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The following are correspondence for your information on the present political situation in Canada.
Date: July 27, 2001
To: R.C.M.P. (Freeman Sheppard, Detachment Chief)
R.C.M.P., London, Ontario
Fax: 519-640-7255
Cc: Gar Knutson, MP Elgin Middlesex
Fax: 519-631-8555
From: Opportunity, Planning & Management Inc. (C.E.O.)
Aylmer, Ontario
Fax: 519-773-8900
Re: Black market Operations in Satellite TV Trade
Dear Sir:
I own and operate a satellite TV & Internet Sales and Service business serving London, St. Thomas, Aylmer and surrounding areas. We offer Canadian approved satellite services and satellite Internet. We also offer „grey-market U.S. services (Dish Network and Direct). Recent court challenges in Ontario have deemed „grey-market‰ satellite services: all but as good as, and legal as selling the Canadian systems. However, there also exists a thriving black market trade in our area (and the rest of Canada) which sells „hacked, „booted and „fixed H cards for satellite systems (both Canadian and U.S. Grey Market). These illegal cards override the systems addressing and security systems (Access Cards or Hu Cards) and allow for theft of service whereby all programming is free without payments to the programming providers or appropriate copyright fees. Under the „Communications Act, we believe this constitutes theft of service (just like hooking up illegally to cable TV cables). On the other hand Canadian and „grey-market U.S. systems we provide allow for customers to pay all required programming fees to the providers either directly (with Canadian services) or through a U.S. address programming provider (with grey-market U.S. products). Since the recent Ontario court rulings, black market card and system sales people have been telling customers that „hacking is legal now as well and are increasing the number of theft of services infractions.
We would appreciate clarification of the R.C.M.P. position in this matter, and if indeed „hacking cards‰ and „theft of services‰ is now legal, please advise, so that we may join in the sales boom. If this practice is still black market and illegal, we would appreciate a vigorous enforcement effort to eliminate these pirates, hackers and blackmarketeers and their illegal cheater cards from the marketplace, and allow us to sell services and systems to our customers without them being led into temptation‰ by hackers with the promise of getting it all for free with the wild card. As well the reliability of these black market card systems are poor at best, and when the card goes down the customer must pay the pirate to reactivate the card over and over. This causes prospective legitimate satellite customers to be soured to the whole satellite industry and makes their conversion to paying for their services, and becoming legitimate satellite service subscribers more difficult. We ask your assistance and understanding. And we ask for the end of the black market pirates and cheaters of the satellite industry being ignored and condoned by the R.C.M.P. Please help us to clean up our industry nationwide and allow for reputable satellite service providers to develop our industry free from the black market blemishes or organized crime. Thank-you for your attention, your understanding and your good works in the regard.
Robert
Mailed October 29, 2002
Faxed November 16, 2002
The Honourable Allan Rock
Minister of Industry
Fax: (613) 992-0302
The Honourable Sheila Copps
Minister of Heritage
Fax: (905) 547-4877
The Honourable Pierre Pettigrew
Minister of International Trade
Fax: (613) 996-8924
Cc: The CBC's Fifth Estate
Subject: The Canadian Satellite Industry - Free Trade & Open Skies
V.S. Mega-Multimedia Corporate Domination and Control
The planned „convergence‰ of the Telephone, Cable TV and Broadcast & Satellite Industries in Canada, has been ongoing for the past decade and concerns relative to the merits of the corporate mega-mergers and business alliances need to be addressed immediately. Mr. Asper, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Shaw and ma Bell seem to be
accumulating great powers to affect the future of the Telecom sector of the Canadian economy, as well as the implied control over what Canadians may see, hear and think. Communications via telephone, television or the internet touches all Canadians lives, not only as consumers through the pricing of services, but also in the viewpoints, attitudes and emphasis as to public opinion. Perhaps it would be appropriate to have a public enquiry into the adviability, or lack thereof, of convergence and concentration of power and influence to be placed in the hands of a few powerful „giants who can then mold the viewpoints of the Canadian media, the Canadian government and the Canadian people?
There seems to be something a little confusing about the Canadian satellite industry which is dominated by two „competing‰ service providers: ExpressVu and StarChoice. One of these is owned by the telephone industry and the other by the cable television industry. Add convergence to the mix and we have the recipe for multimedia monopolization.
