I appeared on CBC News to discuss how Canadians are taking back the CRTC and our communications system. The CRTC, for the first time ever, included questions submitted by members of the public in the hearing. My interview can be found on Youtube or on CBC’s website for better quality.
Post Tagged with: "crtc"
CRTC Places Consumers and Access at the Top of its Priority List
My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes that with Jean-Pierre Blais installed as the new CRTC chair and the Conservatives emboldened by majority government, the Commission’s priorities send a message of change in Canadian communications policy. The days of emphasizing Canadian content rules or legislative overhauls are over, replaced by a consumer-oriented focus on affordable access to both content and connectivity services.
The CRTC priorities document identifies a single overarching objective: “ensuring that Canadians have access to a world-class communication system.” Given the myriad of policy objectives contained in both the Telecommunications Act and the Broadcasting Act, the singular focus on consumer access is a subtle but important change from the approach of the previous chair, Konrad von Finckenstein.
CRTC Places Consumers and Access at the Top of its Priority List
Appeared in the Toronto Star on September 9, 2012 as CRTC Puts Consumers and Access at the top of its Priority List The Canadian communications world is focused this week on the proposed merger between Bell and Astral Media as the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission holds its much-anticipated hearing […]
The [Fill in the Blank] Defence of Bell – Astral
After listening into the start of the CRTC hearing on the proposed Bell – Astral Media merger, it all seems strangely familiar… We thank the [CRTC/government] for its support of our industry. We think the industry has a bright future, providing more consumer choice and creating more great Canadian content. […]
How To Address Canadian Media Convergence if Bell – Astral is Approved
The anti-merger campaign, supported by consumer groups as well as several leading cable and telecom companies, has garnered tens of thousands of signatures on an online petition and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has received more than 1,700 submissions on the deal.
Despite the mounting public opposition, my weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) argues that stopping the $3 billion merger remains a longshot as none of the big three – government, the CRTC, or the Competition Bureau – seems ready to call it off.
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