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Privacy and Security
Transparency

1.0 Introduction

1.2 Data collection and outline of the report

Data collection and reduced regulatory reporting

This report is based on the responses from the industry to the Commission's annual broadcasting returns and telecommunications data collection forms³ (referred to collectively as "CRTC data collection"), data collected from other sources, including Statistics Canada, Industry Canada, company specific financial reports, BBM Canada, BBM Nielsen Media Research, BBM Analytics' Media Technology Monitor (MTM) reports, and information previously filed with the Commission. All broadcasting data in this report, unless otherwise noted, is for the twelve-month period ending August 31 for the years quoted, whereas telecommunications data, including Internet service, is for the twelve-month period ending December 31.

With respect to residential broadband availability data, the Commission has entered into a three-year agreement with Industry Canada to co-operate in the collection of data related to the availability of broadband Internet access service to Canadians. The Commission is also collaborating with the provinces and the territories, as well as other government agencies and departments, in the identification of communities that do not have access to broadband service. The resulting data will assist Industry Canada in the funding of projects that make broadband services available to unserved Canadians. These data collection initiatives minimize the reporting burden on the industry as well as enhance the quality of the data presented in this report.

International comparisons or analyses in this report are made based on data obtained from reports published by international organizations such as the Organisation for Economic Co operation and Development (OECD), as well as reports or data published by national regulatory agencies (NRAs) in other countries.

Specific elements of the monitoring exercise change over time to take into account regulatory or market developments such as new technologies; changes in the market structure or in domestic or international regulations and agreements; or the introduction of new or evolving services. These changes serve to ensure that the monitoring reports continue to be useful tools for all stakeholders, including regulators, customers, and industry players. Certain figures published in prior years' monitoring reports may be restated to be consistent with data displayed in this report. Other figures may change as a result of service providers resubmitting prior years' data. All revised numbers are identified by means of a number sign (#).

Outline of Report

This report is divided into a number of sections and appendices. An overview of the Commission's regulatory frameworks, streamlining initiatives, and recent regulatory and industry developments is provided in Section 2. This section also compares and contrasts the key objectives of the Acts. Section 3 presents the key financial indicators of the communications industry. It addresses the financial landscape of the broadcasting and telecommunications industries by examining key financial indicators including revenue, capital expenditures, and other operational data. As well, it provides an overview of the broadcasters and telecommunications service providers (TSPs). The performance of the Canadian broadcasting system is presented in Section 4, encompassing traditional radio, television and distribution undertaking broadcasting results, and non-traditional New Media broadcasting results. Section 5 discusses the major telecommunications market segments: local & access; long distance; Internet; data and private line; and wireless. The section also reviews the availability of broadband service. Section 6 presents current regulatory developments in other countries and compares Canada's performance in broadcasting and telecommunications to that of those countries.

A description of the data collection methodology and analysis is provided in Appendix 1. A summary of the Canadian telecommunications markets subject to economic forbearance rulings is provided in Appendix 2. Appendix 3 discusses the classification of the TSPs. The status of local forbearance applications in residential and business exchanges is provided in Appendix 4. Appendix 5 lists the pricing assumptions used in the development of the price comparisons of telecommunications services in Canada to that in other countries.