LETTER TO THE EDITOR: A tax is a tax is a tax, even if negotiated

ABOUT YOUR EDITORS’ NOTE on negotiating a fee rather than imposing a tax (in the story "Heritage Committee: Von Finckenstein wants to let broadcasters and distributors negotiate a fee"). It’s the same thing. First, there is no retransmission right in the signal itself under copyright law, so there is no right to negotiate unless the CRTC forces the negotiation. Second, there is no right to not to carry under the BDU regulations because (conventional stations) are mandatory services, so you can not decide to drop bad services as part of the negotiations. Third, if you cannot agree the CRTC sets...