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We celebrate by switching mobile phone carriers. Wireless number portability is finally here.

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/INFO_SHT/t1021.htm

.... Made Rogers cable do this a while ago. The decision from the CRTC (Canada's version of the FCC) is here:

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/eng/Decisions/1999/D T99-11.htm

I'm pretty sure they forced Bell Canada to do the same thing as well.

It's coming, March 14th, apparently.

Number portability wasn't a big deal for me, actually. And now, the last 4 digits of my cell phone match my home phone :)

If you want to set up your own ISP in Canada without those restrictions, go ahead. If you want to set up an ISP that only shows web-pages about cats, or muffins, or religion, or science, or whatever, go ahead... it's not illegal.

Actually, it might be. Check section 36 of the Telecommunications Act (http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/LEGAL/TELECOM.HTM). Here it is: 36. Except where the Commission approves otherwise, a Canadian carrier shall not control the content or influence the meaning or purpose of telecommunications carried by it for the public.

Personally, I don't like the project. I admire the goals, but as the article suggests, there are issues. Is is really going to put a stop to browsing child porn on the internet, no way. I don't think anyone believes that. Will it stop those who want to view child porn... probably not most, if any. There are too many ways around the whole idea to make it worthwhile. Also, under Canadian law, possession of this list of sites is also illegal, though its unlikely that Cybertip or any of the ISPs would every be prosecuted for having the list.

Finally, comes the issue of privacy. I've been told that the system does not track which IPs are attempting to access which sites, but I have to wonder if it really does, and if not, how long before this "feature" is added in.

Well, I worked in the telecom industry for 20 years, and I can tell you that Nortel, for one, engineers its PBX's for exactly the same reliability as its CO switches, and there's no legislation forcing them to do that

BTW, exactly what piece of legislation subjects Bell Canada to limits on downtime? I've never heard of it.

Actually getting a lawyer, etc. is going to take too long, I believe, the appropriate course of action would be to file a complaint with the CRTC (Canadian FCC). They are obligated to investigate your complaint and get back to you within two weeks (or smth). That's the law.
You can even post a complaint on the net. Here is the address: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/RapidsCCM/Register.asp?lang= E
Overall, I think, being demanding and pushy can help. When you call the telco (Telus, Videotron, Sympatico, whatever) ask the person's full name and the name of their supervisor. Then ask if they are actually in the position to make decisions, if not, don't waste your time, tell them to transfer you to their superiour or someone who is allowed to make changes to your account. Finally, when you speak to some sort of a manager (always get their full name and the name of their superiour), tell them that the next call will be to the better business bureau, CRTC, or some consumer protection group. Tell the manager that you will drag their name through all of these organizations. Remind them that the CRTC must investigate all complaints. It might help if you tell them that you suspect that they are giving you a hard time because of your race/sexual orientation (they can't see you, right?). You can make a three way call to your answering machine, and record this conversation. Chances are that in the heat of the moment one of the employees will do something stupid (like curse at you or lie), and then you pretty much got more beef. More often than not they cave.

It should get their attention.

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/RapidsCCM/Register.asp?lang= E

Also get a credit check on yourself now so that if they try to screw around with that you can dispute it. If the money is important you don't need a lawyer, do the small claims court thing.

DOCUMENT everything, who you were talking to, when, what was discussed, EVERYTHING.

When in doubt check with a lawyer, the money spent will be well worth it.

Well the user agreement your referencing is for the "Unplugged Service" which is slightly different.
Here's the Sympatico Service Agreements & the Security & Privacy policy's of Bell.
Note that the Privacy policy still maintains they will only provide user information by court order
or warrant, guess they forgot to update these policy's.

You may be right that their only going to monitor Sympatico accounts.

However the previous Liberal bill was to require all ISP's to implement data retention & each ISP
was to foot their associated costs.
The the new bill (which I haven't yet read) may have been revised to require the network owners
to monitor all network traffic (they can afford the expense) as apposed to the smaller ISP's having
to foot the bill, which would bankrupt most if not all small IPS's.

By requiring all ISP's to implement data retention the government would violate various sections of
CRTC Acts regarding competition, since it would put the small one's out of business & stifle competition.

The CRTC is vested with the authority to regulate and supervise all aspects of the Canadian broadcasting system, as well as to regulate telecommunications common carriers and service providers that fall under federal jurisdiction. The CRTC derives its regulatory authority over broadcasting from the Broadcasting Act (S.C. 1991, c. 11, as amended). Its telecommunications regulatory powers are derived from the Telecommunications Act (S.C. 1993, c. 38, as amended) and the Bell Canada Act (S.C. 1987, c.19 as amended).

