ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-69

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Route reference: 2013-448

Ottawa, 18 February 2014

Nexicom Communications Inc.
Peterborough, Ontario

Application 2013-0824-7, received 21 May 2013
Public hearing in the National Capital Region
5 November 2013

Terrestrial broadcasting distribution undertaking to serve Peterborough

The Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a terrestrial broadcasting distribution undertaking to serve Peterborough, Ontario.

The application

1. Nexicom Communications Inc. (Nexicom) filed an application to operate a terrestrial broadcasting distribution undertaking (BDU) to serve Peterborough, Ontario.

2. Nexicom is controlled by its board of directors.

3. Nexicom requested authorization to distribute, at its option, as part of the basic service, the signals of WWJ-TV (CBS), WDIV-TV (NBC) and WXYZ-TV (ABC) Detroit, Michigan, WUHF-TV (FOX) Rochester, New York, and WNED-TV (PBS) Buffalo, New York, or alternatively for each signal, the signal of a different affiliate of the same network located in the same time zone as that of the licensed area and included on the List of non-Canadian programming services authorized for distribution, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.

Interventions

4. The Commission received an intervention commenting on the application by the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (the Ministry) relating to the broadcast of public safety messages issued by federal and provincial authorities. The public record for this application can be found on the Commission’s website at www.crtc.gc.ca under “Public Proceedings.”

Commission’s analysis and decisions

5. As specified in its three-year plan, the Commission will be looking at measures to ensure the participation of Canadian broadcasters and telecommunications service providers in the National Public Alerting System (NPAS). Therefore, the Commission will not impose conditions of licence requiring the participation of broadcasters in the NPAS at this time. However, the Commission expects all licensees to voluntarily participate in the NPAS so that Canadians receive timely warnings of imminent perils.

6. The Commission notes that the authorization to distribute the U.S. 4 + 1 signals on the basic service, as requested by the applicant, is consistent with authorizations previously granted by the Commission in similar cases. Accordingly, the Commission authorizes Nexicom to distribute the services identified in its application, at its option, as part of the basic service. A condition of licence to this effect is set out in the appendix to this decision.

7. In light of all of the above, the Commission approves the application by Nexicom Communications Inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate a terrestrial BDU to serve Peterborough, Ontario. The licensee shall adhere to the conditions set out therein, as well as to the terms and conditions of licence set out in the appendix to this decision.

Other matters

General authorizations for broadcasting distribution undertakings

8. The Commission notes that, under the conditions specified in a BDU’s licence, a BDU is also authorized to distribute any service and to undertake any activity authorized in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2011-522, as amended from time to time, under the terms and conditions set out therein.

Implementation of the Commission’s determinations regarding accessibility of services

9. In the Accessibility Policy (Broadcasting and Telecom Regulatory Policy 2009-430), the Commission stated its intention to impose on BDUs a number of requirements and expectations pertaining to customer service, access to described videoFootnote 1 and accessibility of programming. The Commission notes the applicant’s indication that it would adhere to a condition of licence requiring it to provide one or more simple means of accessing described programming and its commitment to meet the requirements regarding customer service and information set out in the Accessibility Policy. Conditions of licence, requirements and expectations to improve accessibility are set out in the appendix to this decision.

10. Further, in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-622, the Commission stated that it intended to impose conditions of licence requiring licensed BDUs that operate community channels to caption 100% of original licensee-produced programming by the end of the licence term. The Commission also indicated that it expected licensed BDUs to ensure that 100% of original access programmingFootnote 2 on the community channel is captioned by the end of the licence term. Finally, the Commission stated that it intended to impose conditions of licence requiring licensed BDUs that operate a community channel to provide audio description for all information programs and for news programming (that is, the voice-over of key textual, graphic design and still image elements, such as phone numbers, stock information or weather maps that are posted on the screen). Conditions of licence and expectations to this effect are set out in the appendix to this decision.

11. The Commission notes that it may impose further conditions of licence respecting accessibility matters five years into the licence term, if deemed appropriate.

