ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 95-492

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Decision

Ottawa, 28 July 1995
Decision CRTC 95-492
Halifax Cablevision Limited
Halifax and surrounding areas, Nova Scotia - 940987100
Licence renewal
Following Public Notice CRTC 1995-10 dated 20 January 1995, the Commission renews the Class 1 licence held by Halifax Cablevision Limited, for the cable distribution undertaking serving Halifax and surrounding areas, from 1 September 1995 to 31 August 2002.
The operation of this undertaking is regulated pursuant to Parts I and II of the Cable Television Regulations, 1986 (the regulations) and the licence will be subject to the conditions in effect under the current licence, as well as to those conditions specified in this decision and in the licence to be issued.
In addition to the services required or authorized to be distributed pursuant to the applicable sections of the regulations, the licensee is authorized, by condition of licence, to continue to distribute, at its option, WXYZ-TV (ABC) Detroit, Michigan, received via satellite from CANCOM, as part of the basic service.
In its renewal application, the licensee had proposed to continue to distribute WJBK-TV Detroit, received via satellite from CANCOM. This station, however, is no longer a CBS affiliate, and is no longer distributed by CANCOM. Instead, CANCOM has been authorized to carry WTOL-TV (CBS) Toledo, Ohio (Decision CRTC 94-897 dated 28 November 1994). In Public Notice CRTC 1995-33 dated 1 March 1995, the Commission announced an application by CANCOM, acting as an agent for the licensee, to amend its licence by deleting the condition of licence authorizing the distribution of WJBK-TV, and adding a condition of licence authorizing the distribution, at its option, of WTOL-TV, received via satellite from CANCOM, as part of the basic service.
The licensee is authorized to continue to distribute, at its option, WLBZ-TV (NBC) Bangor and WMED-TV (PBS) Calais, Maine, received via microwave, as part of the basic service.
The licensee is also authorized to continue to distribute, at its option, without advertising material, the special programming service of Distance University Educational Television (DUET), as part of the basic service.
The licensee is also authorized, by condition of licence, to distribute the programming service of the Atlantic Satellite Network (ASN), received via satellite, provided that it is distributed on an unrestricted channel of the basic service.
The Commission reaffirms the particular importance it attaches to the development of community programming and has taken note of the annual budgets that will be allocated for this purpose during the new licence term. The Commission encourages the licensee to continue its efforts to develop community programs that reflect subscriber interests and concerns.
In Public Notice CRTC 1992-59 dated 1 September 1992 and entitled "Implementation of an Employment Equity Policy", the Commission announced that the employment equity practices of broadcasters would be subject to examination by the Commission. The Commission recognizes the licensee's involvement in various employment equity initiatives including its support of women in broadcasting. Nevertheless, the Commission considers that the licensee could increase its efforts in relation to visible minorities, people with disabilities and Aboriginal Peoples.
The Commission requires the licensee to develop and implement an effective plan of action to ensure that adequate employment equity practices are followed throughout its organization. The Commission will revisit these matters at the time of the renewal of the licensee's undertakings.
The Commission acknowledges the interventions submitted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, organizations and one individual, expressing their wish that the licensee consider the distribution of the Réseau de l'information (RDI).
In reply, the licensee stated that it wished to evaluate the response to its newest service package prior to adding more services such as RDI.
While the Commission notes that RDI is not a priority programming service, it reiterates the importance of Canadian programming services being given the widest possible distribution. The Commission expects the licensee to take into consideration the Canadian Cable Television Association (CCTA) Access Commitment with respect to the carriage of licensed Canadian specialty, pay television and pay- per-view services in minority official language markets.
Allan J. Darling
Secretary General

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