Canada, you're hypocrisy is showing.


(I'm Canadian, but not always proud of it.)

From what I've read on the web Canada has finished seeking input from the public, but has not made any decision yet. We have no mandatory transition cut-off date yet.

For info: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/INFO_SHT/b319.htm#ana

According to the CRTC site they don't handle this type of complaint in regards to ISPs.

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/RapidsCCM/Register.asp?lang= E

There's a five-step form, and they'll refer the complaint. For a quick cut-and-paste snippet, go to the following:

Please be advised that Telus Corporation may be in violation of the Telecommunications Act, Section 36. Please see http://www.crtc.gc.ca/RapidsCCM/Register.asp?lang= E for details on the violation.

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/RapidsCCM/Register.asp?lang= E

There's a five-step form, and they'll refer the complaint. For a quick cut-and-paste snippet, go to the following:

Please be advised that Telus Corporation may be in violation of the Telecommunications Act, Section 36. Please see http://www.crtc.gc.ca/RapidsCCM/Register.asp?lang= E for details on the violation.

Using Telus (although indirectly through aebc.com who I can otherwise recommend), I indeed couldn't access that website. So I called the RCMP to report a crime. They said there is no crime here. I should switch to another provider.

I find the difference to a mailman opening my letters is marginal.

I visited the CRTC website at

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/info_sht/t1003.htm

who also offer no help.

There's something wrong here.

Stephan

According to this page, they don't deal with ISPs.

You can complain to the CRTC (Canadian Radio-televison and Telecommunications Commission) at this site.

I believe the regulatory body that would be concerned about this is the CRTC (Canada Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission).

I have lodged a complaint with them at:
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/

Feel free to do the same.

gus

You can find "comments" from the scene people here along with a copy of two search warrants by the RCMP for two of the raids that occured in Edmonton, Canada. (Coral Cache of the above, just in case)

Some information about Site Down can be found here.

And whoever is saying that RCMP is targetting sceners, take a look at their Strategic Priorities... My bet is that, just as it happened in the States, they are being pressured by the CRTC (Canada's equivalent to MPAA and RIAA all in one), and with that new DMCA-like law, what could possibly stop them from raping every canadian file trader like they did (and continue to do) to the US'?

You didn't hear it from me!

Did Alexander Graham Bell get a broadcasting licence from the CRTC?

Did Mme Currie have a permit to work with radionuclides

Did Captian Cook put up with this crap when he commissioned his vessels?

It's the CRTC. You pay it on the phone, internet, tv, cell, pager.. Not sure about satellite radio (xm radio), but I wouldn't be surprised.

CRTC Decision on 9-1-1 Emergency Services for VoIP Service Providers

In Canada, there is no way to get HBO legally.

Your beef is with the CRTC (the Canadian FCC), not Time Warner. In Canada, all networks have to carry a minimum percentage of programming made in Canada. In order to offer HBO in Canada, Time Warner would have to split it into two channels and show Canadian-produced filler half the time on each channel.

The CRTC in Canada made 911 mandatory just recently. I wrote about this earlier. They basically say that for a roaming type service (I don't know of any VoIP that isn't), the provider does not have to connect you to the correct call center automatically. Instead, the caller should be able to identify his/her location and then the call can be transfered to the correct center. Not idea, but there is not a reliable way to no location based on IP, or even something like GPS. The other big thing that the CRTC said was that the service provider had to inform the customer clearly of these limits to 911 before the customer signed up. The CRTC news release is here

Radio stations, hotels, and TV are all regulated by the CRTC, or Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission . They enforce all Canadian Radio and Television stations to maintain a certain ratio (35%) of Canadian content, just to ensure that the station maintains their license. This has been the major blockade in bringing the US Satellite streaming radio networks (Sirius, XM, etc.) to the Canadian public, because these streams do not feature the local content the CRTC requires.

Radio stations, hotels, and TV are all regulated by the CRTC, or Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission . They enforce all Canadian Radio and Television stations to maintain a certain ratio (35%) of Canadian content, just to ensure that the station maintains their license. This has been the major blockade in bringing the US Satellite streaming radio networks (Sirius, XM, etc.) to the Canadian public, because these streams do not feature the local content the CRTC requires.