Mandatory distribution of 9(1)(h) services

12. The Commission reminds the applicant that it will be required to distribute within its licensed service areas all services licensed for mandatory carriage as part of the basic service of distribution undertakings pursuant to section 9(1)(h) of the Broadcasting Act.

Secretary General

Related documents

*This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-69

Terms, conditions of licence, requirements, expectations and encouragements for the terrestrial broadcasting distribution undertaking serving Peterborough, Ontario

Terms

The operation of this undertaking will be regulated pursuant to the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations and all related policies.

A licence will be issued once the applicant has:

The licence will expire 31 August 2020.

Conditions of licence

  1. The licensee shall adhere to the conditions of licence set out in General conditions of licence for terrestrial (cable, digital subscriber line, multipoint distribution system) and direct-to-home (DTH) satellite broadcasting distribution undertakings, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2009-547, 31 August 2009, including the general conditions of licence for terrestrial broadcasting distribution undertakings set out in Appendix 1 to that regulatory policy.
  2. The licensee is authorized to distribute, at its option, as part of the basic service, the signals of WWJ-TV (CBS), WDIV-TV (NBC) and WXYZ-TV (ABC) Detroit, Michigan, WUHF-TV (FOX) Rochester, New York, and WNED-TV (PBS) Buffalo, New York, or alternatively for each signal, the signal of a different affiliate of the same network located in the same time zone as that of the licensed area and included on the List of non-Canadian programming services authorized for distribution, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
  3. The licensee shall provide one or more simple means of accessing described programming, whether in an open or embedded format, that requires little or no visual acuity.
  4. The licensee shall caption 100% of original licensee-produced programming on the community channel by the end of the licence term.
  5. The licensee shall provide audio description for all the key elements of information programs, including news programming on its community channel (that is, the voice-over of key textual, graphic design and still image elements, such as phone numbers, stock information or weather maps that are posted on the screen).

Requirements

The licensee is required to promote information on all of its disability-specific services and products, in the accessible manner(s) of its choice.

The licensee is required to incorporate an easy-to-find home page link to the special needs/disability sections of its website, if its website includes such sections.

The licensee is required to make the information on its website accessible to the point of providing reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities (examples of what the Commission considers to be reasonable accommodations are listed in paragraph 66 of Accessibility of telecommunications and broadcasting services, Broadcasting and Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2009-430, 21 July 2009).

Where customer service functions on its website are not accessible, the licensee is required to ensure that persons with disabilities will not incur a charge or otherwise be disadvantaged if they use an alternate avenue of customer service.

The licensee is required to make accessible any customer service functions that are available solely over its website.

The licensee is required to make its general call centers accessible to the point of providing reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities by:

a) training customer service representatives in handling enquiries from persons with disabilities and familiarizing them with the service provider’s products and services for persons with disabilities; and

b) making its Interactive Voice Response systems accessible.

Expectations

The Commission expects the licensee to ensure that subscribers are able to identify programming with described video in the electronic program guide.

The Commission expects the licensee to make information available in alternative formats to subscribers regarding, among other things, the programming and services offered and the channel line-up.

The Commission expects the licensee to ensure that 100% of original access programming aired on its community channel is captioned by the end of the licence term.

Encouragements

The Commission encourages the licensee to ensure that its set-top boxes are accessible to subscribers with vision and fine motor skill disabilities.

In accordance with Implementation of an employment equity policy, Public Notice CRTC 1992-59, 1 September 1992, the Commission encourages the licensee to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.

Footnotes

Footnote 1

“Video description” or “described video” refers to the narrative description of a program’s key visual elements for the purpose of allowing persons who are blind or who have a visual impairment to understand what is occurring on the screen.

Return to footnote 1

Footnote 2

The Broadcasting Distribution Regulations define “community access television programming” as “programming produced by an individual, group or community television corporation residing within the licensed area of a cable distribution undertaking.”

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