February 9, 2012


Ottawa (Canada) – Fasken Martineau, a leading international business law and litigation firm, announced today that two of its prominent communications lawyers, Jay Kerr-Wilson and Leslie Milton of the Ottawa office, are available to comment on the Supreme Court of Canada decision regarding the regulation of internet service providers (ISPs).

The Supreme Court of Canada will issue its decision this morning on the extent to which broadcast regulations should apply to the internet, and, particularly to residential internet access.

The appeal arises from proceedings before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), in which the CRTC considered whether or not ISPs are engaged in "broadcasting" when customers use the internet to access television programming or other forms of broadcast content. The CRTC did not decide this issue but instead referred it to the Federal Court of Appeal. In July 2010 the Federal Court of Appeal issued its decision that ISPs are not engaged in broadcasting. The Supreme Court heard an appeal of the Federal Court of Appeal decision on January 16, 2012.

Jay Kerr-Wilson and Leslie Milton are both experienced communications lawyers. They work within Fasken Martineau's top-tier ranked Communications group which is "Without question the most present and influential firm in this market" according to Chambers and Partners.

Members of the media who would like to speak with Jay Kerr-Wilson or Leslie Milton may contact Stephen Hastings, Director of Communications, at 416 648 4076 or Thomas Roux, media relations coordinator, at 514 871 5987.

About Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP

Fasken Martineau is a leading international business law and litigation firm. With over 675 lawyers, the firm has offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Québec City, London, Paris and Johannesburg. For additional information, please visit the firm's website at www.fasken.com.