Stale dated

August 27, 2006
In the grocery stores, most products have a ‘Best before’ date stamped on the label, helping consumers ensure that the goods are still fresh. Unfortunately, regulatory filings and studies that are getting submitted to the government are missing such labelling. As a result, we have been seeing some of the same old complaints getting put back on the shelf once again.

Take the idea of the existence of competitive supply of advanced network access facilities, a subject we have written about in the past. One of the expert reports says

In order for a CLEC or IXC to furnish service to any location not connected to CLEC-owned facilities, the use of “last mile” facilities owned by the incumbent are the only option.

The only option? What about electric utility telecoms as an option? What about fixed wireless as an option?

The Telecom Policy Review panel suggested that many of the functions of the CRTC should be absorbed by the Competition Bureau. We may need to get the product labelling branch at the Competition Bureau to review these reports for their ‘Best Before’ dates.

I’d like to hear some fresh viewpoints. Something smells a little off.

While we’re on the topic of freshness, more than a week has past since the submissions were received and still none are posted on the Industry Canada website. OK, it’s summertime, but c’mon folks. You’re making it tough for everyone to be operating here. The other side of the river seems to be able to keep their website current!

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Countdown

January 25, 2017

Back in May, we wrote about the Federal Cabinet sending VoIP regulation back to the CRTC for a second look.

At the time, the CRTC was given 120 days to respond. Of course, Cabinet didn’t expect us to interrupt the CRTC’s work schedule last week with an urgent internet content issue.

Still, we should be seeing something next week before the Labour Day weekend.

HD comes to Manitoba

January 25, 2017

At first I thought I read the date on the press release wrong. MTS announced yesterday that it has launched HD-TV on its MTS-TV service. Maybe the World Cup is playing later in the year in the Central time zone?

Seems to confirm my earlier views that HDTV is where cable will beat the telcos unless something disruptive comes along.

Procedural punt

January 25, 2017

The CRTC has denied our request to permit carriers to block the illegal content originating outside Canada.

It cites procedural grounds.

You can find the press release from Canadian Jewish Congress here.

An issue of sovereignty

June 24, 2022

We’re getting generally strong support for this precedent setting case, seeking authority from the CRTC for Canadian carriers, at their own option, to be able to block illegal content that originates from outside our borders.

To those that say that you can’t stop people from accessing the content, I’ll answer that we can at least make it more difficult. We can’t prevent all the illegal drugs from entering Canada either, but that doesn’t mean we should stop trying.

To those who suggest that we need to go to the source, let me say that we are pulling many levers of justice on both sides of the border.

To those that think that the Internet is invincible, don’t forget the the weakest link is that wire, or fibre or WiFi connection that leads from your PC to your own ISP. It is the single point of failure for most users. It is precisely the right place to intercede.

This case is an important precedent because it speaks to the sovereignty of Canada and its ability to protect its citizens and defend its own criminal code.

We should be able to rely on Canadian instruments of justice, law and regulation to defend Canadians inside Canada.

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