Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Television Internet Access - Let's Dump the Regulatory System

A recent study by NPD has shown that 18% of consumers in a survey access internet content daily over their television set. Some 25% access internet content that way several times a week.

That's a startling statistic. Although it shouldn't be. Pundits have been predicting the end of television as we have known it ever since the beginnings of the internet. That's because the internet is such a logical replacement for the conventional means of delivery of content that people have viewed on TV's. But the  move has been extremely slow, despite the proliferation of ways to connect televisions to the internet. There are set-top boxes, games units like Wii, and more recently, built in wireless HDMI type capability. As these devices and tehniques continue to enter the market, their use will grow.

But the holdup hasn't been technology. Rather it has been the incredible web of government oversight and regulation that is now so outdated as to be laughable. Laughable if it wasn't holding us up with something that is so simple and causing us to spend so much more for television content than we need to, particularly through the cable companies. Of course, those cable companies have been fighting for their lives for years. but they are supported by this web of regulation, through regulators like the CRTC in Canada.

Isn't it time we did a major revamp of the old system? Maybe it's time to completely throw out that system and start over with one that's built for the age of the internet, not for the late stages of the industrial revolution.

For a commentary on the NPD study, check this link.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

XBRL Canada Annual Conference and Seminar

XBRL Canada is holding its annual convention on October 17th at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa. The program will feature the use of XBRL in government using Standardized Business Reporting (SBR) Other jurisdictions have experienced substantial savings by both government and business as a result of this approach. We will hear from people involved in those applications. The conference will also include a panel representing experienced filers, regulators and Canadian government representatives who will discuss their filing requirements.

On the morning of October 18th, there will be a seminar held by Gianluca Garbellotto, one of the world's foremost experts in XBRL GL, who will discuss XBRL SBR project implementation, it's components and basic methodology.

Reserve those dates! And you can register at the XBRL Canada website.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012


Seminar on XBRL Project Implementation

On October 18th, XBRL Canada will hold a seminar discussing the basic components of an XBRL/SBR project implementation from the Government’s and agencies' perspective, as well as the internal use of XBRL. It will run from 8:30 AM until 12 noon and will include resources and materials to start a project, case studies, business cases and other reference documentation and software solutions.

Topics will include:

The main components of an XBRL/SBR program
- Overcoming political islands between agencies and within agencies
- Messaging infrastructure
- Engaging and supporting Developers and Filers
- Security and Authentication

XBRL’s Global Ledger: benefits of incorporating it in the regulatory environment

Practical demonstrations on
- How to XBRL-enable existing software applications
- Re-engineering internal data-related processes using XBRL

REGISTER NOW on the XBRL Canada Website.



Friday, August 03, 2012

Foreign Private Issuers Await IFRS XBRL Rules

An excellent summary of the situation with the SEC and the IASB regarding the IFRS Taxonomy can be found here on the Donnelley XBRL Blog.