Latest Posts

“Down the Rabbit Hole at the CRTC Hearing”

Dwayne Winseck has another terrific column at the Globe, this time reflecting on the recently concluded CRTC vertical integration hearing.

Read more ›

June 30, 2011 Comments are Disabled News

Why European Broadband is Faster and Cheaper

Engadget features a great piece on the link between government regulation and broadband. While the piece is focused on the EU vs. US, many of the same lessons apply in Canada.

Read more ›

June 30, 2011 2 comments News

CSISAC Issues Statement on Rejection of OECD Communique

As I posted earlier this week, the civil society advisory council within the OECD has refused to endorse new Internet policy principles. CSISAC explains its position here. KEI provides its perspective here. A detailed backgrounder on the issue from Kieren McCarthy here.

Read more ›

June 30, 2011 Comments are Disabled News

CRTC Faces Charges of Bias in Online Video Consultation

Earlier this month Konrad von Finckenstein, the chair of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, was asked at an industry conference about the role of consumer groups in telecom regulation. He responded that consumer groups generally do not have a problem ensuring their views are heard, but that their effectiveness depended upon getting organized and developing the necessary knowledge and expertise to fully participate in regulatory proceedings.

Yet just as von Finckenstein was providing assurances to the consumer community, my weekly technology column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes the CRTC was erecting barriers to their participation in a consultation on online video services such as Netflix and AppleTV. In fact, the consultation (labeled a “fact-finding exercise”) has been marred by charges of CRTC bias that has led at least one consumer group to pull out altogether.

Read more ›

June 29, 2011 11 comments Columns

Bell Pays $10 Million To Settle Misleading Advertising Claim

Bell has settled a Competition Bureau complaint over misleading advertising dating back to 2007.  Bell agreed to pay $10 million, the maximum permitted under the Competition Act, and cover $100,000 in investigation expenses. The company denies wrongdoing, however, stating that it “fundamentally disagrees” with the Bureau.

Read more ›

June 29, 2011 3 comments News