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Spectrum Auction Puts Wireless Competition on the Line

My weekly column (Ottawa Citizen version, homepage version) looks at the current debate over the spectrum auction set for 2008. The first round of the consultation comments closed last month, generating nearly 50 industry submissions, yet surprisingly only four Canadians provided their views (follow up responses can be made until June 27th).  By comparison, in the United States more than 250,000 people have written to the Federal Communications Commission to urge it to set conditions on a forthcoming spectrum auction that would make Internet access more open, affordable, and accessible.

Despite the lack of Canadian public awareness, the issue has an enormous impact on telecommunications since it plays a pivotal role in determining wireless competition.  The three incumbent wireless providers (Bell, Telus, and Rogers) along with some business groups stand on one side, calling for an "open auction" that would involve minimal pre-conditions and see the available spectrum auctioned off to the highest bidders.  These groups argue that the Canadian wireless market is already competitive and that the government should avoid setting aside spectrum for new providers.

Major cable companies (Shaw, Quebecor, Cogeco) and smaller telecom companies (MTS Allstream, Toronto Hydro Telecom) provide the alternate perspective.  They are seeking a "set-aside" that would reserve spectrum for new entrants.  These companies point to data that places Canada well below other developed countries on metrics such as the number of wireless subscribers, pricing, and the introduction of innovative services.  They also note that Canadian spectrum auctions are not truly open, since foreign ownership restrictions exclude many potential bidders.

While the incumbents have been quick to characterize a spectrum set-aside as akin to a government subsidy, they fail to acknowledge that they were handed reserved spectrum to get off the ground.

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June 19, 2007 4 comments Columns

Senate Sends C-59 to Committee

The Senate began debate yesterday on Bill C-59, the movie camcording bill.  The bill received enthusiastic support from both a Conservative and a Liberal Senator, but the bill was then sent to the Senate Standing Committee on Transport and Communications for review, suggesting that the Senate might conduct the hearings […]

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June 19, 2007 Comments are Disabled News

Must Watch

For those reading this in a feed, I've just added a Must Watch section to the website.  While it starts with the recent YouTube video on the movie camcording bill, there will be more added in the weeks ahead as I'm working with law student with a film background on […]

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June 19, 2007 Comments are Disabled News

Weekend Reading

There were several interesting and longer articles published over the weekend – check out the Boston Globe on the impact of the Internet on political campaigns, the LA Times on citizen journalism in South Korea, Julian Dibbell in the NY Times with a great piece on Chinese gold farming, and […]

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June 18, 2007 Comments are Disabled News

Public Safety and National Security Committee Releases Counterfeiting Report

The Public Safety and National Security Committee has released its report on counterfeiting (I appeared before the committee in the spring).  The report makes 14 recommendations, most of which unsurprisingly track the recommendations from the Canadian Anti-Counterfeiting Network.  These include criminal remedies in the Trademarks Act, inclusion of copyright within […]

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June 18, 2007 Comments are Disabled News