Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission  from TCE Standard

Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The Broadcasting Act, 1967-68, established the Canadian Radio-Television Commission (CRTC) to regulate and supervise all aspects of the Canadian BROADCASTING system. These functions had been carried out since 1958 by the Board of Broadcast Governors, and before that by the Board of Governors of the CANADIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION (CBC). In 1976 Parliament transferred to the CRTC jurisdiction over federally regulated TELECOMMUNICATIONS companies, formerly exercised by the Canadian Transport Commission, and changed the name to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

The CRTC grants, amends, renews or revokes licences for all broadcasting undertakings, including radio, television and CABLE TELEVISION. It may attach conditions to licences and establishes regulations and policies respecting broadcasting. The governor-in-council may set aside a decision granting a licence or ask that it be reconsidered by the CRTC. The chief function of the Commission in the telecommunications field is in approving rates or tolls to be charged by telecommunications companies under federal jurisdiction, and ensuring that there is no unjust discrimination in the provision of telecommunications services. Cabinet may vary, set aside or return for consideration any CRTC telecommunications decision.

The CRTC Act, which sets out the structure and powers of the Commission, provides for up to 13 full-time commissioners, including a chairman and 2 vice-chairmen, and 6 part-time commissioners. They are appointed by the governor-in-council for terms of up to 5 years. Some of the full-time commissioners may be designated as regional commissioners to reside in their respective region of the country. All commissioners participate in public hearings and decisions involving broadcasting. Only full-time commissioners are involved in telecommunications matters. Public consultation, either through a written or oral public hearing process, is a key element in the CRTC's decision-making activites.

In 1992-93, for example, the Commission received 3924 applications and rate filings, and held 20 oral public hearings across the country. In the same year it issued a total of 191 public notices, 784 decisions and 1634 telecom orders. Among the important early decisions of the CRTC were a provision for a minimum of Canadian music on the air; rules respecting Canadian content in television schedules; licensing of provincial educational television networks and the nationwide licensing of television systems. In 1981 the Commission licensed Cancom, a SATELLITE distribution company to provide radio and television services to remote and underserved areas.

Following a public review of the evolving communications environment, the Commission unveiled, in 1993, a package of regulatory reforms designed to help the Canadian broadcasting system meet the challenges of the anticipated multichannel universe. At the time, there were 6 pay- and pay-per-view television services and 13 specialty services licensed in Canada. In early 1994 a public hearing was held to consider 48 proposals for new Canadian television services, including headline news services, arts channels, cartoon and comedy networks, sport and music video services, as well as lifestyle and health channels. Licences for many of these specialty channels were granted.

In the telecommunications field, the CRTC introduced competition in the public long distance telephone market in 1992, after conducting a 12-week hearing - its largest proceeding ever. Initially, the rates of the new long-distance carriers, such as Sprint Canada, did not require CRTC approval while established carriers still required approval to change rates. More recent decisions have removed these tariff restrictions on long-distance delivery and opened the market to further competition. Local service is also being opened up to competition, and soon companies like Metronet and Videotron will be competing with Telus and Bell Canada for local delivery.

The staff of some 400 work in headquarters located in the National Capital Region, and in five regional offices across the country. The organization is divided into 4 major sectors: broadcasting, telecommunications, executive management and corporate support. Keith SPICER has served as chairman of the Commission since Sept 1989, except for an eight-month interval in 1990-91 during which he headed up the Citizen's Forum on Canada's Future. Under Spicer's chairmanship, the CRTC's initiatives to deal with gratuitous television violence have resulted in broad-based industry and public co-operation which has gained international recognition.

The first CRTC chairman was Pierre JUNEAU who held office until 1975. Harry BOYLE was appointed to the office in Jan 1976 for a term to end the following year. He was succeeded by Pierre Camu who served for 2 years. In Jan 1980 John MEISEL, a social sciences professor at Queen's U, was named as chairman. He was replaced in Nov 1983 by Québec lawyer André BUREAU, who held office until 1989. David Colville was Chairman during the period when Keith Spicer chaired the Citizen's Forum on Canada's Future. The CRTC is currently chaired by Françoise Bertrand.

In 1999, the CRTC ruled against trying to regulate the content of the Internet. This decision raised the question whether the work of the CRTC will shift more towards regulation of prices and away from regulation of content. With the policy of convergence blurring the lines between cable and telephone delivery, or public and private delivery, the role of the CRTC will face serious challenges. In order to remain relevant, the CRTC will need to redefine itself and address these issues.

Author A. DAVIDSON DUNTON