Skyway Recommended February 10th to 16th
This week: Canada must be Proactive in Mobile Tech; Fed budget gives teeth to wireless code of conduct; Budget to Promote Rural Broadband; Feds still Opposing Telus Mobilicity Bid; Snowden’s Low-Cost Spy Tool
Globe and Mail | When it comes to mobile tech, Canada can’t afford to be complacent
During a recent business trip to San Francisco, I wrapped-up my last meeting at 10 p.m. and walked out into a quiet street – not a cab in sight. Seeking the fastest way back to my hotel, I started searching for cab companies on my BlackBerry. I landed on Uber – an ‘on demand’ transportation company. Backed by investors such as Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, the firm leverages wireless technology to connect passengers with high-end vehicles for hire in 50 global markets – at standard taxi rates. Read More…
Toronto Star | Federal budget promises teeth for wireless code
The federal budget is adding teeth to the Wireless Code of Conduct. The budget promises to give the CRTC and Industry Canada the power to fine companies that contravene the code, which was enacted late last year after a spike in consumer complaints about unclear contract language and arbitrary fees. Read More…
CBC | Federal budget to boost rural high-speed internet access
This week’s federal budget will include money to extend or improve high-speed internet access to 280,000 households and businesses in rural and remote areas, CBC News has learned. The move, which was previewed in last fall’s speech from the throne, is being pitched as part of the government’s focus on consumers and also as part of its Economic Action Plan to stimulate economic growth and help small business, particularly in the North. Read More…
Chicago Tribune | Canada government adamant in opposing Telus bid for Mobilicity
Canada’s federal government signaled on Monday that it was still opposed to any of the country’s established wireless companies acquiring Mobilicity, even though the startup, now under creditor protection, could cease operations without such a deal. Telus Corp has been widely expected to make a third bid to buy Mobilicity after the five-year ban on the transfer of its spectrum expires on Wednesday. Read More…
NY Times | Edward Snowden Used Low-Cost Tool to Best N.S.A.
Intelligence officials investigating how Edward J. Snowden gained access to a huge trove of the country’s most highly classified documents say they have determined that he used inexpensive and widely available software to “scrape” the National Security Agency’s networks, and kept at it even after he was briefly challenged by agency officials. Read More…