OTTAWA – The CRTC has officially kicked off its review of the policy framework for local and community television programming.
The Commission said Monday that in addition to building on the determinations made during the Let’s Talk TV proceeding, it hopes that the review will achieve the following outcomes:
– Canadians have access to locally produced and locally reflective programming in a multi-platform environment;
– Both professional and non-professional independent producers and community members have access to the broadcasting system; and
– Locally relevant news and information programming is produced and exhibited within the Canadian broadcasting system.
As per BRP 2015-24 in…
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TORONTO – A union representing some employees at TV stations operated by Rogers Media is using the upcoming federal election to help push forward its demand that the CRTC “hold Rogers to account” for cutting news on its OMNI TV stations earlier this year.
In a letter to the CRTC dated August 29, 2015, Unifor Local 723M says that “ethnic communities across Canada have been denied access to free television news about the election in their languages since the election was called” earlier this month. This, continues the letter, is why the Commission should expedite Unifor’s request filed in…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has kicked off a call for new radio licences to serve the urban Aboriginal communities in Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver, despite the fact that Aboriginal Voices Radio (AVR) is appealing the decision to revoke the licences that it holds in those markets.
The Commission said Wednesday that it is "seeking innovative applications that focus on serving Aboriginal Canadians, regardless of the type of service proposed”, though also noted that in making this call “the Commission has not reached any conclusion regarding the licensing of any service at this time.”
The Federal Court of Appeal last week granted…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC is helping to promote the discoverability of Canadian TV programming after revising BDU regulations around local availabilities.
The Commission said Wednesday that it is amending the authorization relating to the use of the promotional periods of time made available on U.S. television services, known as local availabilities, so that at least 75% of that time be made available for use by Canadian TV services to promote first-run, original Canadian programs.
The remaining 25% may still be used promote a BDU’s broadcasting and telecommunications services, as set out in general authorizations for broadcasting distribution undertakings.
“This amendment will provide Canadians…
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OTTAWA – Wireless customers who fail to pay their bills must receive two notices that they will lose their service before they actually do so, the CRTC has confirmed.
Responding to an application filed by Rogers Communications in February that the notice requirement in the Wireless Code does not apply to service suspensions, the Commission ruled Friday that the notice requirement does, in fact, apply to both suspensions and disconnections. The decision is consistent with the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services’ interpretation of the disconnection provisions of the Wireless Code.
The Wireless Code requires wireless service providers (WSPs) to…
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OTTAWA – Aboriginal Voices Radio has been granted a temporary reprieve from a CRTC decision ordering it to shut down its radio stations in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.
The Federal Court of Appeal stayed the suspension of license for the four stations pending the outcome of an application by the broadcaster for a leave to appeal CRTC 2015-282 issued June 25.
“In the event that the application by AVR for leave to appeal this Decision has not been determined by August 31, 2015, the broadcasting licences for these four radio stations shall continue on the same terms and conditions as those that were…
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OTTAWA – The CRTC has kicked off a show cause proceeding to examine whether its existing 9-1-1 obligations should apply directly to non-carriers that provide local exchange, wireless voice, local voice over Internet Protocol, or payphone services.
While the Commission can impose conditions on the offering and provision of telecommunications services by Canadian carriers, it does not have the authority to directly impose these conditions on non-carriers (also known as resellers), and defined as providers other than Canadian carriers. Instead, where it was considered necessary, the Commission has directed the underlying carriers that provide services to non-carriers to ensure…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU — Two duct-cleaning services companies that were notified previously in February of being in violation of Canada’s unsolicited telecommunications rules have still not paid the monetary penalties imposed by the CRTC.
The CRTC issued on Friday compliance and enforcement decisions against the two duct-cleaners who the Commission had previously determined had arranged for a telemarketer to make unsolicited telemarketing calls on their behalf, while they were not registered with or a paid subscriber of the National Do Not Call List (DNCL).
The two companies — N. Bro Transport Inc. and Goodlife Home Services Inc. — are listed as being…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU — The CRTC is amending its Rules of Practice and Procedure to remove the requirement to publish notices of consultation for broadcast licence renewal applications. The amendments also take into account amendments made to the Telecommunications Act and clarify that the Rules of Procedure do not apply to the Canadian anti-spam legislation.
These amendments will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, and will come into force on the date of their registration, the CRTC said in its Broadcasting and Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2015-357 decision on Thursday.
The proposed amendments to the Rules of Procedure would make…
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OTTAWA-GATINEAU — After months of public consultation, the CRTC has put the finishing touches on its regulatory policy concerning so-called hybrid video-on-demand (hybrid VOD or HVOD) services, issuing today a revised exemption order for VOD undertakings that takes effect immediately.
In Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2015-355, the CRTC defines the newly created HVOD service category and outlines the rules that apply to HVOD services, explaining how they will be exempt from having to meet the specific regulatory requirements relating to financial contributions to and library space for Canadian programming that are applicable to traditional licensed VOD services.
To qualify for…
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