OTTAWA – Returning community broadcasting back to the community is a cost-effective way to both support and increase local programming content, says The Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS).
The group says it will ask the Commission in its submission on Wednesday to “liberate” the money earmarked for community access to an independent production fund directed at volunteer community TV boards. The boards, in turn, would then offer free over-the-air community TV, training to community participants and access on all platforms, including new media, free of charge.
"As one of the three elements protected by the Broadcasting Act, community broadcasting must be community-controlled," said spokesperson Cathy Edwards, in a statement. "While Canada’s community radio stations offer intensely local content, our community television sector’s dependence on the cable industry has resulted in studio closures, reduced community access, and attempts to commercialize community channels to compete for advertising with local TV stations."
Edwards says that community TV should be the “communications hub and active voice of Canadians” in their towns, along the lines of a public library.
