ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Commission Letter Addressed to Jason Kee (Google Inc.)
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Ottawa, 29 September 2014
BY EMAIL: jkee@google.com
Mr. Jason Kee
Google Inc.
Public Policy & Government Relations Counsel
Dear Mr. Kee,
This correspondence is further to your letter dated September 19, 2014, in which you indicated that Google is unwilling to provide certain information to the Commission as part of the Let’s Talk TV proceeding.
The Commission has requested that Google provide information related to its activities in Canada, including the amount of content uploaded from Canadian locations, projected growth in the advertising market, and advertising revenues derived from Canada. This request was made for a very specific purpose. The hearing panel is seeking to better understand Google’s important role in providing Canadian-made content to Canadian and non-Canadian audiences alike, through non-traditional, consumer-driven platforms. In addition, Google is a popular platform for the delivery of online video content that operates in Canada.
One of the goals of the Let’s Talk TV proceeding is to give Canadians greater choice by establishing a forward-looking framework for television. A complete understanding of Google’s presence in Canada and its experiences in being a platform for the delivery of content would be useful.
The Commission is an independent administrative tribunal that conducts its hearings with regard to its rules of practice and procedure, and its powers, which are similar to those of a superior court. Under both the Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act, the Commission holds public hearings to build a complete record, which includes the materials filed by parties. The more complete the record, the better the Commission is able to make evidenced-based decisions that serve the interests of Canadians.
The legislative framework grants the Commission the powers of a superior court of record to enforce its orders. Specifically, under section 16 of the Broadcasting Act, the Commission has the authority to request information from parties, regardless of whether they are Canadian or non-Canadian. As was made clear at the hearing, the Commission has well-established rules that allow it to grant confidential treatment to sensitive information filed by parties. These rules have been consistently and successfully applied for decades, even through the emergence of new technologies and new operators.
A company’s refusal to comply with requests and orders duly made at a public hearing is a serious matter. Parties who choose to engage in Commission proceedings, especially large important corporations such as Google, cannot unilaterally choose which part of the evidence-gathering proceeding they want to participate in. The Commission views such actions as a direct attempt to undermine its ability to serve Canadians, as well as impair the procedural fairness owed to all participants.
Google has advanced arguments through its voluntary participation in the Let’s Talk TV proceeding, including its appearance at the public hearing. The Commission has questions regarding certain assertions and, as with any superior court, a public hearing is the appropriate venue to probe parties and obtain additional evidence.
For example, at the hearing, you stated that “compelling Canadian content succeeds online – all without broadcasting regulation.” You added that “Canadian creators, both emerging and established are building global audiences and earning revenue without having to work through intermediaries.”
Yet, by refusing to provide any supporting evidence, the Commission cannot fully test and evaluate the strength’s of Google’s argument which, if supported by evidence, may otherwise be very compelling. The Commission cannot carry out its duties based on mere anecdotal evidence.
Despite comments made by those who were not parties to the Let’s talk TV proceeding, the information that the Commission is seeking is meant to support the conclusions Google is advocating, i.e. online distribution platforms for video content can support the policy objectives under the Broadcasting Act, as well as others relating to competition and innovation—without the need for any additional regulatory action by the Commission. As with any party before the Commission the CRTC will ask for the probative evidence that would support a party’s position.
In light of the above, Google’s intervention and supporting documentation will be removed from the public record of this proceeding on October 2, 2014. These include:
- Google’s intervention dated June 25, 2014
- the Lemay-Yates Associates inc. report titled “The Evolution of TV and New Media in Canada dated June 27, 2014
- your oral submission found from paragraphs 324 to 529 of the transcript of the hearing, and
- Google’s response to the requests for information dated September 19, 2014.
As a result, the hearing panel will reach its conclusions based on the remaining evidence on the record. There are a variety of perspectives on the impact of Internet broadcasting in Canada, and the panel will rely on those that are on the public record to make its findings.
Sincerely,
John Traversy
Secretary General
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