The CRTC Turns Down A New Wireless Entrant

Introduction

The CRTC yesterday determined that Globalive Wireless Management ("Globalive") does not meet the Canadian ownership requirements set out in the Telecommunications Act. The public review of Globalive's ownership structure, as well as the Commission's outright denial of its eligibility, are novel aspects of this case, as is the inconsistency between the CRTC's and Industry Canada's determinations reached under identical rules. This has led to much intrigue in the press over whether the federal Cabinet, including the Minister of Industry, will exercise its legal right to intervene. In this Client Update, however, we avoid any prognostication in favour of a summary of the Commission's ruling.