Online communications and videoconferencing technologies are being used to help define the future of Canadian television.
At hearings now underway at the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), web-based submissions and commentary from individual Canadians and organized associations are being incorporated into the CRTC’s proceedings, and ultimately it says, its recommendations.
The CRTC has received close to 190,000 comments from Canadians on issues related to local TV funding and access. In addition to the 16,700 comments submitted directly through the website, approximately 172,964 comments were submitted through advocacy campaigns, including:
· 114,890 as part of the “Local TV Matters” campaign
· 49,693 as part of the “Stop the TV Tax” campaign, and
· 8,381 as part of other campaigns.
Canadians can still submit comments through an online consultation that can be accessed through the CRTC website.
In his opening remarks, CRTC Chair Konrad von Finckenstein reminded participants of the unique nature of the hearings, saying it “is distinct from the Commission’s other proceedings.
“Our decision on the group-based licensing framework and certain issues related to conventional television will be made on the basis of the evidence presented during the November hearing. As you know, there was a well-publicized hearing with participation by all stakeholders, including consumers.
“The purpose of the present hearing is to collect the necessary information to prepare a full report for the government. Subsequent to the hearing, we will present a report on the views expressed at this hearing and make recommendations to the government on the advisability and implications of adopting a value of signal regime.”
The CRTC will make recommendations to the government on key points it is investigating, such as:
How can the current regulatory process be improved to ensure the interests of consumers are taken into consideration and upheld?
What measures could be taken, regulatory or otherwise, to ensure the industry’s smooth transition to the new digital communications environment?”
Among the organizations and groups scheduled to make presentations at the hearings:
- Union des consommateurs (Videoconference from Montreal)
- Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS)
- CHUO-FM Community Radio
- Fédération des télévisions communautaires autonomes du Québec (Videoconference from Montreal)
- Quebecor Media Inc.
- Consumer Panel – British Columbia:
Carolynne Parsons (Videoconference from Vancouver)
- Conseil provincial du secteur des communications (CPSC) du Syndicat canadien de la fonction publique (SCFP)
- Syndicat des communications de Radio-Canada
- Communications Energy and Paper Workers of Canada
- Consumer Panel – Alberta:
Gord Bontje (Videoconference from Red Deer)
Douglas Hutton (Videoconference from Edmonton)
Donald Ogden (Videoconference from Edmonton)
In its presentation to the CRTC, the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS) outlines alternatives it has identified, for providing community content and maintaining over-the-air service from Canada’s major TV broadcasters, without imposing new costs on consumers.
"The Broadcasting Act says that Canadians’ local television needs are fundamentally important objectives of Canada’s broadcasting policy," says Cathy Edwards, spokesperson for CACTUS. Independent community TV channels, such as NACTV in Neepawa, Manitoba, produced 2,200 hours of original intensely local TV programming for a budget of about $80,000 this year. That’s $36 per original hour, using two employees and forty volunteers in a community of just over 3,000. Meanwhile, according to information filed with the CRTC, Shaw cablecast 5832 hours of locally produced programming per week (including repeats) throughout its 54 systems for $64,000,000, or upwards of $211 per hour, depending on the number of repeats. "It’s shocking that Shaw and other big BDUs are promoting the community access TV they are required to provide as a competitor for private broadcasting, when they are actually doing fewer original hours than community-run services such as NACTV."
CACTUS believes that the coming analog-digital transition offers community TV the chance to develop a new business model, and to help remote private and public signals such as CTV and the CBC remain available over the air to all communities, regardless of size. Once communities like Neepawa have transmitter sites, they will also have the capacity to retransmit remote private and public signals such as CTV and the CBC. Independent community TV organizations are already offering this service in Valemont and Ash Creek, BC.