OTTAWA – The CRTC should either reconsider its recent community TV policy decision or hold a new hearing that focuses exclusively on community TV and media, says the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS).
In a lengthy letter to the CRTC made public Tuesday, the organization cites “the lack of information placed on the public record by the Commission; the number of false, selective, and erroneous statements in its analysis and decision; and the number of internal contradictions in the decision”, as its reasons for the request.
“Our comments include concerns about the paucity of information on the public record during the proceeding regarding how BDUs have spent more than $150 million in subscriber money annually on community TV – which information stakeholders needed to accurately assess the effectiveness of the CRTC's past and future policies – as well as the revised policy adopted by the Commission, which we do not believe reflects the testimony placed on the public record by interveners to the hearing”, reads the letter, signed by CACTUS executive director Catherine Edwards.
The organization has also asked the CRTC to create an Ombudsperson or permanent staff position to help it develop expertise regarding community media and to spearhead its efforts to “develop a coherent and integrated community media policy for Canada in the digital environment”.
