ARCHIVED -  Public Notice CRTC 1998-4

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Public Notice

  Ottawa, 28 January 1998
  Public Notice CRTC 1998-4
  CALL FOR COMMENTS ON A PROPOSED EXEMPTION ORDER FOR TYPE A NATIVE RADIO STATIONS
  1. In Public Notice CRTC 1997-105 dated 1 August 1997, the Commission set out an agenda for reviewing its policies for all sectors of radio, including native radio. Noting that the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, in its final report, recommended that the Commission consider simplifying the application process for native broadcasters, the Commission announced that it would review the regulations, policies and processes applicable to these services with a view to identifying how they could be streamlined or simplified. The Commission also announced that it would canvass the views of a number of major native communications societies on these issues and, in the fall of 1997, would begin a public process to consider any changes to the current regulations, policies and procedures.
  2. Following consultations with representatives of the major native broadcasting societies operating in eleven regions across the north, the Commission hereby announces for public comment its proposals on these issues.
  THE COMMISSION'S POLICY ON EXEMPTION ORDERS
  3. Section 9(4) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act) states:
  The Commission shall, by order, on such terms as it deems appropriate, exempt persons who carry on broadcasting undertakings of any class specified in the order from any or all requirements of this Part or of a regulation made under this Part where the Commission is satisfied that compliance with those requirements will not contribute in a material manner to the implementation of the [broadcasting policy for Canada].
  4. In Public Notice CRTC 1996-59 dated 26 April 1996, the Commission outlined its policy regarding the use of exemption orders, and stated that it would exempt classes of programming undertakings only where the following two criteria are met:
  i) it is evident to the Commission that the licensing and regulation of the class of undertaking will not result in a significantly greater contribution to the Canadian broadcasting system, whether with respect to the Canadian programming carried by the undertakings of that class, or the expenditures on Canadian programming made by such undertakings; and,
  ii) it is evident to the Commission that undertakings operating under the exemption order will not have an undue impact on the ability of licensed undertakings to fulfil their regulatory requirements.
  TYPE A NATIVE RADIO UNDERTAKINGS
  5. The Commission's current policy on native broadcasting is set out in Public Notice CRTC 1990-89 dated 20 September 1990. The policy describes a native undertaking as being:
  ... characterized by its ownership, programming and target audience. It is owned and controlled by a non-profit organization whose structure provides for board membership by the native population of the region served. Its programming can be in any native Canadian language or in either or both of the two official languages, but should be specifically oriented to the native population and reflect the interests and needs specific to the native audience it is licensed to serve. It has a distinct role in fostering the development of aboriginal cultures and, where possible, the preservation of ancestral languages.
  6. The policy also defines a native radio station as a Type A station "...if, at the time the licence is issued or renewed, no other commercial AM or FM radio licence to operate a station in all or any part of the same market is in force."
  7. With respect to the first criterion for the use of exemption orders, the Commission considers that the continued licensing of Type A native radio stations will not result in a significantly greater contribution to the Canadian broadcasting system than would be achieved by exempting them. The Commission has long recognized the important role played by native radio services in meeting the linguistic and cultural needs of the native populations they serve. They thus clearly contribute to the objectives of the broadcasting policy set out in the Act, in particular the reflection of the "special place of aboriginal peoples" in Canadian society, by providing culturally-relevant programming to the communities they serve. It is the Commission's preliminary view, however, that the specific licensing and regulatory requirements to which native radio undertakings are currently subject, with the exception of those content-related regulations noted below, do not materially further the objectives of the Act.
  8. With respect to the second criterion, the Commission notes that Type A native radio stations, by definition, do not operate in markets served by any commercial radio station. The Commission thus considers that exempting these undertakings would not have an undue impact on the ability of licensed undertakings to fulfil their regulatory requirements.
