to undergo will lengthen the time it will take to get into business
Monday, March 08, 2010
Two execs blown from Wind, but chair stays cool A consulting firm says the departures prove the startup launched too early, and that the wireless company needs pricing creativity and better marketing. The head of the company admits there are some network ‘hiccups,’ but it’s working hard to solve them as service spreads across the country
Friday, March 05, 2010
U.S. phone subsidies to go to broadband The US$4.6 billion-a-year program that subsidizes telephone service to rural areas will go to broadband if a proposal from the federal regulator goes through. It's a move that's only just starting to be studied in Canada
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Backgrounder: Canada’s telecom ownership laws In the past seven years there have been three reports urging the government to encourage foreign investment in telecom carriers by removing investment restrictions. A look at what those reports said may suggest where the Conservative government will go with its new telecom policy
Friday, February 26, 2010
Five telecom rulings that will shape the industry Last year there were a number of telecom rulings involving the CRTC, two of which involved the cabinet, which could have a lasting impact on the industry for years. A look at the decisions and what's on the commission's agenda this year
Friday, February 26, 2010
Sidebar: Significant 2009 regulatory rulings Here are some of the major regulatory decisions of 2009, made either by the CRTC or the federal cabinet
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Telecom foreign ownership restrictions archaic: Report Forrester Research Inc. published a report by Montreal-based Brownlee Thomas stating Bell Canada Enterprises Inc., Rogers Communications Inc. and Telus Corp. have a stranglehold on the wireless market in Canada. The foreign ownership laws are partly to blame and Thomas offers advice for wireless business users looking for a better deal