Access Communications

Last updated
Access Communications
Co-operative Limited
Access Communications
FormerlyCable Regina
Company type Co-operative
Industry Telecommunications
Founded1974;50 years ago (1974) (as Regina Cablevision Co-operative Ltd.)
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
HeadquartersRegina, Saskatchewan
Area served
Saskatchewan
Key people
Carmela Haines (CEO) Derrick Thue (CFO) Craig Van Ham (CTO)
Products Cable television, high-speed internet, telephone, home security, broadcasting
Number of employees
350+ [1]

Access Communications Co-operative Limited is a Canadian telecom cooperative based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The cooperative provides internet, cable television, telephone, smart home and security services to residential and business customers in 235 Saskatchewan communities. [1] Its primary competitor is the provincial crown corporation SaskTel.

Contents

History

Access Communications was established in 1974 as the Regina Cablevision Co-operative. After a prolonged legal and constitutional dispute between the federal and the provincial governments, which had differing visions of how cable television should be delivered in the province, [2] [3] [4] the co-operative was granted a Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) licence for broadcast in 1976 and began providing cable television services as Cable Regina on February 14, 1978. [5] More than 24,000 households in Regina signed up for cable services in its first years of operations. [6]

After nearly two decades focusing solely on cable television and local broadcasting, the co-operative launched dial-up internet service in September 1995 and cable modem broadband service followed in 1997. [6] Cable Regina diversified and extended its reach into other areas of the province in the 1990s through the acquisition of other cable television providers in Regina Beach, [7] White City, Weyburn, Estevan and Yorkton. [6] On April 17, 2000, the co-operative's name changed to Access Communications. In the early 2000s, Access Communications merged with the Battlefords Community Cablevision. [6] Primary line telephone services were launched in 2007. [8]

Looking to further expand its presence in smaller communities, Access Communications purchased Persona's cable operations in Saskatchewan from Halifax-based Eastlink in 2009, becoming the largest cable television provider in the province. [9] In 2015, Access Communications acquired Askivision and Saskatoon-based Little Loon Wireless; the purchase of the latter allowed the co-operative to deliver fixed-wireless broadband high-speed internet to rural areas in Saskatchewan. [10]

Services

Access Communications offers cable modem and fixed-wireless broadband internet, cable television (digital and analog), telephone, home security and home automation.

Internet

Access uses a hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) network infrastructure [11] to deliver its internet services, branded as AccessHyperSpeed. In March 2019, it announced that it is one of the internet service providers participating in the federal government's Connecting Families Program. [12]

Cable television

Access distributes standard-definition and high-definition cable television programming, including digital cable. It offers digital video recorders such as TiVo, video-on-demand services and has implemented switched digital video (SDV) technology in many markets. [13]

Telephone

Access Communications' digital phone service was launched in February 2007 [8] and utilizes IP technology instead of a traditional landline. Such a system operates on an ATA (Analog Telephony Adapter) device with a built-in cable modem. The modem communicates over cable lines to a private IP network. In this sense, it can be considered VoIP, in that it is voice delivered over an IP network. However, because it travels over dedicated lines, it is still designed to be usable in a power outage scenario.

Home security

Access offers home security and home automation services. In 2016, an Alarm.com-based home automation monitored service was introduced. Subscribers can secure and monitor their property through web-based and mobile applications, as well as through Apple, Amazon and Google devices. [14]

Broadcasting

AccessNow TV

Access operates community channels on its cable systems branded as AccessNow TV (formerly Access7), which have carried locally produced programs and events, including programs highlighting multicultural, [15] indigenous [16] and LGBT [17] communities in Saskatchewan.

The channels adopted their current name in September 2020. [18] Its sports coverage includes broadcasts of the Regina Pats and other Western Hockey League games. Its first agreement with the Western Hockey League was signed in 1993. [19]

Radio

In April 2024, the members of Regina-based community radio station CJTR-FM accepted an offer to be acquired by Access; the station will relocate its studios to the Access headquarters in Regina and build synergies with AccessNow TV, while retaining its existing programming, staff, and volunteers. [20]

Structure

Access Communications operates as a not-for-profit co-operative and its brand focuses on its community-based ownership, reinvesting its revenues on service improvements, as well as promoting and supporting local events and community organizations. [21] It has a charity, the Access Communications Children's Fund, as well as a scholarship program. In 2019, the co-operative supported close to 2,000 community groups and was recognized as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers, [22] one of Saskatchewan Top 100 Companies and was named a Caring Company by Imagine Canada in 2017. [23]

See also

Related Research Articles

Present-day telecommunications in Canada include telephone, radio, television, and internet usage. In the past, telecommunications included telegraphy available through Canadian Pacific and Canadian National.

