Category Archives: Consumer tech
FAA outlines new rules for drones and their operators
WASHINGTON — Federal officials say they will allow operators to fly small drones over people and at night, potentially giving a boost to commercial use of the machines. Most drones will need to be equipped so they can be identified remotely
MPs probe officials on ability to collect GST from Netflix, other foreign companies
OTTAWA — Opposition MPs pressed officials Thursday to say how ready they'll be to begin collecting GST on cross-border sales by foreign companies starting next year, as proposed by the Liberal government's fiscal update.Foreign companies without a phys...
Ottawa’s delayed broadband fund welcomed with skepticism by interest groups
The Trudeau government officially launched a previously announced fund Monday that promises to provide $1.75 billion for rural and remote parts of Canada that currently don't have fast, reliable internet service. But there was skepticism about how well...
Feds propose changes to Broadcasting Act that may raise $800 million from streamers
Online platforms like Netflix and Spotify may end up spending more than $800 million on Canadian content over the next three years under a series of legislative changes the federal government proposed Tuesday. The proposed changes to the Broadcasting A...
Toronto company’s new app aims to help U.S. voters assess polling station conditions
WASHINGTON, Wash. — Voters in the United States are shattering turnout records despite long lineups, fear of civil unrest and the dangers of COVID-19 — and a Canadian company is doing its part to protect Americans from the perils of
Ottawa’s plan to rein in tech giants missing key pieces, say experts
TORONTO — The Liberal government unveiled a plan to rein in tech giants in its throne speech this week, but experts say there is much more that should be included. The government revealed Wednesday that it wants to address corporate tax
Liberals to ‘accelerate’ spending of $1-billion fund for rural internet backbone
TORONTO — The Trudeau government's plan to shepherd the economy safely past the COVID crisis includes its long-standing promise to make sure all parts of Canada have access to high-speed internet. The throne speech read Wednesday by Gov. Gen Julie Paye...
Group wants Parliament, courts to hold social media to same standard as publishers
TORONTO — Friends of Canadian Broadcasting is calling on Parliament to restrain social media platforms from distributing harmful or hateful content by applying the same laws that publishers and broadcasters already face. The lobby group's executive dir...
Tech group makes pitch to Liberals as part of wider push to shape recovery plan
OTTAWA — A group of tech companies is making a pitch to the federal government to help startups grow as part of a COVID-19 recovery plan that Liberals are crafting, while some feminist groups are feeling frozen out. The proposal from the
Independent ISP TekSavvy blames large carriers, cabinet for a planned price hike
TORONTO — One of Canada's largest independent internet companies is raising prices for the second time this year amid an ongoing battle over the wholesale prices charged by network owners. Ontario-based TekSavvy notified i...