News Release:

CRTC approves two new television stations for Toronto and Hamilton

Broadcasting Decisions:

2002-81 Global Communications Limited, Toronto, Hamilton and Kitchener, Ontario; TDNG Inc., Toronto, Hamilton and Kitchener, Ontario; Alliance Atlantis Broadcasting Inc., Toronto, with rebroadcasting transmitters in Hamilton and Kitchener, Ontario; and Craig Broadcast Systems Inc., on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated, Toronto, with a rebroadcasting transmitter in Hamilton, Ontario. APPROVED, by majority vote – Application by Craig Broadcast Systems Inc., on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated, for a licence to operate an English-language over-the-air television station to serve Toronto. The licence will expire 31 August 2008. DENIED – Competing applications by Global Communications Limited, TDNG Inc. and Alliance Atlantis Broadcasting Inc.

2002-82 Rogers Broadcasting Limited, Toronto, Ontario. APPROVED IN PART – New multilingual ethnic television station to serveToronto, expiring 31 August 2008. The licensee must submit for approval, an application for the use of a television channel other than channel 52.

2002-83 Astral Broadcasting Group Inc./Le Groupe de Radiodiffusion Astral Inc. (The Movie Network), Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Provinces (Eastern Canada). The Commission finds The Movie Network in breach of the watershed hour rule by airing The Sopranos at 8:00 p.m.

Telecom Decision:

2002-17 The Commission denies an application by Mercuryspeed.com (Mercuryspeed) seeking an order from the Commission, pursuant to section 35(1) of the Telecommunications Act, effectively directing TELUS Communications Inc. to provide Mercuryspeed with Internet interconnection service at a lower rate than the rate quoted to Mercuryspeed. Reference: 8622-M47-01/01.

Broadcasting Notice:

2002-17 Introductory statement to decisions approving two new television stations to serve Toronto/Hamilton. In New television station for Toronto/Hamilton and New multilingual ethnic television station to serve Toronto, Broadcasting Decisions CRTC 2002-81 and 2002-82, also published today, the Commission awarded licences for two new television stations to serve the Toronto/Hamilton market. In this notice, the Commission introduces those decisions by reviewing the market and the economic issues considered as part of the hearing process.

Telecom Orders:

2002-132 The Commission approves the Master Agreement for Interconnection between Local Exchange Carriers; and the Master Agreement for Competitive Local Exchange Carrier-Interexchange Carrier Interconnection between Aliant Telecom Inc. and EastLink Limited, dated 20 February 2002. Reference: 8340-E17-0849/00 and 8340-E17-0850/00.

2002-133 The Commission approves the application by TELUS Communications Inc., dated 25 February 2002, to revise the former TELUS Communications (B.C.) Inc. List of Rate Centers and Exchanges for Message Toll Service Tariff in British Columbia, in order to add new vertical and horizontal (V&H) co-ordinates, to delete the V&H co-ordinates that are no longer in service and to correct the V&H co-ordinate for North Farm. Reference: TCBC tariff notice 4169. Eff. date = 08-04-02.

2002-134 The Commission approves the application by Saskatchewan Telecommunications, dated 20 February 2002, to add the following services under Special Facilities Tariff item 1000.02, Northern Saskatchewan Facility: the installation of a transmission facility connecting a customer's two locations in adjacent northern Saskatchewan exchanges; the installation of communications cabling on a customer's premises associated with the transmission facility; and the provision of standard exchange digital network access DS-1 access service at local rates. Reference: TN 26. Eff. date = 31-08-02.

2002-135 The Commission approves on a final basis the application by Aliant Telecom Inc., dated 18 January 2002, to increase the hourly service charge rates for Centrex order processing in Island Telecom Inc., Maritime Tel & Tel Limited and NBTel Inc. Reference: Island Tel TN 563, MTT TN 810 and NBTel TN 871.

2002-136 The Commission approves on a final basis the application by Bell Canada, dated 7 December 2001, to revise General Tariff item 2220, Consumer Solutions, to introduce the Simple Connections Coupon Offer for each of the Display Pack, Messaging Pack and Privacy Pack Service offerings. Reference: TN 6638.

2002-137 The Commission approves on an interim basis the ex parte application by Aliant Telecom Inc., on behalf of itself and Island Telecom Inc., Maritime Tel & Tel Limited, NBTel Inc. and NewTel Communications Inc., dated 18 February 2002 and amended on 20 February 2002. Reference: Aliant Telecom TNs 8 and 8A, Island Tel TNs 567 and 567A, MTT TNs 814 and 814A, NBTel TNs 878 and 878A and NewTel TNs 667 and 667A.

2002-138 The Commission approves on an interim basis the ex parte application by Aliant Telecom Inc., on behalf of Maritime Tel & Tel Limited, Island Telecom Inc., NBTel Inc. and NewTel Communications Inc., dated 26 February 2002. Reference: TN 9.

2002-139 The Commission approves on an interim basis the ex parte application by Aliant Telecom Inc., on behalf of NBTel Inc., dated 15 February 2002. Reference: NBTel TN 876.

2002-140 The Commission approves on an interim basis the ex parte application by MTS Communications Inc., dated 25 February 2002. Reference: TN 474.

2002-141 The Commission approves on an interim basis the ex parte application by Northern Telephone Limited, dated 31 January 2002. Reference: TN 170.

Date Modified: 2002-04-30