Broadcasting

We discuss Bill C-11, a proposed law to change our federal private sector privacy act that protects consumers private information when they deal with businesses. PIAC's articling student, Yuka Sai, joins John Lawford to discuss the epic battle between business, with an assist from the federal government, and consumers over privacy. This battle centres on Bill C-11 and in particular, the part called the "Consumer Privacy Protection Act". This doublespeak title hides the facts that the bill will amend our present Canadian private sector privacy act, the Personal Information and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), to allow collection and use of your personal information for any "business purpose" without your consent. This is a reversal of the law that, what, they thought we would just not notice? Seriously?

The CanCon is coming! The CanCon is coming! Or not.  Today we discuss Bill C-10, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, phew! Today's guest Monica Auer, Executive Director of Canada’s Forum for Research and Policy in Communications (FRPC) strives mightily to explain broadcasting regulation in Canada and how the federal government wants to change it.  What could go wrong? Turns out a lot, if you hurry to do it, have a very specific goal in mind but ignore the rest, and just rip the heart out of it. Surgery or a roadmap? You decide.

Over the last six months, Canadians made 2,734 complaints about their television services to the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS). That is more complaints than the CCTS received in relation to wireless, internet, local voice, or long-distance voice services. What makes this particularly surprising is that the CCTS cannot yet address complaints about TV services– it won’t be able to until September 2017, when the “TV Service Provider Code” comes into effect.

A review of Canadian Content shows consumers want Canada’s culture to grow beyond our borders.

PIAC files submission to Heritage Canada’s Canadian Content consultations: Canadian content should be supported but not by forfeiting affordable access to broadband.

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) expressed disappointment in the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) new policy framework for local and community television issued today. “The Commission had an opportunity to create space and growth for communities – especially marginalized communities – who wanted to operate stations which would reflect their needs and values,” said Alysia Lau, Legal Counsel at PIAC. “Instead, this decision has made it harder for any independent community group to find its footing in a system dominated by the television providers. We’re going to see less ‘community’ in community TV.”

The Consumers' Association of Canada (CAC) and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) hailed CRTC decisions today that create a simple rule: consumers should never have to pay cancellation fees after terminating telecommunications or broadcasting services or switching providers.

PIAC responds to the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) decision today to ensure phone, Internet and television customers of the major service providers can bring their complaints to the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS).

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) supports the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) decision today to establish a mandatory Television Service Provider Code with consumer protections for TV customers.

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) commends the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for its decision to initiate a proceeding to create a code of conduct for all cable, satellite and IPTV television service providers and to provide an independent ombudsman for television service complaints.