Telecommunications in Ireland operate in a regulated competitive market that provides customers with a wide array of advanced digital services. This article explores Ireland's telecommunications infrastructure including: fixed and mobile networks, The voice, data and Internet services, cable television, developments in next-generation networks and broadcast networks for radio and television.

In telecommunications, a customer-premises equipment or customer-provided equipment (CPE) is any terminal and associated equipment located at a subscriber's premises and connected with a carrier's telecommunication circuit at the demarcation point ("demarc"). The demarc is a point established in a building or complex to separate customer equipment from the equipment located in either the distribution infrastructure or central office of the communications service provider.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cable modem</span> Broadband Internet access device

A cable modem is a type of network bridge that provides bi-directional data communication via radio frequency channels on a hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC), radio frequency over glass (RFoG) and coaxial cable infrastructure. Cable modems are primarily used to deliver broadband Internet access in the form of cable Internet, taking advantage of the high bandwidth of a HFC and RFoG network. They are commonly deployed in the Americas, Asia, Australia, and Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multichannel multipoint distribution service</span> Wireless communications technology

Multichannel multipoint distribution service (MMDS), formerly known as broadband radio service (BRS) and also known as wireless cable, is a wireless telecommunications technology, used for general-purpose broadband networking or, more commonly, as an alternative method of cable television programming reception.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Internet access</span> Individual connection to the Internet

Internet access is a facility or service that provides connectivity for a computer, a computer network, or other network device to the Internet, and for individuals or organizations to access or use applications such as email and the World Wide Web. Internet access is offered for sale by an international hierarchy of Internet service providers (ISPs) using various networking technologies. At the retail level, many organizations, including municipal entities, also provide cost-free access to the general public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Internet Protocol television</span> Television transmitted over a computer network

Internet Protocol television (IPTV) is the delivery of television content over Internet Protocol (IP) networks. This is in contrast to delivery through traditional terrestrial, satellite, and cable television formats. Unlike downloaded media, IPTV offers the ability to stream the source media continuously. As a result, a client media player can begin playing the content almost immediately. This is known as streaming media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GCI (company)</span> Telecommunications corporation operating in Alaska

GCI Communication Corp (GCI) is a telecommunications corporation operating in Alaska. Through its own facilities and agreements with other providers, GCI provides cable television service, Internet access, wireline (networking), and cellular telephone service. It is a subsidiary of Colorado-based company Liberty Broadband, a company affiliated with Liberty Media that also owns a 26% interest in Charter Communications, having been originally acquired by Liberty in 2015.

Saskatchewan Telecommunications Holding Corporation, operating as SaskTel, is a Canadian crown-owned telecommunications firm based in the province of Saskatchewan. Owned by the provincial government, it provides wireline and wireless communications services, including landline telephone, mobile networks, broadband internet, IPTV, and security services. Through a subsidiary, SaskTel International, the company has also worked on telecom infrastructure projects in countries such as Argentina and the Bahamas, as well as being the lead implementation company for the communication and control systems of the Channel Tunnel between England and France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastlink (company)</span> Canadian cable television and telecommunications company

Bragg Communications Inc., doing business as Eastlink, is a Canadian cable television and telecommunications company. The privately held company was founded in Nova Scotia in 1969 by the Bragg family, and has grown since through the amalgamation of several telecommunications companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triple play (telecommunications)</span>

In the field of telecommunications, the concept of triple play service refers to the provision of three essential services — high-speed broadband Internet access, television, and latency-sensitive telephone services — all delivered over a single broadband connection. This approach emphasizes the convergence of multiple services by a single supplier, aiming to enhance user convenience and streamline service delivery.

i-Cable Communications Hong Kong telecom company

i-Cable Communications Limited is a Hong Kong telecommunications company owned by Forever Top (Asia) Limited, which acquired the company from The Wharf Group in 2017. Founded in 1999, the company provides broadband internet and pay-TV services. i-Cable also develops its fibre coaxial network.

