ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 96-676

Decision

Ottawa, 10 October 1996

Decision CRTC 96-676

Northwestel Cable Inc.

Norman Wells, Northwest Territories and Teslin, Yukon Territory - 199606175 - 199606183

New cable distribution undertakings

Following a Public Hearing in Calgary beginning on 15 July 1996, the Commission approves the applications by Northwestel Cable Inc. (Northwestel) for licences to carry on cable distribution undertakings to serve Norman Wells and Teslin. The operation of these undertakings will be regulated pursuant to Parts I, III and IV of the Cable Television Regulations, 1986 (the regulations).

Subject to the requirements of this decision, the Commission will issue licences expiring 31 August 1999. These licences will be subject to the conditions specified in the licences to be issued. This term is consistent with the Commission's practice regarding the licensing of new Part III cable distribution undertakings.

Although the Commission does not regulate the rates of Part III cable distribution undertakings, it notes that the applicant has proposed monthly subscriber fees of $37.70 at Norman Wells and $30.95 at Teslin.

In Public Notice CRTC 1992-59 dated 1 September 1992 and entitled "Imple-mentation of an Employment Equity Policy", the Commission announced that the employment equity practices of broadcasters would be subject to examination by the Commission. In this regard, the Commission encourages the applicant to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.

This authority will only be effective and the licences will only be issued at such time as the construction of the undertakings is completed and they are prepared to commence operation. If the construction is not completed within twelve months of the date of this decision or, where the applicant applies to the Commission within this period and satisfies the Commission that it cannot complete construction and commence operation before the expiry of this period and that an extension of time is in the public interest, within such further periods of time as are approved in writing by the Commission, the licences will not be issued. The applicant is required to advise the Commission (before the expiry of the twelve-month period or any extension thereof) in writing, once it has completed construction and is prepared to commence operation.

The CBC submitted an intervention requesting that the applicant consider distribution of the Réseau de l'information (RDI). In its reply, Northwestel indicated that these systems will serve small and remote communities that do not have significant French-speaking populations, that there is little or no demand for the service and therefore, the costs of offering the service cannot be justified. The applicant added that, as there is significant demand for programming in Aboriginal languages, it has committed to the carriage of Television Northern Canada (TVNC).

The Commission notes that these undertakings will distribute CBC Newsworld and the CBC French-language Television Service and that, as Part III undertakings, they are not required to distribute RDI. The Commission is satisfied with Northwestel's reply and considers that the needs and wishes of subscribers have been taken into account.

This decision is to be appended to each licence.

 Allan J. Darling
 Secretary General