Communications

McCarthy Tétrault has one of the largest and most experienced communications practice in Canada. Domestic and international clients choose us for our:

• Depth — For decades, we have acted in many of the major regulatory proceedings and business transactions that have shaped the Canadian telecommunications and broadcasting industry. 
• Leadership — Our lawyers are top-ranked industry experts who publish the authoritative texts in this country, including the Canadian Telecommunications Regulatory Handbook, Canadian Broadcasting Regulatory Handbook , Regulatory Guide to Canadian Television Programming Services , Communications Law in Canada , and the Regulatory Guide to Canadian Radio .
• Inside track — Our practitioners have held senior positions within the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and major telecommunications and broadcasting organizations.

Telecommunications

Our telecommunications clients have included telecommunications companies, satellite carriers, mobile and fixed wireless networks, cable operators, and other service providers, Internet and e-commerce services, private equity investors and financial institutions, regulators and governments in Canada and internationally.

Canadian Practice — We advise telecom carriers, new entrants and other Canadian and foreign telecom industry players on legal, policy and regulatory issues. We counsel on telecom-related business matters, including mergers and acquisitions, finance and a wide range of commercial agreements. We also advise investors and financial institutions supporting these operations.

The Canadian government appointed Toronto partner Hank Intven to the three-member Canadian Telecom Policy Review Panel. The Panel's March 2006 report recommended a comprehensive overhaul of Canada's telecom policy and regulation.

International Experience — We have worked on telecom matters in more than 35 countries. We have advised investors, governments, regulators and other industry players on developing regulatory frameworks (legislation, policies and regulation), licensing matters, privatization of state-owned telecommunications companies and competition issues, among others. We have advised international operators and investors on expanding into new markets.

Broadcasting

Our broadcasting clients have included conventional television networks, pay and specialty television services, radio, satellite radio, direct-to-home satellite, cable and other broadcasters (both exempt and licensed). We have also advised cultural industries that produce a wide range of content, including audio and audio-visual producers and clients in the film, book and magazine publishing sectors.

We regularly advise domestic and foreign-owned broadcasters on complex strategic matters such as:

• CRTC — Licensing and renewal hearings, policy proceedings, regulatory compliance and licence amendments;
• Copyright Board of Canada — Intellectual property and tariff-related matters;
• Market entry — Foreign-ownership rules; admission to Canada, either directly or through joint ventures with Canadian operators; licensed and unlicensed services; and
• Agreements — Affiliation agreements, shareholders' agreements, trademark agreements, program supply agreements and management agreements.

Publications

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The Broadcasting Act, incorporating the Online Streaming Act: Text and Commentary 2023

This helpful resource provides both the text and extended commentary on the consolidated Broadcasting Act

Download the publication

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Guide to the Copyright Board of Canada incorporating the User’s Guide to Canadian Copyright Tariffs (2020)

An indispensable resource regarding applicable royalty rates and how they are determined, this handbook provides a complete guide to the mandate and operations of the Copyright Board of Canada.

Get the Guide