Access Communications

Access Communications is a Canadian telecommunications service provider operating in over 235 communities in Saskatchewan.[1] Headquartered in Regina, the co-operative provides internet, cable television, telephone and security services to residential and business customers. Its primary competitor is Saskatchewan's government-owned SaskTel.

For the former cable company in the Maritimes (now part of EastLink), see Access Communications (Nova Scotia).
"AccessNow" redirects here. For the digital rights organization, see Access Now.
Access Communications
Co-operative Limited
TypeCo-operative
IndustryTelecommunications
Founded1974 (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)
ProductsCable television, high-speed internet, telephone, home security, broadcasting
Number of employees
350+[1]

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 Communications uses a hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) network infrastructure[11] to deliver its internet services. 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 Communications 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]

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,[14] indigenous[15] and LGBT[16] communities in Saskatchewan.

The channels adopted their current name in September 2020.[17] 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.[18]

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

The co-operative 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.[19]

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.[20] 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,[21] one of Saskatchewan Top 100 Companies and was named a Caring Company by Imagine Canada in 2017.[22]

See also

References
  1. "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. "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. 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. "Local TV show highlights Saskatchewan's thriving Filipino community". CBC.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  15. "Four Aboriginal Women discuss topics on local TV talk show". First Nations Drum. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  16. "'We like to do it in a fun way': Prairie Pride teaches viewers about LGBTQ community in Sask". CBC.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  17. Canales, Moises. "AccessNow TV now live". 620 CKRM. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  18. Schmöckel, Wanda (2015-03-24). "Talk of the Towns". The Walrus. The Walrus. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  19. "Smart Home - Access Communications". Access Communications. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  20. "Access celebrates National Co-op week". Cartt. Cartt.ca. 2019-10-16. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  21. Daily Hive Staff (2019-03-01). "These are Canada's best diversity employers in 2019". Venture Toronto. The Daily Hive. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  22. "Access Communications 2019 Annual Report" (PDF). Access Communications. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
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