Your snapshot of what's important in Canadian tech and telecom each week.

Mar. 11, 2021 Edition

TekSavvy is taking part in a national Day of Action for Affordable Internet this Tuesday, March 16, starting at 1 pm ET. Participants include consumer advocates, social activists, academics and other independent internet service providers, who will collectively speak out on federal inaction on the affordability of telecom services in Canada. The free event is happening virtually on Zoom and will feature ways for viewers to add their voices to the call for action – tune in and take part! Full information and Zoom registration link:

https://affordable-internet.ca/

Bell pole wars: Toronto Star contributing columnist Jack Lakey documents the struggle by a Toronto man to have a Bell Canada utility pole removed from his backyard. The company reportedly has no right to have the pole on the man’s property but is saying it could take three years to get rid of it, much to the property owner’s chagrin.

Toronto Star: Link

Heritage Minister’s Facebook use: University of Ottawa professor (and Day of Action speaker) Michael Geist is continuing his arguments against the federal government’s campaign to get web giants to share ad revenue with news outlets with a look at Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault’s own use of Facebook. Apparently, the minister – who has referred to Facebook’s activities in this area as “immoral” – is a frequent user of the platform and has spent a good deal of advertising money on it during the last election campaign.

Blog: Link

Streaming service CanCon: Still on the topic of Bill C-10, National Post columnist Jesse Kline has a somewhat harsh take on how the federal government is misguided in going after web giants, including streaming services such as Netflix, with Canadian content requirements. As the column’s subtitle reads, “the government is targeting one of the few things that have kept many Canadians sane during the pandemic.”

National Post: Link

Ontario broadband proposal criticized: Ontario’s plan to make it easier to expand broadband coverage is taking heat from critics for attaching clauses that will also allow for changes to government zoning powers. Opposition politicians are saying the proposed legislation will make it easier for property developers to destroy protected wetlands and farmland.

Global News: Link

“Telus failed us:” Telus drew fire this week in British Columbia for botching the rollout of the province’s Covid-19 vaccination booking system. Thousands of people were unable to make vaccination appointments because the company did not have enough call centre capacity to accommodate the rush of applicants. Politicians accusing Telus of failing the province and chief executive Darren Entwistle was forced to apologize.

Abbotsford News: Link

Koodo backs down on calling: Speaking of Telus, the company’s wireless sub-brand Koodo is reportedly reconsidering removing Canada-wide calling from plans and then charging customers extra for it. The company is making the change after a “thoughtful review.”

MobileSyrup: Link

CRTC affirms cancellation fees: The CRTC says that consumers who purchase smartphones with three-year (or longer) financing plans will still be protected by the Wireless Code from early cancellation fees after only two years. The regulator effectively ended three-year contracts when it brought in the Wireless Code years ago, but Canada’s big carriers were trying to do an end-run around it with new financing options. The CRTC says that trying to charge cancellation fees after two years is a violation of the Code.

Canadian Press: Link The Globe and Mail: Link

U.S. gears up for antitrust: In a move notable to Canadians for a number of reasons, U.S. President Joe Biden has hired Columbia law professor Tim Wu as a competition advisor. Wu, who was raised in Toronto and attended McGill University in Montreal, is a noted proponent of antitrust enforcement, as well as the academic credited with coining the term "net neutrality." His hiring indicates that the U.S. is getting more serious about taking action against anti-competitive monopolies.

Ars Technica: Link

MPs considering anti-competitiveness too: Almost as if on cue, some Canadian Members of Parliament are now starting to talk about antitrust in Canada. Prompted by Canadian grocery chains’ seemingly co-ordinated employee wage cutting, a government committee is going to start considering changes to the nation's competition rules. It’s a welcome development for Canadians because, while grocery store wages are serving as the impetus, the telecommunications industry is rife with anti-competitive behaviour.

National Post: Link

Disney+ hits 100 million subscribers: Disney says it has 100 million subscribers globally to its Disney+ streaming service, a year after it launched. Analysts describe the growth as “torrid,” but not unexpected given the service’s wide appeal – even though Disney recently boosted the subscription price.

Variety: Link

Square buys Tidal: Financial services company Square is buying Tidal, the music streaming service started by rapper and hip hop mogul Jay Z, for $297 million in cash and stock. It’s an unusual deal for a service that seems to have failed, but this story looks at some of the unusual ways in which Square might try to use its new acquisition.

Vox: Link