In Canada, the CRTC just ruled that VoIP providers must provide Basic 911 within 90 days of the ruling (the ruling was Apr 4/2005). Well, if you get down to the meat of it, some will have to provide Enhanced 911 services, but I don't know of any VoIP providers that would fit this category. Most will need to provide Basic 911 service:

In Canada, the CRTC just ruled that VoIP providers must provide Basic 911 within 90 days of the ruling (the ruling was Apr 4/2005). Well, if you get down to the meat of it, some will have to provide Enhanced 911 services, but I don't know of any VoIP providers that would fit this category. Most will need to provide Basic 911 service:

I'd love to see someone come in and replace the PSTN with QOS'd IP lines.

Which would do precicely nothing to break monopolies.

Last mile services (phone, cable, network, gas, electric, etc) are natural monopolies; it's most efficient for there to be a single supplier. The two ways to circumvent the detremental effects of these monopolies are:

• Strong regulation, either govermentally or via Citizens Utility Boards, and/or
• Ownership by the customers, either by nationalizing the companies (assuming the government is democratic and open) or through Customer Co-Operatives.

Replacing one capitalist natural monopoly with annother will not of itself improve matters.

skipping any commercials or promotional announcements would be prohibited

This bill contradicts itself. I find most commercials/promotional announcements objectionable, and more and more these days are sexually explicit. Does the "skip objectionable content" part trump the "prohibit skipping commercials" part? Really, I don't want my kids minds to be warped by the likes of Britney Spears selling brown sugar water or any other product.

I'm glad I live in Canada where the government doesn't try to tell us what we can and cannot watch...Oh wait...

(On Canada) ...the national regulatory authority's stand against the pan-Arab radio station Al-Jazeera and the local station CHOI FM downgraded the country to 18th place.

First off, I'm not sure what they're talking about concerning Al-Jazeera, as the Canadian Radio Television Commission (CRTC -- the regulatory authority they're talking about) approved Al Jazeera for re-distribution in Canada on July 15 of this year.

As for CHOI FM, the CRTC refused to renew their license due to CHOI's violation of their own Code of Ethics, and because they "failed to comply with the Radio Regulations 1986 (the Regulations) as well as CHOI-FM's Code of Ethics, adherence to which is required by one of its conditions of licence." (ref: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/NEWS/RELEASES/2004/r0407 13.htm). And even then, only after repeated warnings. And in the end, the radio station did get its license anyhow, and remains on the air to this day.

In the end, like you said -- it's minor stuff. If you collapse all of the tied scores, Canada ranks at 8th and the US at 11th -- pretty damned good if you ask me. Not perfect, but pretty damned good.

Yaz.

(On Canada) ...the national regulatory authority's stand against the pan-Arab radio station Al-Jazeera and the local station CHOI FM downgraded the country to 18th place.

First off, I'm not sure what they're talking about concerning Al-Jazeera, as the Canadian Radio Television Commission (CRTC -- the regulatory authority they're talking about) approved Al Jazeera for re-distribution in Canada on July 15 of this year.

As for CHOI FM, the CRTC refused to renew their license due to CHOI's violation of their own Code of Ethics, and because they "failed to comply with the Radio Regulations 1986 (the Regulations) as well as CHOI-FM's Code of Ethics, adherence to which is required by one of its conditions of licence." (ref: http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/NEWS/RELEASES/2004/r0407 13.htm). And even then, only after repeated warnings. And in the end, the radio station did get its license anyhow, and remains on the air to this day.

In the end, like you said -- it's minor stuff. If you collapse all of the tied scores, Canada ranks at 8th and the US at 11th -- pretty damned good if you ask me. Not perfect, but pretty damned good.

Yaz.

Since our air waves are ruled by the CRTC overlords, when did they allow XM to sell it's services.

Both Sirius and XM Radio have put in an application with the CRTC to offer satellite radio service in Canada. While it's currently grey market (ie: signup via their websites with a bogus US mailing address) here in Canada, there are more and more Canadians signing up. In fact I just recently bought a JVC PNP tuner to listen to Sirius (which has WAY better signal coverage in Canada than XM, and IMHO superior programming) and have convinced some friends to buy receivers, all of which are happy new satellite radio listeners.

Seriously though, why would anyone want to record and save music off either XM or Sirius? Satellite radio has the sound quality 'better than FM' but far inferior to CD quality. Besides, it would fall under fair use in Canada, where our judges still respect what that means.

CRTC (Canada's FCC equivalent) decided to not renew CHOI-FM's broadcasting license, because of some offensive comments, personal attacks and harassment.

This decision is made in the same week then CRTC approval for al-Jazeera broadcasting rights. Beheading, anyone?

External links:

Journal entry commenting about this
CRTC report about non-renewal
News: Thousands march to support CHOI-FM

CRTC (Canada's FCC equivalent) decided to not renew CHOI-FM's broadcasting license, because of some offensive comments, personal attacks and harassment.

