Mr. Stuckey:
Thanks for contacting the CRTC. Perhaps you'd be interested in the following background information about the Commission. It may not change your opinion of us, but it may help you towards a better understanding of our role in the regulation of Canadian broadcasting.
Our role is laid out in the Broadcasting Act (the Act), given to us by Parliament. Although we are independent of government in our licensing and regulation-making functions, on broadcasting matters, we report to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage.
On one point the Act is very clear - that the Canadian broadcasting system must be effectively owned and controlled by Canadians. This safeguards, enriches and strengthens the cultural, political, social and economic fabric of Canada. In turn, the Commission's policies and regulations come directly from the requirements of the Act.
Unless our mandate changes, the Commission must insist on its requirements for the distribution of Canadian programming via the Canadian broadcasting system. Since there isn't a country in the world that doesn't give priority to its own broadcasting industry, this seems like a pretty reasonable objective. At the same time, we do have a wider choice of foreign programming than most other countries. In light of the aformentioned, we developed the following policy.
Any non-Canadian television channel - such as those in which you are interested - must first be authorised for distribution in Canada. Here is how our system works.
We authorize the carriage of non-Canadian satellite services through our Lists of Eligible Satellite Services
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/satlist.htmAll requests for amendments to the Lists are assessed in light of certain criteria, including the our policy of not allowing the carriage of non-Canadian satellite services which can offer programming similar to Canadian pay and specialty services. Such requests must originate with an acceptable Canadian sponsor, which include licensees of broadcasting distribution undertakings and licensees of pay television or specialty service undertakings.
You may wish to contact various television servcies providers in Canada directly to ensure they are aware of your concerns. In turn, they may request the Commission to consider adding your services to the lists.
Again, I realize this likely isn't the answer you were hoping for, but I do hope it helps you to better understand our position in such matters.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please do not reply to this message using the email address indicated above as we cannot receive e-mail at this address. To reply or to add to your submission, please click here and follow the prompts:
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/rapidsccm/landing ... 5462123071Regards,
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Or if you simply don't care and really want to enjoy all that American life has to offer... move to Buffalo because really... aside from our close proximity to the States we used to have more in common with the UK. It's their programming we might want to be looking at a bit more.
