STRATFORD – Does Canada need a single Communications Act, one that blends the Telecommunications Act, the Broadcasting Act and the Radiocommunication Act?
CRTC chairman Konrad von Finckenstein seems to think so.
Speaking Monday at the Canada 3.0 forum, von Finckenstein urged attendees to consider “the policy, legislative and regulatory changes that will be required to deal with the new technologies”.
“I can sum up in three points the changes that I believe are necessary”, he said in the address. “We need a conceptual rethinking of our whole approach to regulation; new comprehensive legislation for the whole field of communications; and an improved institutional framework”.
Calling the present setup “increasingly out of date”, von Finckenstein admitted that “there are no easy answers”, but said that he believes that the best approach to these issues is through one of comprehensive reform.
“But the onset of convergence has given us a unique opportunity to improve our system of governance”, he continued. “We can rethink, legislate and restructure so as to maximize Canada’s digital advantage—to the benefit of all of us.
“It is no secret that Canada’s productivity is lagging behind that of other countries. We cannot join the leaders until we join fully in the digital revolution. The longer we wait, the higher the stakes will become and the more difficult the task.”
