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Public Notice
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Ottawa, 13 March 1984
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Public Notice CRTC 1984-68
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Distant Canadian Signals Over-the-air Transmission
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In Public Notice CRTC 1984-13, the Commission indicated its intention to review its policy restricting the carriage on cable of distant Canadian signals and noted that a change in the policy "... may be one of the means to ensure that the broadcasting system as a whole remains predominantly Canadian." The deadline date for the filing of comments in response to this Notice was extended to 1 May 1984 (Public Notice CRTC 1984-47).
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In response to a number of applications received, the Commission considers it appropriate, at this time, to examine its policies concerning the use of broadcasting transmitters to extend the service area of Canadian broadcast signals. The Commission's position in this regard has generally been "that audiences are better served by local than by distant television stations because local stations alone produce local-interest programming of relevance to the community served" (Public Announcement dated 26 March 1979).
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Notwithstanding the above, the Commission has licensed a number of rebroadcasting transmitters to extend service to underserved communities. In addition, wherever feasible, the Commission has required that the stations provide some local service to these communities, particularly in the area of local news and coverage of community activities.
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Extension of Canadian signals via over-the-air transmission outside their originally licensed market area could result in significant changes in the Canadian broadcasting system. In order to fully assess the implications of a change in the Commission's general policies and practices in this regard and, without limiting the content of the submissions, the Commission invites comments particularly on the following questions:
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1. Should Canadian signals be authorized for transmission over-the-air in markets outside those originally licensed to be served? (The signals could be delivered to such extended markets by means of microwave, satellite or rebroadcasting transmitters).
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2. What criteria, if any, should the Commission use to evaluate the applications that may be approved for the over-the-air transmission of signals outside their originally licensed market area?
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3. What criteria should the Commission use to determine into which markets distant Canadian signals may be introduced through broadcasting transmitters? This should take into account future changes in the broadcasting system, such as changes in the CBC network/affiliate relationship.
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4. If distant Canadian signals are introduced into a market by over-the-air transmission, what mechanisms, if any, should be considered to lessen or compensate for any fragmentation of local broadcasters' audience and advertising revenues?
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5. Should there be any restrictions as to the source of advertising revenues used to support these services?
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6. Should distant signals be accorded the same priority as locally originated signals with regard to distribution on cable television systems? If not, should there be any conditions with respect to the placement of distant over-the-air signals on the basic or discretionary tiers? If the signals are distributed on a discretionary tier, should there be any conditions with respect to the linkage with other Canadian or foreign services?
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7. What measures, if any, should be considered to ensure the originating station continues to fulfill its responsibilities to its original local market?
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8. Should there be any additional programming commitments expected or required of a service expanding beyond its original licensed area?
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Comments in response to this notice should be addressed to Mr. J.G. Patenaude, Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, K1A 0N2, and should be received not later than 1 May 1984.
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J.G. Patenaude Secretary General
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