Communications Governance Newsletter

Weekly News (August 13, 2019)

Compiled by Ian Steinberg with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

 

Communications Governance Observatory Monthly Podcast Series

Podcast Episode 8: Platform Regulation Part 1 with Dr. Tamara Shepherd (17 min)

Podcast Episode 9: Platform Regulation Part 2 with Dr. Tamara Shepherd (17 min)

Canadian News (August 6-12, 2019)

• [WIRELESS POLICY] Telcos warned ‘something coming’ (Star)
• [PRIVACY] ‘Knife’s edge’: Showdown looms on encryption; Tech firms oppose demands to open ‘back door’ (Chronicle Herald)
• [PRIVACY] Privacy watchdog eyes Metrolinx plan (Star)
• [PRIVACY] Provincial governments urged to better regulate police record checks (Globe and Mail)
• [SMART CITY] Sidewalks Labs plan a ‘terrible deal,’ Ford says (Star)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Opinion: Geist: Election 2019: Return of the Netflix tax debate (Globe and Mail)
• [BROADBAND POLICY] Canadians more satisfied with indie internet providers (Star)
• [BROADBAND POLICY] Competitor rules strengthen broadband market: watchdog (Globe and Mail)
• [BROADBAND POLICY] Opinion: Menzies: Affordable internet essential for remote areas (Winnipeg Free Press)

International News (August 6-12, 2019)

• [PLATFORM REGULATION] White House proposal would have FCC and FTC police alleged social media censorship (CNN)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Social media companies want to tamp down misinformation. No wonder Trump is at war with them. (Washington Post)
• [PLATFORM REGULATION] Day of EU reckoning nears for Facebook (WSJ)
• [PLATFORM GOVERNANCE] 8chan vowed to fight on, saying its ‘heartbeat is strong.’ Then a tech firm knocked it offline (Washington Post)
• [ONLINE HARASSMENT] Student Wins Suit Against Publisher Who Incited Racist ‘Troll Storm’ (NYT)
• [PRIVACY] FBI surveillance proposal sets up clash with Facebook (WSJ)
• [PRIVACY] Apple sued over unauthorized recording of users (Star)
• [WIRELESS] Court deals blow to FCC’s bid to speed 5G rollout (CNN)
• [CYBERSECURITY] New risk guidance being developed for cybersecurity, compliance (WSJ)
• [PRIVACY] How the New York Public Library Guards Privacy in the Digital Age (WSJ)
• [CRYPTOCURRENCY] Facebook’s Libra cryptocurrency is part of a disturbing financial trend (Washington Post)

 

Press Releases and Decisions (August 6-12, 2019)

Federal Court of Canada

• [PATENTS] Corning Cable Systems LLC v. Canada (Attorney General)

Canadian Heritage

• The Government of Canada, Proud Partner of TV5, Invests $14.6 Million to Create a French-Language Digital Platform: TV5MONDE Plus
• Revitalizing Indigenous Languages Through Television Programming

Competition Bureau Canada

• Competition Bureau study finds that many Canadians benefit from choice of Internet providers

CRTC

News Releases:

• Prices of communications services trended downwards in 2018
• Telecom regulatory policy 2019-269-1
  [2019-08-09 11:00:00]
  Correction – The Internet Code – Public record: 1011-NOC2018-0422
• Telecom decision 2019-286
  [2019-08-09 11:00:00]
  CISC Business Process Working Group – Dispute regarding the inclusion of comparisons between retail and wholesale high-speed access service providers’ performance on certain quality of service indicators as a non-consensus item in a report – Public record: 1011-NOC2017-0049
• Telecom order 2019-285
  [2019-08-08 11:00:00]
  Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: Northwestel Inc. TN 1054
• Broadcasting decision 2019-284
  [2019-08-08 11:00:00]
  APPROVED – Fantasy Sports Media Group Inc. – Toronto, Ontario – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the English-language discretionary service Game+
• Broadcasting decision 2019-283
  [2019-08-08 11:00:00]
  APPROVED – Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Inc. – Pickle Lake and Thunder Bay, Ontario – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the low-power, English- and Indigenous-language specialty (religious) radio station CJTL-FM Pickle Lake and its transmitter CJTL-FM-1 Thunder Bay
• Broadcasting decision 2019-282
  [2019-08-08 11:00:00]
  APPROVED – Manitoulin Radio Communication Inc. – Little Current, Ontario – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the English-language community radio station CFRM-FM Little Current
• Broadcasting decision 2019-281
  [2019-08-08 11:00:00]
  APPROVED – Ottawa Media Inc. – Ottawa/Gatineau, Ontario/Quebec – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the English-language commercial radio station CJWL-FM Ottawa/Gatineau
• Telecom order 2019-280
  [2019-08-06 11:00:00]
  Northwestel – Final approval of a tariff application – Public record: Tariff Notice 1043

 

Policy Announcements:

Telecommunications

• 2019-269-1 – Correction – The Internet Code – Public record: 1011-NOC2018-0422

 

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

• Minister Morneau announces new certification program and talent development pilot to enhance cyber security among Canadian businesses
• Rural communities in Ontario will benefit from faster Internet
• Seeking applications to deliver internships and digital skills training for recent graduates
• Four communities in rural Alberta will benefit from faster Internet
• Minister Bains appoints directors to oversee new college governing patent and trademark agents
• College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents: Board of Directors
• Minister Bains announces investment to help prepare young Canadians for tomorrow’s jobs

 

Microsoft

• Closing the rural broadband gap is an urgent national crisis

 

Upcoming Events

Senate of Canada

• No fixed and possible Senate sitting days this week; Senate reconvenes on September 17, 2019

Canadian House of Commons

• No fixed and possible House of Commons sitting days this week; House reconvenes on September 16, 2019

Innovation, Science and Economic Development

• Consultation on a Policy and Licensing Framework for Spectrum in the 3500 MHz Band

CRTC

Broadcasting Decisions:

• Applications by various licensees to renew the broadcasting licences for various radio stations
• Applications by various licensees to renew the broadcasting licences for various television stations

Upcoming Public Hearings:

• September
  To consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2019-225. View hearing documents (2019-225)

 

• CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings
• CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings