[Satellite TODAY 08-14-09] Bell Canada dropped its lawsuit against the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the broadcaster announced Aug. 13.
    Bell did not give a reason for dropping the court action. The company filed the suit earlier this week in an effort to fight a bid by Canada’s major networks to begin charging cable and satellite companies .50 cents per-subscriber for their signals. Bell asserted that the CRTC could not implement these policies or negotiate with cable companies without holding a formal hearing.
    In May, Bell proposed a Freesat service, a solution the company said would save Canadian broadcasters millions of dollars in terms of constructing new digital infrastructure and that consumers would only be required to purchase a compatible satellite dish and digital receiver to acquire service. CRTC rejected the idea in June.

Related Stories-

Canadian Satellite Providers Argue Against CRTC Pay-For-Carriage Policy [Satellite Today 05-26-09]
Bell Exec: Canadian Freesat Service Could Be Launched by 3Q 2010 [Satellite News 05-25-09]
Bell Proposes Freesat Service in Canada [Satellite Today 05-04-09]