Also, relative to he upcoming Supreme Court hearing and Charter of Rights appeal on behalf of Canadians basic rights and freedoms to make fundamental personal decisions as to what television services they wish to enjoy (particularly DirecTV and Dish Network from the U.S.A.) in the privacy of their own homes; cable TV companies take satellite feeds for most of their cable TV offerings/channels. Many of these channels/services come directly from DirecTV and Dish Network satellites and non-Canadian big dish satellite providers, the very services that have been outlawed for Canadians. Is this fair? Is this equitable? If it is prohibited to Canadians, should it also be prohibited to the Cable TV corporate giants. Or do we have different rules for corporations? Are corporate interests more important that those of Canadians? If it's okay for the cable guys, it should be okay for Joe Canuck and Mr. & Mrs. Canada, the Canadian consumer; and God willing and under the Charter of
Rights & Freedoms, it may be so. Let all Canadians have the freedom to choose what they wish to watch in the privacy of their own homes, rather than having that choice dictated and restricted by a very few multimedia barons. Freedom of Choice and Freedom of Expression for all Canadians.
The issue of Free Trade for the Satellite industry also bears examination. DirecTV, Dish Network, Bell ExpressVu and StarChoice are all technically available to all Canadians and Americans. It is only corporate interests and influences that foster the regulations that prevent Free Trade and Open Skies. If Free Trade truly existed, Canadians and Americans would have the freedom to choose any or all other satellite services available and pay for their choices by subscribing to those services at the going rate (and all appropriate levies and copyright provisions would be covered); and the Americans could benefit from the availability of Canadian culture and programming in their homes as well. Theft of service, black market, hacking, bootstrapping are illegal and should be an active pervue of the R.C.M.P. Let us take the lead and guarantee Free Trade and Open Skies for the Satellite industry in Canada as well as for the rest of the F.T.A.A. And let us examine multimedia convergence in the Telecom sector and the role of the C.R.T.C. as an unbiased protector of the Telecom sector from corruption by a few wealthy and powerfully influential individuals. Let us get our house order, lest we be accused of playing favourites with corporate interests over those of the Canadian voters; or lest we be accused of complacency or compliance in the face of corporate domination and potential industry collusion and conspiracy relative to convergence activities. What are our priorities? People or profits for huge corporations? From my standpoint, it should be Canadians first. Monopolization of an industry by a few moguls is restrictive and manipulative and intolerable. I call on the Canadian government to promote Free Trade (as opposed to managed trade) and to examine the benefits and wisdom of convergence in a free and open forum with plenty of input from the citizens and consumers affected by it.
Respectfully,
Robert G. Monteith, P.Eng.
24 Harvey Street
Aylmer, ON N5H 1T1
Litigation against the government is quite expensive. Donations to the Canadian Charter of Rights and the Freedom Legal Defense Fund would would be greatly appreciated Donations may be sent to Wagman, Sherkin, Barristers & Solicitors, 756A Queen Street, East, Toronto, ON M4M 1H4. 416-465-1102.
November 11, 2002
Starbase Digital Multimedia Incorporated
30677 Overseas Highway, Unit #11
Big Pine Key, Florida 33043
1-888-607-8288
To: Mike Zimmerman @ DirecTV
Fax: (770) 437-4199
From: Robert Monteith @ Starbase Digital Multimedia Inc.
Fax: Head Office (519) 773-8900
Subject: DirecTV Policy Clarification - DirecTV Activations in Canada
Mike:
Please clarify if our Canadian Division may import DirecTV systems into Canada.
And secondly, if we may perform DirecTV activations for customers with Canadian
addresses.
Please forward legal opinions and/or DirecTV policy declarations in writing to us at:
Starbase Digital Multimedia Inc.
Head Offices: 24 Harvey Street
Aylmer, ON, N5H 1T1
Canada
or via Fax to (519) 773-8900
Thank-you,
Robert
Quote from Kafka
Read our "Partners in Trade" letters to the following:
Partners in Trade" to DirecTV Inc. - Roxanne Austin, President and C.O.O.
Partners in Trade" to Bell ExpressVu - David McLennan, President and C.E.O.
Partners in Trade" to Shaw Communications - Jim Shaw Jr., President and C.E.O.
Partners in Trade" to Dish Network - Michael Dugan, President and C.E.O.
If you are in the satellite business and miss the benefits of an association, give us a call.
USA 305-872-1637
CANADA 519-765-1335
TOLL FREE 1-888-607-8288
If you become a dealer for UNCABLE TV you will become a part of our association.
SEE Response Letter from Ministers Allan Rock, Shiela Copps, Pierre Pettigrew
Visit Starbase Digital America
It is easier to obey, it is easier not to be free.
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