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Public Notice
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Ottawa, 22 July 1985
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Public Notice CRTC 1985-155
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Task Force on Broadcasting Policy
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Request to Defer Certain Broadcasting Issues
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On 9 April 1985 the Minister of Communications, the Honourable Marcel Masse, announced the establishment of a Task Force, the Task Force on Broadcasting Policy, regarding the economic and cultural strategy that should guide the evolution of the Canadian broadcasting system in the coming decades. The Task Force was given a mandate to submit its recommendations to the Minister by 15 January 1986.
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In a letter to the Commission of 15 July 1985, Mr. Florian Sauvageau and Mr. Gerald Caplan, co-chairmen of the Task Force, suggested a deferral of the consideration of some issues of concern to the Commission until the Task Force has had the opportunity to submit its recommendations to the Minister. In the judgment of the Task Force, it would be in the public interest if the Commission would agree to defer its consideration of certain issues which the Task Force feels are central to its review.
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In its letter, the Task Force says the following:
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With reference to the Commission's tentative agenda tabled at our June 13th meeting, our concerns are related to both the Issue Hearings and Application hearings planned for the next six months. In connection with the planned issue hearings on cable and northern native broadcasting, we would be pleased if the Commission would bear in mind, in defining the scope of those hearings and in the timing of any actions based on them, the fact that our Task Force will attach substantial importance to these issues in our consultations, research and recommendations.
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Of more immediate concern to us are the application hearings the Commission is considering having later this year. These hearings would involve the licensing of a children's, youth and family-oriented service or services and the authorization of expanded carriage of existing Canadian stations into distant markets. We believe that in both cases it would be in the public interest if the Commission were to defer decisions on these issues until the Task Force has had the opportunity to submit its recommendations to the Minister. Our own definition of our responsibilities makes it imperative that we come to terms with the vital inter-relationship between the structure of the Canadian broadcasting system and its ability to meet Canada's cultural need for its own programming. Both the children's channel and distant Canadian signals raise basic questions concerning structure and performance.
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We will also give substantial attention to the kinds of initiatives required to permit the Canadian film and television production industry to develop and to contribute in an expanded way to meeting the need for Canadian programming. Since we will be examining non-regulatory, as well as regulatory measures and their inter-relationships we would appreciate your co-operation in deferring any decision to alter the existing Canadian programming requirements for Canadian pay or specialty programming services.
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In its response to the Task Force, the Commission agreed that it is in the public interest to defer its con sideration of some of these issues, seven though such deferrals would cause delays in the processing of certain applications. Furthermore, the Chairman of the Commission commented very briefly on each issue as follows:
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First, the Commission is in receipt of applications request ing authorization to provide a children's, youth or family-oriented cable television service. The Commission understands that the hearing of these applications should be delayed until your Task Force has had the opportunity to submit its recommendations to the Minister.
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Second, the Commission has heard applications to provide a new French-language television service in Montreal and Quebec City, and applications for new English-language television services in Regina and Saskatoon. It is also in receipt of an application to provide a new English-language television service in Portage La Prairie and of an application to provide a Canada-wide ethnic television service. In addition, it is in receipt of applications to either continue the extension of service already undertaken or to extend conventional services to neighbouring regions. The Commission intends to proceed with the disposition of such applications. However, taking into account your request and its rationale, the Commission agrees to defer consideration of any applications for the Canada-wide carriage of existing Canadian stations until the Task Force has had the opportunity to submit its recommendations.
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Third, the Commission is also in receipt of applications to amend certain of the conditions of licence of the general interest pay television networks and one of the multilingual specialty networks in respect of their Canadian content requirements. I would like to point out that, in the case of the general interest pay networks, Canadian content time requirements are presently scheduled to increase from 30 percent to 50 percent as of 1 January 1986. The hearing of these applications will not be held until your Task Force has had the opportunity to submit its recommendations.
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Finally, the Commission notes the substantial importance the Task Force attaches to several issues that are to be considred at public hearings scheduled for the autumn, and hopes that the public discussion and our findings will contribute to your review.
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In accordance with the Task Force's suggestion, and in order to keep the applicants and the public fully apprised of the Commission's intentions, the Commission herein announces a deferral of its consideration of the following applications:
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(i) François N. Macerola on behalf of a company to be incorporated (Young Canada Television/Télé-jeunesse Canada) to operate national programming services in English and French for Canadian children and youth;
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(ii) Susan Douglas Rubes on behalf of a company to be incorporated (The Family Channel Inc.) to operate a national general in terest pay television service;
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(iii) Youth Broadcasting Inc. to operate a children's and youth specialty service;
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(iv) First Choice Canadian Communications Corporation to amend certain of its conditions of licence;
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(v) Allarcom Pay Television Limited to amend certain of its conditions of licence:
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(vi) Telelatino Network Inc. to amend certain of its conditions of licence;
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(vii) Premier Choix:TVEC Inc. to amend certain of its conditions of licence.
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In addition, the Commission agrees to defer consideration of any applications relating to the Canada-wide carriage of existing Canadian stations, or any other applications relating to the issues identified in the Chairman's letter to the Task Force, until the Task Force has had the opportunity to submit its recommendations to the Minister.
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Copies of the above-mentioned letters are attached.
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Fernand Bélisle Secretary General
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