  9. The Commission further recognizes that barriers of language, culture and geography make licensing requirements particularly onerous for operators of Type A native undertakings, especially in light of the limited financial and other resources available to them. In the consultations described above, representatives of native communications societies were unanimous in supporting the exemption of these services.
  10. For these reasons, the Commission is of the preliminary view that exempting persons carrying on Type A native radio stations from the requirement that they hold a licence is the most efficient means of ensuring that operators of these undertakings are able to concentrate their efforts and resources on serving the cultural and linguistic needs of their communities.
  PROPOSED EXEMPTION CRITERIA
  11. In light of the foregoing, the Commission calls for public comment on its proposal, as well as on the conditions for exemption set out in the proposed exemption order for Type A native radio programming undertakings contained in the appendix to this notice. Persons carrying on Type A native radio undertakings that do not meet the conditions for exemption established by the Commission following this public process would continue to require a broadcasting licence from the Commission.
  12. As a condition of exemption, the Commission proposes that the Canadian content regulations would continue to apply to Type A native radio stations. Retention of these requirements would be in keeping with the Commission's general policy on exemption orders, and would ensure that the exempt services continue to contribute to the attainment of the Canadian programming policy objectives set out in the Act.
  13. In addition to comments on the proposed conditions for exemption, the Commission welcomes comments on the subject of program logs and logger tapes, and more specifically, on whether exempt Type A native radio stations should continue to be required to maintain such records. While they are useful to the Commission in dealing with allegations of non-compliance, many of those with whom the Commission consulted argued that maintaining logger tapes of all programming is particularly burdensome for these services, given their limited resources.
  14. The Commission notes that the operation of Type B native radio undertakings, which are defined as native radio undertakings that operate in areas in which at least one other commercial AM or FM radio licence is in force, would be unaffected by the proposed exemption order and would continue to require a broadcasting licence.
  CALL FOR COMMENTS
  15. The Commission invites comments from any interested party on all of these issues, including the suggested conditions for exemption and any other related policy matter. Submissions should be addressed to the Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, K1A ON2 and must be received by 27 February 1998. While receipt of submissions will not be acknowledged, they will be considered by the Commission and will form part of the record of the proceeding.
  Laura M. Talbot-Allan
Secretary General
  This document is available in alternative format upon request.
  Appendix to Public Notice CRTC 1998-4
  PROPOSED EXEMPTION ORDER RESPECTING TYPE A NATIVE RADIO STATIONS
  The Commission, by this order made pursuant to section 9(4) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act), exempts those persons carrying on radio programming undertakings of the class defined below from the requirements of Part II of the Act and from sections 6 through 14 of the Radio Regulations, 1986 (the Regulations), subject to the condition that sections 1 through 5 of the Regulations shall apply:
  I. Purpose
  The purpose of these radio programming undertakings is to provide radio programming that reflects the interests and needs of, and is specifically oriented to, the native communities they serve. These undertakings have a distinct role in fostering the development of aboriginal cultures and, where possible, the preservation of ancestral languages. Programming may be in any native Canadian language or in either or both of the two official languages.
  II. Description
  1. The undertaking is owned and controlled by a non-profit organization whose structure provides for board membership by the native population of the region served.
  2. No commercial AM or FM radio programming undertaking is licensed to operate in all or in any part of the geographical area enclosed within: (a) the 5 millivolt-per-metre daytime official
contour of an AM station; or (b) the 500 microvolt-per-metre official contour of an FM station.
  3. The Commission would not be prohibited from licensing the undertaking by virtue of any Act of Parliament, of the Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility of Non-Canadians), the Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility to Hold Broadcasting Licences) or of any other direction to the Commission by the Governor in Council.
  4. The undertaking's programming complies with the guidelines on gender portrayal set out in the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) Sex-Role Portrayal Code for Television and Radio Programming and the provisions of the CAB's Broadcast Code for Advertising to Children as may be amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
  5. The undertaking meets all technical requirements of the Department of Industry and has acquired all authorizations or certificates prescribed by the Department.
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