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Scott Prescott Ottawa Lawyer

Scott M. Prescott

Partner | Partner | Communications | Co-Managing Partner, Ottawa Fasken
Jurisdiction Ontario, 1997
Language(s) English
Office(s) Ottawa
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Overview

Scott Prescott practises communications and administrative law. He has extensive knowledge of the legal, regulatory and policy frameworks governing the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in Canada.

Providing complex legal and strategic advice, clients include leading Canadian and international communications companies. He advises a number of cable, IPTV and satellite distributors, television and radio broadcasters, online content providers, foreign programming services, Internet service providers and wireline and wireless telecommunications carriers.

Scott acts for clients in a broad range of proceedings before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Scott’s communications practice includes advising on various matters relating to licensing and regulatory compliance, dispute resolution, regulatory and statutory interpretation, transfers of ownership and control, Canadian ownership and foreign investment, regulatory and policy frameworks, building access and telecommunications interconnection, licensing and tariffs.

Assisting clients operating in the communications industry on privacy and access to information matters commercial transactions and agreements and a range of competition, constitutional and administrative law issues is also a significant part of Scott’s communications practice.

Scott is the Co-Managing Partner of the firm’s Ottawa office.

Achievements

  • Recognized nationwide as a Leading Partner in Telecommunications, The Legal 500 Canada 2026
  • Recognized as a Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer, Thomson Reuters stand-out lawyers 2024 to 2026
  • Recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in Telecommunications , Lexpert 2019 to 2026
  • Recognized in Communications Law in Ottawa, The Best Lawyers in Canada 2018 to 2026
  • Recognized nationwide in Canada in Telecoms, Media & Broadcasting, Chambers Global 2017 to 2026
  • Recognized nationwide in Telecommunications & Broadcasting, Chambers Canada 2016 to 2026
  • Recognized as Lawyer of the Year in Communications Law in Ottawa, The Best Lawyers in Canada 2023 to 2025
  • Recognized as Recommended in Telecoms Media & Entertainment, Lexology Index 2023 to 2025
  • Recognized as a Global Elite Thought Leader in Telecoms Media & Entertainment, Lexology Index 2024
  • Who's Who Legal: Canada for Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Who's Who Legal Canada 2016 to 2019

Experience

  • Rogers Communications Inc. receives CRTC approval to acquire Shaw Communications Inc., [Deal - Rogers Communications Inc.], Rogers Communications Inc. obtains CRTC approval under the Broadcasting Act for its application to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Shaw Communications and its broadcasting subsidiaries
  • Sirius XM Canada receives CRTC approval for its licence renewal application, [Deal - Sirius XM Canada Holdings], Canadian radio broadcasting company successfully renews its national satellite subscription radio undertakings
  • Rogers Media Inc. successfully opposes application for leave to appeal regarding the CRTC’s OMNI Regional Decision, [Case - Rogers Media Inc.], Leading Canadian media company successfully responds to an application for leave to appeal at the Federal Court of Appeal
  • Rogers Media Inc. receives CRTC approval for a licence to operate OMNI Regional as a national, multilingual, multi-ethnic discretionary service, [Deal - Rogers Media Inc.], Leading Canadian media company granted approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to operate a discretionary service providing affordable news and current events programming in multiple languages
  • Rogers Media acquires radio broadcasting ownership group, Lamers Holdings valued at US$4.2 million, [Deal - Rogers Media Inc.], The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has approved Rogers Media Inc.’s acquisition of a radio broadcasting ownership group, Lamers Holdings Inc., which owns two English-language, commercial FM radio stations in southern Ontario. The transaction was valued by the C...
  • Sirius XM Canada Holdings completes a recapitalization go-private transaction, [Deal - Sirius XM Canada Holdings], On May 25, 2017, Sirius XM Canada Holdings Inc. (the "Company"), the parent of Sirius XM Canada Inc. (“SXM Canada”) that is licensed by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (the “CRTC”) to provide satellite subscription radio services in Canada, completed a statutory pl...
  • Rogers Media successfully opposes application for leave to appeal CRTC Broadcasting Decision by Federal Court of Appeal, [Case - Confidential Client], On April 13, 2016, the Federal Court of Appeal denied an application for leave to appeal the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s decision denying an application by the Urban Alliance on Race Relations to require Rogers Media Inc.’s OMNI television stations to broadcast l...
  • Federal Court of Appeal rejects application for leave to appeal CRTC Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2015-86, [Case - Confidential Client], On May 29, 2015, the Federal Court of Appeal denied the Canadian Media Production Association’s application for leave to appeal the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s policy decision to remove the requirement for television broadcasters to enter in a Terms of Trade Agre...
  • CRTC grants Rogers approval to acquire Score Media, [Deal - Rogers Media Inc.], On April 30, 2013, Rogers Media Inc. (“Rogers”) received approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (“CRTC”) to acquire Score Media Inc. (“Score”), which had been held in trust since October 19, 2012. The total consideration paid by Rogers Media was $167 million...

