CBC on online video: CRTC needs to set down rules to prevent possible "cartel-like behaviour"

By Emily Chung for CBC News

Canadians may face restricted access to video services like Netflix and mobile access to Stanley Cup games unless new regulations are put in place, smaller telecommunications companies warn.

Canada's telecommunications regulator needs to set down rules to prevent possible "cartel-like behaviour" from telecommunications companies such as Bell and Rogers that also own content such as TV shows that competitors would like to be able to offer online, said Chris Peirce, chief corporate officer for MTS Allstream.

"If someone owns the content and competing with someone who also needs that content to deliver the service, then there's obviously the propensity for anticompetitive behaviour," Peirce said while taking part in a panel discussion on telecom regulation at the Canadian Telecom Summit in Toronto Wednesday.

Companies such as Netflix that want to stream TV shows, movies and other video through the internet to devices such as TVs, tablets and mobile phones must get the online rights for that content. However, the rights are often owned by TV broadcasters, including some that have their own online streaming services.

Peirce said that in order to ensure choice for consumers, the CRTC needs to make rules that allow competition over such content to be fair.

Ed Antecol, vice-president of regulatory affairs and carrier services for Wind Mobile's parent company, Globalive, agreed that there needs to be rules for telecommunications companies that also have broadcast businesses, a strategy known as vertical integration.

Otherwise, consumers will be able to watch content anywhere, anytime, but only if they pay $100 a month for cable, he said.

He proposed rules that would require that content distributors license their content to online distributors at the same price as cable companies. Read more »

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