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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-154 |
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Ottawa, 31 July 2008 |
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Cogeco Cable Inc., on behalf of Cogeco Cable Canada Inc.
and Cogeco Cable Quebec Inc.
Various locations in Ontario and Quebec |
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Application 2008-0649-0, received 2 May 2008
Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2008-48
28 May 2008 |
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Cable broadcasting distribution undertakings - amendment of licences |
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The Commission approves the application by Cogeco Cable Inc., on behalf of Cogeco Cable Canada Inc. and Cogeco Cable Quebec Inc., to amend the regional licences for its cable broadcasting distribution undertakings serving various locations in Ontario and Quebec to be relieved of the requirement to pass through video description services distributed on an analog basis. Cogeco is relieved of this requirement, subject to its providing, upon request, a complimentary digital set-top box to its subscribers who are blind or have a visual impairment to enable these subscribers to access video description on a digital basis. |
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Introduction |
1. |
The Commission received an application by Cogeco Cable Inc., on behalf of Cogeco Cable Canada Inc. and Cogeco Cable Quebec Inc., to amend the regional licences for its cable broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDUs) serving various locations in Ontario (Classes 1 and 3) and Quebec (Classes 1, 2 and 3) respectively, by adding the following condition of licence: |
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The licensee is relieved of the requirement of section 7 of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations as it pertains to the passing through of video description on an analog basis. This authority is subject to its providing, upon request, a complimentary digital set-top box to its analog cable subscribers who are blind or who have a visual impairment to enable these subscribers to access video description on a digital basis.
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2. |
The Commission did not receive any interventions in relation to this application. |
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Commission's analysis and determination |
3. |
The Commission recognizes that most Canadian BDUs are migrating to a digital platform. In Distribution of video description by Class 1 cable broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDU), direct-to-home BDUs and satellite relay distribution undertakings, Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2007-101, 12 September 2007, the Commission concluded that it would be appropriate to relieve Class 1 cable BDUs of the requirement to pass through video description programming on an analog basis, provided that they offer complimentary set-top boxes to their subscribers who are blind or who have a visual impairment to enable those subscribers to access video description programming on a digital basis. Accordingly, the Commission stated that it would consider applications by Class 1 BDUs, either individually or through their industry associations, to be relieved, by condition of licence, of the requirement to pass through video description for services distributed on an analog basis. |
4. |
Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by Cogeco Cable Inc., on behalf of Cogeco Cable Canada Inc. and Cogeco Cable Quebec Inc., to amend the regional licences for its cable BDUs serving various locations in Ontario and Quebec respectively, as set out in the application, by adding the following condition of licence: |
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The licensee is relieved of the requirement of section 7 of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations as it pertains to the passing through of video description on an analog basis, subject to its providing, upon request, a complimentary digital set-top box to its analog cable subscribers who are blind or who have a visual impairment to enable these subscribers to access video description on a digital basis.
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Secretary General |
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This decision is to be appended to each licence. It is available in alternative format on request and may also be examined in PDF format or in HTML at the following Internet site: www.crtc.gc.ca. |