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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2003-551
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Ottawa, 6 November 2003
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Videotron (Regional) Ltd.
Sorel, Quebec
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Application 2002-0972-7
Public Hearing at Québec
8 April 2003
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Licence renewal for a cable distribution undertaking at Sorel
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The Commission renews the licence for the cable distribution undertaking serving Sorel, from 1 December 2003 to 31 August 2010.
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1.
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The Commission received an application by Videotron (Regional) Ltd. to renew the licence for the cable distribution undertaking serving Sorel.1
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2.
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The Commission received seven interventions in connection with this application. Five intervenors were in support of the licence renewal, one was opposed and one expressed its concern.
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3.
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CTV Inc. on behalf of CTV Specialty Television Inc. (CTV), filed an opposing intervention which was addressed to all the licence renewal applications by Vidéotron ltée and its subsidiary distribution companies that were on the agenda of the 8 April 2003 Public Hearing. CTV requested that the licences be renewed for a short term of no more than two years in light of ongoing disputes concerning the fees paid by Vidéotron ltée for the exhibition of the specialty services RDS, TSN and Discovery Channel operated by CTV.
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4.
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The Commission notes that the resolution of such ongoing disputes is the subject of a separate process that is not part of the current proceeding.
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5.
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The Mayor of the City of Sorel-Tracy expressed his concern that certain subscribers, specifically those who have been connected to the digital service, no longer had access to the local programming such as public meetings, press conferences, etc. broadcast by the local Canal Vox affiliate. He deemed such programming as being "key to maintaining a healthy democracy". The licensee did not reply to this intervention.
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6.
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The Commission renews the broadcasting licence for the Class 1 cable distribution undertaking at Sorel, from 1 December 2003 to 31 August 2010.
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7.
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The operation of this undertaking is regulated pursuant to the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations (the Regulations) and the licence will be subject to the conditions specified therein and in the appendix to this decision.
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8.
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The licensee is authorized to continue to carry WETK Burlington,Vermont, a second signal of the PBS network, received over the air, on a discretionary basis, and WWBI-TV (Warner Brothers) Burlington-Plattsburgh, New York, in digital mode and on a discretionary tier of its undertaking.
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9.
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The licensee is also authorized to distribute, on a discretionary digital basis, a second set of U.S. 4+1 signals, so long as it complies with the following :
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The distribution on a discretionary basis on the licensee's digital service of U.S. 4+1 signals, in addition to the set of such signals already carried by the system, is subject to the provision that, with respect to such signals, the licensee adhere to the requirements regarding non-simultaneous program deletion set out in section 43 of the Regulations. The Commission may suspend the application of this provision in respect of a signal, upon its approval of an executed agreement between the licensee and the broadcaster concerned. Such an agreement must deal with issues related to the protection of program rights arising in connection with the discretionary carriage of a second set of U.S. 4+1 solely on the licensee's digital service, as approved in this decision.
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The Commission reminds the licensee that the simultaneous substitution requirements, as set out in section 30 of the Regulations, also apply with respect to the U.S. 4 + 1 signals.
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10.
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Because this licensee is subject to the Employment Equity Act and files reports concerning employment equity with Human Resources Development Canada, its employment equity practices are not examined by the Commission.
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Secretary General
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This decision is to be appended to the licence. It is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined at the following Internet site: www.crtc.gc.ca
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Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2003-551
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Conditions of licence
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1. The licensee is relieved from the requirement of section 25 of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations that it distribute the signals of CFTM-TV (TVA) and CFCF-TV (CTV) Montréal as well as CKTM-TV (CBC) Trois-Rivières on unrestricted channels. Should the quality of the signals deteriorate significantly, the Commission expects the licensee to undertake immediate corrective action including, if necessary, the distribution of the services on other channels.
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2. The licensee shall adhere to the provisions contained in Cable television community channel standards, Public Notice CRTC 1992-39, 1 June 1992, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
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Footnote
In Administrative renewals, Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2003-293, 21 July 2003, the Commission renewed the broadcasting licence for this undertaking until 30 November 2003.
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Date Modified: 2003-11-06