Shaw Communications has resigned from the Canadian Cable Telecommunications Association, but neither party is willing to discuss the split.

According to a release issued Dec. 6, the country’s second-largest cabler believes the ‘member companies of the CCTA have divergent interests and differing strategic objectives, making it difficult to build an industry-wide consensus on various issues.’

The release also states that the Calgary-based cableco will be ‘better served by pursuing its own strategies and developing its own objectives without the added burden of seeking industry consensus.’

An assistant to Peter Bissonnette, Shaw’s president, told Playback the company would not elaborate on the reasons for its departure.

The CCTA followed with its own release from chair Dean MacDonald, who said his organization ‘regrets Shaw’s resignation,’ but will continue to move forward with its own agenda for the industry and its members, which includes a focus on ‘facilities-based competition in telephony and increased choice for consumers.’

The CCTA statement also recognizes that even though various cable providers have individual strategies that differ from their peers and competitors, ‘the industry remains committed to working with all stakeholders on key priorities.’

The CCTA was also unwilling to comment further.

The group recently furthered its reach beyond cable television to include the broader field of cable telecommunications. It is not clear if these changes led to the split.

Lis Angus, executive VP of Ottawa telecommunications consulting firm Angus TeleManagement Group, says the cable group can survive without Shaw.

‘The CCTA represents about 77 cable companies, so one leaving is not going to destroy its future,’ says Angus. ‘Shaw has, for whatever reason, chosen to leave the CCTA, but I don’t think that represents a trend.’

Shaw has 2.1 million customers, or 27.8% of the market, according to the CCTA’s ’04/05 report. Rogers Cable leads with 2.4 million.

www.ccta.com

www.shaw.ca