OTTAWA-GATINEAU – A new on-line consultation process will allow consumers a different way to express their opinions on the future of television to the CRTC.
The consultation tool, which launched Monday and will conclude on December 21 at midnight EST, is part of the Commission’s public hearing in to the matter that is scheduled to begin on December 7, 2009 in Gatineau. As previously reported by Cartt.ca, Heritage Minister James Moore issued an Order-in-Council in September requesting the Commission look into fee-for-carriage from the consumer’s point of view.
The CRTC is asking consumers and the industry to weigh in on the impact that developments like fee for carriage and the upcoming digital transition could have on the availability of local television services, including local news, information and public affairs programming; the ability to choose different types of channels and packages; the affordability of cable and satellite television services; the industry as it adapts to the new digital communications environment; and the industry’s current or future business plans.
The CRTC said in a press release that it will “take all comments received into account” when preparing its report for the government.
The online consultation tool is available at http://television.askingcanadians.com
