OTTAWA – The CRTC has approved, for the most part, the revised structural and operational plan proposed by the Community Radio Fund of Canada (CRFC).
The CRFC is a not-for-profit organization that supports the development of non-commercial, community-based broadcasters including campus radio stations. Its plan must receive CRTC approval before the organization can begin administering mandatory basic annual Canadian content development contributions from the big commercial radio broadcasters, as well as tangible benefits arising from transfers in the ownership of commercial radio undertakings.
The Commission said Wednesday that it would accept the plan once it was tweaked to include amendments related to the participation of commercial radio broadcasters on the board of directors, participation on the selection committee, and the measurement of the success of the fund’s initiatives.
It directed the CRFC to file a revised plan and bylaws no later than August 22nd, and pledged to review the structure and performance of the CRFC model within three years from the date of this policy.
CRFC president John Harris Stevenson described the process as "a long year, full of planning, research, and learning."
"The CRFC has distributed $480,000 to 47 recipients in the last three years", he said in a statement. "With this decision, we will be distributing twice that amount every year. Today’s decision is an important step for us in reaching our vision of being a meaningful financial tool for the development and sustainability of campus and community radio in Canada."
To read the CRFC’s plan, click here.
