Canada needs a communications law and federal regulatory agency t...
Canada needs a communications law and federal regulatory agency to deal with convergence of telecom and media services over broadband, the Canadian Cable Assn. (CCTA) told the govt. In a filing this week, CCTA said the Telecom Policy Review…
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Board should: (1) Work for a unified law on telecom, the Internet and broadcasting. (2) Put communications policy-making under one federal dept. (3) Merge communications administrative and regulatory functions in one agency. “Over the next five years, the Internet will evolve from a graphic- and text- based medium into a video-based communications infrastructure that will revolutionize how consumers communicate, become entertained and receive or distribute information,” said CCTA Pres. Michael Hennessy. “Rather than amending the current Telecommunications Act which is working well, the Panel should consider how convergence will affect all communications policy by the end of the decade.” No big changes are needed short term, CCTA said, lauding today’s rules for bringing universally accessible, affordable service, plus introduction of competition in all telecom markets except local telephony. The Assn. said in a statement it urged the Canadian Radio-TV & Telecom Commission “be permitted to complete its mandate to introduce competition in the local telephone market.”