Newsletter: November 19, 2019

Weekly News (November 19, 2019)

Compiled by Ian Steinberg and Kim Payne with Sara Bannerman

McMaster University, Communications Governance Observatory

(November 12-18)

Canadian News

• [MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS] Toronto asks Supreme Court of Canada to overturn Doug Ford government’s council cut (Star)
• [BROADBAND REGULATION] Telecoms call on federal cabinet to intervene in CRTC wholesale price ruling (Globe and Mail)
• [ELECTION COMMUNICATIONS] Johnston suggests changes to debates format (Star)
• [NATIONAL SECURITY/WIRELESS] Spy agencies split on banning Huawei from 5G networks (Globe and Mail)
• [PRIVACY] Ontario’s Health Ministry mulls sharing health data with researchers, certain third parties as part of privacy update (Globe and Mail)
• [SMART CITY] Sidewalk Labs stays mum on tech infrastructure costs (Globe and Mail)
• [ESPIONAGE] CSIS ran ‘high risk’ spy operations without telling government (Star)
• [PRIVACY] IIROC’s new rules require companies to disclose attacks on cybersecurity (Globe and Mail)
• [COPYRIGHT] Judge refuses to allow class-action lawsuit against people who pirate movies (Globe and Mail)
• [CYBERSECURITY] Bank of Canada official urges public-private sector defence against cyberattacks (Star)

 International News

• [INTERNET CENSORSHIP] Iran’s ‘largest internet shutdown ever’ is happening now. Here’s what you need to know (CNN)
• [PRIVACY] Federal court rules warrantless searches of international travelers’ electronics at airports are unconstitutional (Washington Post / CNBC/Reuters)
• [WIRELESS REGULATION] FCC backs public 5G auction (WSJ)
• [BROADBAND REGULATION] Labour’s free broadband plan riles telecoms firms (Independent)
• [DEFAMATION] Judge denies Trump’s bid to delay woman’s suit (ABC News)
• [PRIVACY] Congressional Democrats demand details on Google’s use of patient data by Dec. 6 (CNBC)
• [PRESS FREEDOM] Call to reform laws press freedom (The Australian)
• [BROWSER GOVERNANCE] In China, suspicion of VPN-enabled browser (Washington Post)
• [COPYRIGHT] Taylor Swifts Escalates Battle Over Song Rights (NYT)
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Alabama company refuses to print university’s LGBTQ-inclusive magazine (NBC)

(November 12-18)

 Federal Court of Canada

• [JOURNALISM/ELECTION COMMUNICATIONS] True North Centre for Public Policy v Canada (Leaders’ Debates Commission), 2019 FC 1424 – 2019-11-13

 CRTC

News Releases:

• CRTC Broadband Fund launches second call to improve Internet access and mobile wireless services across Canada
• Chris Seidl to the Rural and Remote Broadband  Conference
• Monique Lafontaine at an event of the Ontario Association of Broadcasters
• Broadcasting decision 2019-376
  [2019-11-14 16:00:00]
  APPROVED – Bell Media Radio (Toronto) Inc. and 4382072 Canada Inc., partners in a general partnership carrying on business as Bell Media Radio G.P. – Kelowna and Magna Bay, British Columbia – Application to amend the broadcasting licence for the English-language commercial radio programming undertaking CILK FM Kelowna
• Broadcasting information bulletin 2019-375
  [2019-11-14 16:00:00]
  Notification of the Broadcasting Arbitrator
• Broadcasting decision 2019-374
  [2019-11-14 16:00:00]
  APPROVED – All Points Bulletin Incorporated – Across Canada – Application to revoke the broadcasting licence for the national, English-language specialty Category B service All Points Bulletin
• Broadcasting notice of consultation 2019-358-1
  [2019-11-13 16:00:00]
  Notice of hearing – 12 February 2020 – Montréal, Quebec – Addition of items 4 and 5 – Amendments to the Preamble – Corrections to item 1 – New deadline for submission of interventions/comments/answers for items 4 and 5 only: 9 December 2019 – New deadline for submission of the applicants’ replies for items 4 and 5 only: 19 December 2019
• Broadcasting decision 2019-373
  [2019-11-13 16:00:00]
  APPROVED – Avis de recherche incorporée – Across Canada – Application to revoke the broadcasting licence for the national, French-language specialty Category B service Avis de Recherche
• Telecom notice of consultation 2019-372
  [2019-11-13 16:00:00]
  Call for applications – Broadband Fund – Second call for applications – Public record: 1011-NOC2019-0372

 Federal Trade Commission

• FTC Testifies before House Judiciary Subcommittee On Competition Enforcement and Policy, Including in Technology Markets

Facebook

• Community Standards Enforcement Report, November 2019 Edition

 Google

• Why newsrooms should pay attention to AI

Microsoft

• Open government data – more critical than ever.

“The 42nd Parliament was dissolved on September 11, 2019.

Dissolution occurs when the Governor General, on the advice of the Prime Minister, issues a proclamation putting an end to the current Parliament, which triggers a general election.

In practice, as soon as Parliament is dissolved, all committee activity ceases and, as such, all orders of reference and committee studies lapse. No committee may sit during a dissolution.”

Senate of Canada

• No fixed and possible Senate sitting days this week.

Canadian House of Commons

• No fixed and possible House of Commons sitting days this week.

 CRTC

The CRTC is not planning on issuing any decisions, regulatory policies and reports in the coming week. This is subject to change without notice.

Upcoming Public Hearings:

• 2019-217 Co-development of a new Indigenous Broadcasting Policy
• December 3, 2019 – Gatineau, Quebec
  • To consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2019-341
    View hearing documents (2019-341)
• February 12, 2020 – Montréal (Québec)
  • To consider the broadcasting applications listed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC CRTC 2019-358 and 2019-358-1
    View hearing documents (2019-358)
• February 18, 2020 (previously 13 January 2020) – Gatineau, Quebec
  • Review of mobile wireless services. Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2019-57 and 2019-57-1
    View hearing documents (2019-57)

Copyright Board of Canada

Upcoming hearings:

• Non-Commercial Radio
  [CMRRA: 2003-2010; CSI: 2011-2018; Re:Sound: 2013-2018]
  Hearing: Tuesday, October 27, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., Copyright Board hearing room.
  Schedule of Proceedings;
  Directive on Procedure
• Background Music
  [SOCAN: 2012-2018; Re:Sound: 2014-2018]
  Hearing: Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., Copyright Board hearing room.
  Schedule of Proceedings;
  Directive on Procedure

• CRTC Open Broadcasting Proceedings
• CRTC Open Telecom Proceedings