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Public Notice
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Ottawa, 15 February 1990
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Public Notice CRTC 1990-18
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Proposed Amendment to the Cable Television Regulations, 1986
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In Decision CRTC 90-93 of today's date, the CRTC denied applications by Dr. Gerry Dirks, on behalf of a company to be incorporated (subsequently incorporated as The National Broadcast Reading Service Inc.), for licences to carry on national audio programming network operations in English and in French to provide, via satellite to cable licensees and FM radio stations for distribution on their SCMO channels, programming of benefit to persons who are blind, visually-impaired and print-handicapped due to physical reasons. The reasons for denial are outlined in that decision.
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In Decision CRTC 90-93, the Commission stated that it
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... considers that the establishment, at the earliest date possible, of viable audio reading services in both official languages which would provide programming of benefit to blind, visually-impaired and print-handicapped persons as well as to many other potential listeners, to be not only in the public interest, but a matter of national importance. Noting that many thousands of Canadians are currently underserved in this respect, the Commission strongly encourages interested parties to submit applications as soon as possible.
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To facilitate the early implementation of applications which may, as part of their method of distribution, propose utilizing the audio component of alphanumeric channels on cable systems, the Commission is proposing to amend the definition of "alphanumeric service" as contained in Section 2 of the Cable Television Regulations, 1986 in order to broaden this definition to permit the inclusion at paragraph "d" of the Canadian programming service of a licensed national audio network operation as background audio (see attached schedule).
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Comments on this proposed amendment should be sent to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario, KlA ON2 by 16 April 1990.
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Fernand Bélisle
Secretary General
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