Regulatory, Telecom & Media News – Historic Rogers-Shaw merger closes

Rogers Communications and Shaw Communications’ historic $26 billion dollar merger has closed after clearing the final regulatory hurdle with the approval of the transfer of Shaw’s Freedom Mobile to Videotron by Innovation, Science & Industry (ISED) Min. François-Philippe Champagne. Rogers, which is subject to a number of conditions under terms of the ISED approval – most of which were included in its original merger proposal – has reaffirmed those commitments, including $1 billion to improve connectivity for rural, remote, and Indigenous communities and unserved remote highways in Western Canada; investing $2.5 billion to expand and upgrade Rogers 5G network in the western provinces; and investing $3 billion in technology and network services in the region. Laura Tribe, Executive Director of OpenMedia, a non-profit advocating for affordable internet service, called the decision “a dark day for the Internet in Canada,” while Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh accused the Liberal government of putting corporate interests over those of Canadian consumers. Read more here.

The Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS) 2022-2023 Mid-Year Report indicates complaints were up 12% year-over-year, with over half of all issues raised by consumers about wireless (mobile) services. Internet issues were the second biggest irritant for consumers, representing over one out of four issues raised. Complaints about Rogers increased by 29% during the reporting period, now the most complained-about service provider, largely driven by a significant increase in complete loss of service issues, which more than doubled. Complaints about TELUS were up a whopping 81% and Koodo up more than 75%, while Fido saw a nearly 18% increase in customer grievances. Complaints about Bell services were down six per cent.

The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) has announced its shortlists for the CJF Jackman Awards for Excellence in Journalism, honouring news organizations that embody exemplary journalism. The five finalists in the Large Media category (more than 50 full-time employees) include: CTV News for Broken System: EMS Crisis in Alberta; Global News with APTN for Profiting Off Kids; The Globe and Mail for its coverage of the sexual assault scandals at Hockey Canada; the Investigative Journalism Bureau/Toronto Star for Suspended, their reporting on unfair driver’s licence loss in Ontario; and The Narwhal/Toronto Star for their investigation into the Ontario government’s decision to open protected greenbelt land to development. Those shortlisted in the Small Media category are: Canada’s National Observer for The Salmon People podcast; CBC Saskatchewan for its investigation into Indigenous ancestry claims by lawyer/academic Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond; The Discourse Nanaimo for It Takes a Village; Eastern Graphic for Through the Cracks; and the Winnipeg Free Press for parallel investigations into haphazard physician and teacher oversight in Manitoba. All story submissions are available on the CJF awards page. Winners will be announced at the CJF Awards ceremony on June 13 in Toronto.

The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) has announced the inaugural CJF-Edward Burtynsky Award for Climate Photojournalism will go to Iqaluit photojournalist Dustin Patar. Patar won for his evocative image showing researchers peering into a crack in the Milne Ice Shelf, published in The Narwhal last September. The $5,000 award celebrates provocative, impactful and inspirational climate photography from around the world. Patar’s work focuses on the environment and the Arctic and has appeared on CBC Indigenous and in The Narwhal, Vice, Hakai Magazine, Nunatsiaq News and Arctic Today. 

The Ori Siegel Memorial Graduating Award is being established at Conestoga College, supported by the Class of ’81, Conestoga Radio and Television, and friends and family, in memory of Siegel, an alumnus of the program who passed away March 17. A former CBC Toronto Master Control and VTR operator and CFTO-TV technician, Siegel also taught a music class at Conestoga College for many years. He was highly regarded for his support of classmates and students, and their endeavours, in addition to his passion for music and theatre. The award will be presented annually to a student in their graduating year in Broadcasting – Television and Independent Production who exemplifies that same spirit. Donations are being accepted here.