In telecommunications, cable Internet access, shortened to cable Internet, is a form of broadband internet access which uses the same infrastructure as cable television. Like digital subscriber line and fiber to the premises services, cable Internet access provides network edge connectivity from the Internet service provider to an end user. It is integrated into the cable television infrastructure analogously to DSL which uses the existing telephone network. Cable TV networks and telecommunications networks are the two predominant forms of residential Internet access. Recently, both have seen increased competition from fiber deployments, wireless, mobile networks and satellite internet access.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CJTR-FM</span> Community radio station in Regina, Saskatchewan

CJTR-FM is a Canadian radio station, airing at 91.3 FM in Regina, Saskatchewan. The station airs a community radio format, featuring a variety of musical styles and talk shows. It is operated by Radius Communications, a non-profit corporation that began fundraising in 1996 and got the station on the air in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Internet in Canada</span>

Canada ranks as the 21st in the world for Internet usage with 31.77 million users as of July 2016 (est), making up 89.8% of the population. According to Harvard researchers, Canada has some of the lowest internet standards among OECD countries, as a result of high costs and slow internet speeds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">G4 (Canadian TV channel)</span> Former Canadian TV channel

G4 was a Canadian English-language specialty television channel owned by Rogers Media. The name was licensed from NBCUniversal, whose parent company Comcast formerly owned a minority stake in the channel. Based on the U.S subscription networks TechTV and G4, the channel was originally focused on technology-themed programming.

SES Broadband is a two-way satellite broadband Internet service available across Europe, which launched in March 2007, and uses the Astra series of geostationary satellites.

Hargray Communications is a telecommunications provider based on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, United States. It operates internet throughout the Lowcountry region of South Carolina and the Savannah region of Georgia. Hargray has a monopoly on parts of the Lowcountry offering cable television, broadband Internet, and landline services. Hargray formerly resold cellular phone service through Cricket.

Full Channel, Inc. was an American pay television and telecommunications provider set in Rhode Island. At the time of its acquisition by CountryWide Broadband it was the third-largest cable television and Internet service provider in the state. Its wired communications network was available to the approximately 50,000 residents of Bristol County, Rhode Island. Full Channel's main office was at 57 Everett Street in Warren, Rhode Island, U.S.

Distributel is a brand of Bell Canada headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, founded in 1988 and offering Canadians long distance phone service. Distributel now offers a wide range of high speed Internet plans in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta as well as VoIP Digital Home Phone service across Canada. Distributel also provides IPTV in all major markets in Ontario and Quebec.

References

  1. 1 2 "2022 Annual Report" (PDF). Access Communications. Access Communications. 2022-12-31. Retrieved 2023-01-31.
  2. "The History of Canadian Broadcast Regulation". The Canadian Communications Foundation. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  3. Walker, Jane (1984-06-07). "The effects of federal-provincial negotiations on regulation: case studies in Manitoba and Saskatchewan" (PDF). Simon Fraser University. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  4. National Film Board of Canada (1972). Access, Issues 9-14. National Film Board of Canada. p. 52. Retrieved 2020-01-31. Cable to Become a Public Utility by September 1972
  5. "Discover Access - Access Communications". Access Communications. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Access Communications: 40 years in Saskatchewan". Access Communications. 2018-07-31. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  7. "ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 95-568". Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  8. 1 2 Kyle, Cassandra (2007-06-07). "Vonage takes on SaskTel in Regina". Regina Leader-Post. Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  9. O'Brien, Greg (2009-06-30). "Access buys Bragg's Saskatchewan systems as part of $125 million in investment". Cartt. Cartt.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  10. Johnstone, Bruce (2015-11-06). "Access acquires Saskatoon-based Internet and cable providers". Regina Leader-Post. Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  11. "Access makes surfing, streaming and gaming easier with the launch of Internet speeds up to 300". Access Communications. 2019-07-02. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  12. "Participating Internet Service Providers". Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. 2019-08-20. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  13. "TV - Access Communications". Access Communications. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  14. "Smart Home - Access Communications". Access Communications. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  15. "Local TV show highlights Saskatchewan's thriving Filipino community". CBC.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  16. "Four Aboriginal Women discuss topics on local TV talk show". First Nations Drum. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  17. "'We like to do it in a fun way': Prairie Pride teaches viewers about LGBTQ community in Sask". CBC.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  18. Canales, Moises. "AccessNow TV now live". 620 CKRM. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  19. Schmöckel, Wanda (2015-03-24). "Talk of the Towns". The Walrus. The Walrus. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  20. "'Incredibly optimistic time' for Regina's CJTR after community station ownership transferred to cable company". CBC News. 2024-04-18. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  21. "Access celebrates National Co-op week". Cartt. Cartt.ca. 2019-10-16. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  22. Daily Hive Staff (2019-03-01). "These are Canada's best diversity employers in 2019". Venture Toronto. The Daily Hive. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  23. "Access Communications 2019 Annual Report" (PDF). Access Communications. Retrieved 2020-01-31.