Weekly News (Oct. 30-Nov. 5)

Communications Governance in the News

Compiled by Charnjot Shokar

Research Assistant, Networked Communications Governance Lab

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

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Canadian News: Oct. 30-Nov. 5, 2017

• [HIGH TECH LOBBYING] Google, Amazon, Netflix mount lobby crusade on Trudeau Liberals (CBC News)
• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] S. Judge Rules Canadian Court Order “Threatens Free Speech on the Global Internet” (Michael Geist)
• [ACCESS TO INFORMATION] Liberals open to amending Access to Info bill’s refusal clause: Brison (CBC News)
• [PRIVACY] NDP bill to prevent schools from telling parents when kids join GSAs (Edmonton Journal)
• [SPAM] Like Buckley’s, Canada’s anti-spam law may taste awful, but it works (Globe and Mail)
• [PRIVACY] University of the Fraser Valley investigating breach of student information (Vancouver Sun)

International News: Oct. 30-Nov. 5, 2017

• [FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION] Afghanistan Acts to Ban WhatsApp, but Claims Move is Temporary (NYT)
• [CENSORSHIP] A prestigious research publisher gives in to China’s censorship (Washington Post)
• [SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION] It’s time for Facebook to grow up (Globe and Mail-Subscriber Access)
• [TELECOM] National prosecutors group pressing FCC on prison cellphones (Financial Post)
• [BROADBAND POLICY] Stuck on slow, Pennsylvania renews push for rural broadband (Financial Post)
• [PRIVACY] Facebook denies ‘listening’ to conversations (BBC News)

Press Releases and Decisions: Oct. 30-Nov. 5, 2017

Senate of Canada

• [Social Affairs, Science and Technology] Canadian healthcare system must brace for a technological revolution

CRTC

• Video relay service now available to deaf Canadians 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: A year after its launch, SRV Canada VRS has extended its service hours, enabling American Sign Language or Langue des signes québécoise users to make and receive calls any time of the day
• [BROADCASTING] Broadcasting Order CRTC 2017-394: Broadcasting Licence Fees – Part II
• [TELECOM] Telecom Order CRTC 2017-392: Streamlined order – The Commission approves on an interim basis the following tariff application: Bell Canada TN 7545
• [BROADCASTING] Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2017-390: RNC MEDIA Inc. – Donnacona and Sainte-Croix-de-Lotbinière, Quebec – APPROVED – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the French-language commercial radio station CHXX-FM Donnacona and its transmitter CHXX-FM-1 Sainte-Croix-de-Lotbinière – DENIED – Application to amend the broadcasting licence for CHXX-FM in order to delete conditions of licence relating to local presence and local programming
• [BROADCASTING] Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2017-391: Radio Markham York Incorporated – Markham, Ontario – APPROVED – Application to change the authorized contours of the commercial radio station CFMS-FM Markham
• [BROADCASTING] Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2017-393: 8384860 Canada Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia – DENIED – Application to amend the broadcasting licence for the English-language commercial radio station CHLG-FM Vancouver by removing a condition of licence relating to the broadcast of special interest music
• [BROADCASTING] Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2017-395: Muskeg Lake Cree Nation Radio Station Corp. – Aldina, Saskatchewan – APPROVED – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the English- and Cree-language low-power Type B Native radio station CICN-FM Aldina
• [BROADCASTING] Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2017-396: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation – Fredericton and McAdam, New Brunswick – APPROVED – Application to amend the broadcasting licence for the English-language radio station CBZF-FM Fredericton to operate an FM transmitter in McAdam to rebroadcast the programming of its national, English-language network service Radio One
• [BROADCASTING] Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2017-397: DARR FM Radio Ltd. – Saint John, New Brunswick – APPROVED – Application to renew the broadcasting licence for the English-language commercial specialty (Christian music) radio station CJRP-FM Saint John and its transmitter CJRP-FM-1 Rothesay

Canadian Intellectual Property Office

• [INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY] Response to a Clarification Request regarding the Consultation on a Technical, Policy and Licensing Framework for Spectrum in the 600 MHz Band

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

• [PRIVACY] Appearance before the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce (BANC) on Study on issues and concerns pertaining to cyber security and cyber fraud