This decision is made in the same week then CRTC approval for al-Jazeera broadcasting rights. Beheading, anyone?

External links:

Journal entry commenting about this
CRTC report about non-renewal
News: Thousands march to support CHOI-FM

Interesting. You might actually look at their violations of Canadian law, then. Using an auto-dialler (an Automatic Dialling and Announcing Device, or ADAD) for solicitation--charitable donations, promotions, sales, etc.--is forbidden by the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.) The CRTC can demand that a phone company suspend service to any company or individual who flagrantly violates these rules. Even if a company hires another company to make the calls, they can be held accountable. You might want to contact the CRTC directly to see how the rules apply on international calls, however.

Even if a company is blocking call ID, your phone company can probably trace the call. For advice on how to handle this type of thing with an international call, again you might need to contact the FTC and the CRTC. It doesn't hurt to ask, and I'm pretty sure that the people at these organizations hate the spam callers as much as everyone else.

Canada opened its telecommunication system to competition several years ago. We've been able to choose long distance providers since 1992 and local services since 1997.

What provisions are there for low-power FM stations in Canada? I looked at the CRTC, but they're unlikely to tell me what the likelihood of actually obtaining a license would be.

The purpose of Canadian content legislation is to protect Canadian cultural industries. Given the size and monopolistic power of US cultural industries (TV, movies, music publishing, etc.) it is not likely that many Canadian sources could survive against them. Cancon is enacted to make sure that Canadian sources of culture remain available to Canadians. It does not "ban" foriegn content, but ensures that some percentage of content available is Canadian.

Canadian Content

Are you kidding me? I live in Canada and all I see is American content -- radio stations are full of American music, television is all American shows, and the products we buy are all American. Where's the censorship? It's obviously not working.

Fortunately, no laws have been passed that require us to listen to her. Note that laws have been passed that guarantee that she will be played in popular Canadian media.

Google and the CRTC are your friend.

The Canadian equivalent of the FCC, the CRTC, decided years ago not to regulate the Internet.

you can register to have your telephone numbers removed from marketing lists by mailing your request to the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA), P.O. Box 706, Don Mills, Ontario M3C 2T6, or faxing it to (416) 441-4062 or by completing the registration form at www.the-cma.org .

Found on the CRTC site

Obviously deregulation is a different concept in the United States then it is in Canada.

In Canada, deregulation means that a certian service (e.g. Phone, etc.) is not regulated by the Government, regulation here is related to the price of the service, or product.

Phone companies in British Columbia (to say the least) have to have their rates approved by the CRTC, if they are not approved (which they have not been in recent years) they price may not be raised.

What' do you think deregulation is?

Oh yes, the other channel "banned" in Canada - Turner Classic Movies. :)

Uh, no it isn't.

In fact, I know of one (and only one) cable company which carries it (under Movies) (see channel 38).

don't disagree that cable and satellite companies don't give you enough "a la carte" programming, but your option is to not get it.

It would be much easier if the Cable/Satellite companies had a say in the matter. Unfortunately, the CRTC ultimately sets the rules. Honestly, Rogers and Bell are hardly the problem. It isn't corporations forcing me to watch Aboriginal People's Television an Riseau de Sport. I am legally forced to pay for channels that I will never watch.

Thanks for the details, I now understand the technical differences between what you call an ISP and a CLEC. Clearly the Canadian ISP's (which we call DSL Providers) are not CLEC's.

> so there would be the risk of, say, Nexxia providing better service to Sympatico than to other DSL providers.

Absolutely, but to date this has not happened, not in the slightest.

I'd attribute it to Bell's integrity, as well as the tough strong oversight of the industry by the CRTC (Canadian Radio-and-TV Tellecommunications Commission).

So the biggest difference between the US and Canada as I see it, is that our Bell's have not balked at all in extending their networks and driving the technology forward - despite being forced to "share" their lines with all these ISPs. They aren't resorting to hard-ball stances or dirty tricks.

So the big question is, why?

I think it might be a difference in corporate culture, and perhaps a difference in the equitability of the rates they are allowed to charge the ISPs for transit.

Erm, I mean, a Canadian.

So what are the Canadian requirements on ILECs concerning CLECs (line-sharing, colocation, etc.), non-carrier ISPs, etc.? I went to the CRTC Web site, but none of the "Statutes and Regulations" appeared to address that, and there are a ton of "Decisions, Notices and Orders" but I'm not going to plow through all of them. (Even a Google search for canadian regulations CLEC line-sharing turned up a pile of stuff the first items of which didn't seem to directly address the question.)