Last December, Rogers wrote to the CRTC looking for a declaratory ruling that text messages and multi-media messages should be captured under the Do Not Call List (DNCL) rules.

The CRTC has rejected the application – not even willing to look at the issue since the government has introduced Bill C-27: the anti-spam legislation (ECPA: the Electronic Commerce Protection Act).

Unlike email spam, there is a direct cost to many consumers for receiving unsolicited incoming text messages.

Who knows when (or if) the new legislation will be passed. It appears that the CRTC has sidestepped an opportunity to provide an enforcement tool.

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CRTC, ECPA, spam

The air-to-ground spectrum auction has wrapped up with a new player winning the right to provide internet connectivity to Canada’s airline industry.

Sky Surf Canada Communications Inc. will pay 2.1M for the spectrum, having outbid MTS Allstream.

Will they be able to develop an agreement with Aircell?

Simon Avery at the Globe and Mail has a feature today on the wireless new entrants.

Our closing session at The 2009 Canadian Telecom Summit on June 17 will feature Dave Dobbin of DAVE Wireless, Alek Krstajic of Public Mobile and Tony Lacavera of Globalive.

Have you registered yet?

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AWS, Canadian Telecom Summit

Rogers has announced a no-charge upgrade to two of its most popular internet services. Rogers Internet Express will get a 50% boost (from 7 Mbps to 10 Mbps) and Internet Lite gets its speed tripled (from 1 Mbps to 3 Mbps).

At 3 Mbps, Internet Lite service has become a very respectable value-priced option. The enhancements are expected to be in place by the end of this week.

Rogers CEO Nadir Mohamed opens The 2009 Canadian Telecom Summit in 3 weeks.

Have you registered yet?

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Rogers, Canadian Telecom Summit

Internet to Go, a recently announced service from MTS, is a part of a creative bundle that leverages the company’s wireless network and WiFi partners.

The offer demonstrates that carriers don’t need a specialized wireless broadband network, such as the Inukshuk nomadic services offered under the Bell and Rogers brands.

As speeds on cellular networks increase, mobile services are increasingly offering a means for customers to be untethered from a wireline network for voice or data services. Last August, I described how some countries have seen 3G mobile networks being used to deliver residential broadband.

MTS Allstream CEO Pierre Blouin will offer his perspectives at The 2009 Canadian Telecom Summit.

Rogers CEO Nadir Mohamed opens the conference on June 15. Bernard Lord, head of Canada’s wireless industry association will be speaking on June 16 and the heads of 3 of Canada’s new entrant wireless carriers will close the conference on June 17.

CRTC Chair Konrad von Finckenstein speaks on June 16 and the industry’s leading regulatory executives will debate the many current issues that are in front of the Commission and Cabinet. That day closes with a discussion that focusses on net neutrality.

Throughout the conference, industry leaders from around the world (including RIM co-founder Mike Lazaridis speaking on June 15) will share their global perspectives on what is working and what isn’t as the telecom industry evolves.

Have you registered yet?