Copyright Board

• [COPYRIGHT] Notice of the Board: Online Music Services (SOCAN: 2014-2018; Re:Sound: 2013-2018; CSI: 2014-2018; CMRRA: 2014-2018; SODRAC: 2014-2018; Artisti: 2016-2018)
• [COPYRIGHT] Notice of the Board: Online Music Services (SOCAN: 2014-2018; Re:Sound: 2013-2018; CSI: 2014-2018; CMRRA: 2014-2018; SODRAC: 2014-2018; Artisti: 2016-2018) / Internet – Audiovisual Content and User Generated Content (SOCAN: 2014-2018; CMRRA: 2016-2018; SODRAC: 2015-2018)
• [COPYRIGHT] Notice of the Board: Online Music Services (SOCAN: 2014-2018; Re:Sound: 2013-2018; CSI: 2014-2018; CMRRA: 2014-2018; SODRAC: 2014-2018; Artisti: 2016-2018)
• [COPYRIGHT] Notice of the Board: Online Music Services (SOCAN: 2014-2018; Re:Sound: 2013-2018; CSI: 2014-2018; CMRRA: 2014-2018; SODRAC: 2014-2018; Artisti: 2016-2018)
• [COPYRIGHT] Notice of the Board: Online Music Services (SOCAN: 2014-2018; Re:Sound: 2013-2018; CSI: 2014-2018; CMRRA: 2014-2018; SODRAC: 2014-2018; Artisti: 2016-2018) / Internet – Audiovisual Content and User Generated Content (SOCAN: 2014-2018; CMRRA: 2016-2018; SODRAC: 2015-2018)
• [COPYRIGHT] Notice of the Board: Online Music Services (SOCAN: 2014-2018; Re:Sound: 2013-2018; CSI: 2014-2018; CMRRA: 2014-2018; SODRAC: 2014-2018; Artisti: 2016-2018) / Internet – Audiovisual Content and User Generated Content (SOCAN: 2014-2018; CMRRA: 2016-2018; SODRAC: 2015-2018)

Microsoft

• New federal lawsuit seeks to preserve DACA

Twitter

• Clarifying the Twitter Rules
• S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Opening Remarks

Facebook

• Facebook Reports Third Quarter 2017 Results

Apple

• Apple Reports Fourth Quarter Results

Upcoming Events: Nov. 6-12, 2017

Senate of Canada

• Planned and possible Senate sitting days this week: Nov. 7-10

Canadian House of Commons

• Planned House of Commons sitting days this week: Nov. 6-10
• ETHI: Access to Information, Privacy & Ethics – Bill C-58, An Act to Amend the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts: Nov. 6 & 8
• CHPC: Canadian Heritage – Systemic Racism and Religious Discrimination: Nov. 6
• INDU: Industry, Science and Technology – Statutory Review of An Act to Promote the Efficiency and Adaptability of the Canadian Economy by Regulating Certain Activities that Discourage Reliance on Electronic Means of Carrying Out Commercial Activities, and to Amend the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act, the Competition Act, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and the Telecommunications Act: Nov. 7
• CIIT: International Trade – Progressive Canadian Enterprise and SMEs Through Electronic Commerce: Nov. 6

CRTC

• Anticipated Releases for the week of 6 November to 10 November, 2017
  • Broadcasting Decisions
    • Application by CKXU Radio Societyto change the authorized contours of the radio station CKXU-FM Lethbridge
  • [BROADCASTING] Toronto, Ontario – Nov. 28, 2017 – Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2017-316: The Commission will consider the following applications:

1. Dufferin Communications Inc.
   Grimsby/Beamsville, Ontario
   Application 2014-1355-9
2. Durham Radio Inc.
   Grimsby/Beamsville, Ontario
   Application 2017-0257-2
3. Byrnes Communications Inc.
   Grimsby/Beamsville, Ontario
   Application 2017-0261-3
4. My Broadcasting Corporation
   Georgina, Ontario
   Application 2015-0361-5
5. Frank Torres, on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated
   Georgina, Ontario
   Application 2017-0561-7
6. Radio Markham York Incorporated, on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated
   Georgina, Ontario
   Application 2017-0568-3
7. TELUS Communications Inc.
   Kelowna, Nanaimo, Penticton, Prince George, Terrace, Vancouver (including Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Whistler and surrounding areas), Vernon and Victoria, British Columbia; Calgary, Edmonton (including St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove and Stony Plain), Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie and Red Deer, Alberta; Rimouski, Saint-Georges, Sept-Îles, Baie-Comeau, Gaspé, Montmagny, Sainte-Marie, Mont-Tremblant and surrounding areas, Quebec; and across Canada
   Applications 2017-0446-1 and 2017-0592-2
8. Videotron Ltd.
   Various locations in Quebec
   Application 2017-0613-6
9. Byrnes Communications Inc.
   Niagara Falls and Fort Erie, Ontario
   Application 2017-0445-3
10. 2044577 Alberta Ltd.
    Strathmore, Alberta
    Application 2017-0478-4
11. Kenneth Collin Brown
    Barriere, British Columbia
    Application 2017-0437-0

• [BROADCASTING] Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2017-365-1: Notice of hearing 30 April 2017 – Gatineau, Quebec – Applications for the renewal of services with mandatory distribution on the basic service pursuant to section 9(1)(h) of the Broadcasting Act – New deadline for submission of interventions/comments/answers: 8 December 2017– New deadline for submission of the applicants’ replies: 18 December 2017

Innovation, Science and Economic Development

• [BROADBAND/PUBLIC SAFETY] Targeted Stakeholder Engagement on potential Implementation Models for a Public Safety Broadband Network in Canada: Apr. 24, 2017- 20, 2017