Weekly News (Feb. 19th – 25th)

Communications Governance in the News

Compiled by Charnjot Shokar

Research Assistant, Communications Governance Lab

M.A. Candidate, Communication and New Media, McMaster University

Canadian News: Feb. 12 – 18

• [FREEDOM OF INFORMATION] N.S. government refuses to release cause of fire that killed 4 children (CBC)
• [CULTURAL FUNDING] Canadian newspapers have a future – if publishers get support for the present (National Post)
• [ACCESS TO INFORMATION] Federal liberal government to release tax gap data (Star)
• [CYBERSECURITY] Tech protection: Cybersecurity expert argues for privacy and encryption – even when authorities come knocking (Winnipeg Free Press)
• [COPYRIGHT] Same old song: The debate over copyright litigation in the music industry (CTV)
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] ‘Weaponization’ of free speech prompts talk of a new hate law (National Post)

International News: Feb. 12 – 18

• [PRIVACY] German court rules Facebook use of personal data illegal (Reuters)
• [PRIVACY] Encryption keeps us safe. It must not be compromised with ‘backdoors’(Guardian)
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Myanmar government under Suu Kyi cracks down on journalists (ABC)
• [SECURITY] Immigration enforcement lawyer admits stealing immigrant IDs (Washington Post)
• [ELECTIONS / FAKE NEWS] Brazil Looks to Crack Down on Fake News Ahead of Bitter Election (NYT)
• [INTERNET] SpaceX wants to beam Internet down to Earth. Here’s how it will start. (Washington Post)
• [MEDIA OWNERSHIP] Ajit Pai faces investigation into moves that benefit Sinclair broadcasting (Ars Technica)
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION / CENSORSHIP] In Modi’s India, journalists face bullying, criminal cases and worse (Washington Post)
• [PRIVACY] Fitness app Strava under fire. Now, Senators want answers. (USA Today)

Press Releases and Decisions: Feb. 12 – 18

CRTC

• Broadcasting
  • Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2018-65: APPROVED – Rogers Media Inc. – Across Canada – Application to revoke the broadcasting licence for the national, English-language discretionary station VICELAND
  • Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2018-64: APPROVED – Golden West Broadcasting Ltd. – Grande Prairie, Alberta, and Fort St. John and Dawson Creek, British Columbia – Application for authority to acquire from Grande Prairie Radio Ltd. (Grande Prairie Radio), as part of a corporate reorganization, the assets of the English-language commercial specialty (Christian music) radio station CJGY-FM Grande Prairie and its transmitters CJGY-FM-1 Fort St. John and CJGY-FM-2 Dawson Creek, and for a new broadcasting licence to continue the operation of the station
  • Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2018-57: APPROVED – Bell Media Inc. – Midland, Orillia, Owen Sound and Sudbury, Ontario – Application for authority to acquire from Larche Communications Inc. the assets of English-language commercial radio stations CICZ-FM Midland, CICX-FM Orillia, CJOS-FM Owen Sound and CICS-FM Sudbury
  • Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2018-56: DENIED – Ebox Inc. – Various locations in Quebec – Complaint alleging Bell Media Inc.’s refusal to provide certain of its programming services
• Telecom
  • Telecom Decision CRTC 2018-62: CISC Business Process Working Group – Consensus report BPRE096a regarding readiness of Canadian carriers to implement enhanced Transport Layer Security via Applicability Statement 2 – Public record: 8621-C12-01/08
  • Telecom Decision CRTC 2018-63: Forbearance from the regulation of high-capacity / digital data services interexchange private line services on certain additional routes – Public record: 8638-S1-01/98
  • Telecom Decision CRTC 2018-60: Canadian Telecommunications Contribution Consortium Inc. – Application to revise the Procedures for the Operation of the National Contribution Fund, effective 15 February 2018 – Public record: 8695-C211-201708794
  • Telecom Decision CRTC 2018-59: CRTC Interconnection Steering Committee – Dispute regarding deferral of the relief implementation date for area code 709 in Newfoundland and Labrador – Public record: 1011-NOC2016-0205
  • Telecom Decision CRTC 2018-58: Relief for area codes 236, 250, 604, and 778 in British Columbia – Public record: 1011-NOC2016-0208
  • Telecom Order CRTC 2018-61: Streamlined Order – The Commission approves on a final basis the following tariff applications: Bell Canada TN 7552 and TN 7553; Saskatchewan Télécommunications TN 345

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• Responses to Clarification Questions on the Licensing Framework for Residual Spectrum Licenses in the 700 MHz, 2500 MHz, 2300 MHz, and PCS-G Bands

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

• [PRIVACY] OPC funds initiatives to raise privacy awareness by highlighting outcomes of privacy research
• [PRIVACY] Privacy Commissioner launches investigation into Nissan breach
• [PRIVACY] Appearance before the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics to discuss draft Position on Online Reputation

Global Affairs Canada

• [TRADE] Foreign Affairs Minister in Washington, D.C, to promote close Canada-United States ties: Canada and the United States share a long-standing and deeply integrated trade relationship that supports good jobs on both sides of the border. The Government of Canada is determined to continue to work closely with the Government of the United States to strengthen the trade relationship and broaden opportunities for workers, businesses and middle-class families of both countries.

Facebook

• Making it Easier for Organizations and Businesses to Help People during a Crisis

Upcoming Events

Senate of Canada

• No planned Senate sitting days this week: Senate reconvenes Feb. 26

Canadian House of Commons

• No planned House of Commons sitting days this week: House reconvenes Feb. 26

CRTC

• [TELECOM] Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2018-5: Show cause proceeding and call for comments – Telecommunications service providers that have failed to become participants in the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services Inc. – Deadline for submission of interventions: 22 February 2018
• Anticipated releases for the week of 12 to 16 February 2018
  • Broadcasting Decisions
    • Decision relating to the following application considered under the Commission’s Part 1 process:
      • Ebox Inc.
        Complaint alleging Bell Media Inc.’s refusal to provide certain of its programming services
        Public record for this application: 2017-0909-9
    • Decisions relating to the following applications considered by the Commission at the 11 January 2018public hearing:
      • Golden West Broadcasting Ltd.
        CJGY-FM Grande Prairie and its transmitters CJGY-FM-1 Fort St. John and CJGY‑FM‑2 Dawson Creek – Acquisition of assets (corporate reorganization)
        Public record for this application: 2017-0802-5
      • Bell Media Inc.
        CICZ-FM Midland, CICX-FM Orillia, CJOS-FM Owen Sound and CICS-FM Sudbury – Acquisition of assets
        Public record for this application: 2017-0647-5
    • Telecom Decisions
      • Canadian Telecommunications Contribution Consortium Inc. – Application to revise the Procedures for the Operation of the National Contribution Fund, effective 15 February 2018
        Public record: 8695-C211-201708794
      • Forbearance from the regulation of high-capacity / digital data services interexchange private line services on certain additional routes
        Public record:8638-S1-01/98
      • Relief for area codes 236, 250, 604, and 778 in British Columbia
        Public record: 1011-NOC2016-0208
      • CISC Business Process Working Group – Consensus report BPRE096a regarding readiness of Canadian carriers to implement enhanced Transport Layer Security via Applicability Statement 2
        Public record: 8621-C12-01/08

Parks Canada

• Consultation: Signal Hill National Historic Site Draft Management Plan closes February 28, 2018