Career & Education

Education

  • LLB University of Ottawa
  • MA Queen's University
  • BA (Honours) Queen's University

Community involvement

  • Coach, Assistant Coach and Trainer - Minor Hockey and Football Teams

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, Ontario Bar Association
  • Member, Law Society of Upper Canada

Knowledge

  • The CRTC Releases Three New Policy Decisions Designed to Modernize Canada’s Broadcasting Framework, 6/2/2026
  • The CRTC Calls for Applications for Indigenous Radio Stations in Ottawa and Toronto, 3/3/2026
  • Canadian Broadcasting Regulation in 2025 and Implications for the Year Ahead: Consultation, Course Correction, and Continuing Uncertainty, 2/25/2026
  • Quebec Passes Bill 109 to Regulate Discoverability of French-Language Cultural Content, 1/6/2026
  • CRTC Modernizes the Definition of “Canadian program” Under the Broadcasting Act, 11/20/2025
  • CRTC Releases New Policy to Modernize Radio Processes, 10/23/2025
  • 2025 Election Compliance: Essential Rules for Broadcasters, Advertisers, Telephone Calls and Emails, 4/8/2025
  • CRTC Launches Consultation Examining Market Dynamics Across the Entire Canadian Broadcasting Industry, 1/13/2025
  • Fasken Communications Law Triannual Update, 11/13/2024
  • CRTC Imposes Mandatory Contribution Obligations on Online Undertakings for the Creation and Promotion of Canadian and Indigenous Content, 6/5/2024

Events

  • Telecom, Broadcasting and Media Trends 2023, 10/26/2023
  • Fasken Ottawa Symposium (10th Edition), 6/10/2021
  • Fasken Ottawa Symposium (8th Edition), 6/15/2018
  • Ottawa Fasken Martineau Symposium (5th Edition), 6/11/2015

News

  • Scott Prescott, Kiera Boyd and Riley Mintz comment on the implementation of Canada’s Online Streaming Act in Lexpert, 12/13/2024
  • Fasken Wins Labour and Employment Law Firm of the Year in the 2019 Best Lawyers in Canada Guide, 8/21/2018
  • The 2018 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory recognizes 200 Fasken lawyers, 4/12/2018
  • Chambers Global 2018 recognizes 54 Fasken lawyers in 19 practice areas firm-wide, 2/19/2018
  • Fasken Martineau Wins Mining Law Firm of the Year in the 2018 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada Guide, 8/22/2017
  • Fasken Martineau receives Band 1 rankings in four practice areas in Chambers Global 2017, 3/20/2017
  • Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2016: 68 Fasken Martineau lawyers ranked, 11/4/2016
  • Chambers Canada 2017 Guide recognizes 83 Fasken Martineau lawyers and names us “Employment Law Firm of the Year”, 10/3/2016
  • Fasken Martineau receives Band 1 rankings in five practice areas in Chambers Global 2016, 3/21/2016
  • Chambers Canada 2016 Guide recognizes 74 Fasken Martineau lawyers, 10/20/2015

Publications

  • TMT 2024 Canada Chapter, 2/22/2024
  • Expert Spotlight: Television will never be the same again, 6/22/2015
  • The future of over-the-air television in Canada, 3/17/2015
  • Broadcasting Primer – What is ‘Mandatory Basic Carriage’ and How Does it Affect Canadians?, 9/16/2013
Book chapters, Co-Author TMT 2024 Canada Chapter Chambers and Partners
Article Expert Spotlight: Television will never be the same again Fasken Martineau
Article The future of over-the-air television in Canada Capital Perspectives