Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2017-183

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Ottawa, 1 June 2017

Call for licence renewal applications

Submission of renewal applications for broadcasting licences of television services expiring on 31 August 2018

1. The Commission requests that the licensees listed in Appendix 1 to this notice submit renewal applications for their licences expiring on 31 August 2018. The licensees must submit their renewal applications by no later than 31 August 2017. 
2. Licensees who do not wish to renew their licences beyond the expiry date of 31 August 2018 must advise the Commission in writing by no later than 31 August 2017.
3. The Commission will process the licence renewal applications for licensees in Appendix 1 in accordance with the rules for applications set out in Part 1 of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure and in Broadcasting Information Bulletin 2015-116.
4. Interested persons will be given the opportunity to comment on the renewal applications once they are posted on the Commission’s website.
5. In instances where the Commission deems it appropriate, some renewal applications may be published as part of a notice of consultation or notice of hearing.

Services eligible for exemption

6. Pursuant to Broadcasting Order 2015-88, the Commission will not renew the licences of discretionary services serving fewer than 200,000 subscribers that are eligible to operate under the Exemption Order Respecting Discretionary Television Programming Undertakings Serving Fewer than 200,000 Subscribers. The Commission directs those broadcasters who have not already done so to register their undertakings with the Commission using Form 308 by no later than 31 August 2017.

Licensees benefitting from a distribution order under section 9(1)(h) of the Broadcasting Act

7. Licensees listed in Appendix 2 to this notice benefit from a distribution order pursuant to section 9(1)(h) of the Broadcasting Act. These licensees have been invited by way of a Commission staff letter to submit renewal applications for their licences and distribution orders expiring on 31 August 2018. Licensees must submit their renewal applications by no later than 10 July 2017.
8. Given the complexity of these applications, the Commission will not use the streamlined procedures for the licensees listed in Appendix 2 and will issue a notice of consultation at a later date to seek comment on these applications.

Licences held by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

9. The Commission will announce at a later date the process to be followed for the renewal of the various television licences held by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as well as the orders relating to the mandatory distribution of some of its services.

Procedure for filing

10. Licensees must file their renewal applications electronically by completing the Broadcasting Cover Page using the secured service My CRTC Account (Sign-In Partner or GCKey). Samples of the application forms can be viewed on the Find a Broadcasting Form web page. Licensees that have questions related to the application forms may contact a Commission specialist at 1-866-781-1911.

Reminder

11. Pursuant to section 32 of the Broadcasting Act, unless otherwise exempt from the requirement to hold a licence, it is an offence to carry on a broadcasting undertaking without a licence. Failure to submit an application for renewal by the date specified in this notice may result in the licence expiring, after which the licensee would no longer have the authority to carry on a broadcasting undertaking.

Secretary General

Related documents

• New procedures for licence renewal applications, Broadcasting Information Bulletin CRTC 2015-116, 31 March 2015
• Exemption order respecting discretionary television programming undertakings serving fewer than 200,000 subscribers, Broadcasting Order CRTC 2015-88, 12 March 2015

Discretionary services

Television (community-based, low-power)

Television (educational)

Television (religious)

Television (commercial)

Television (satellite to cable - other)

Television (satellite to cable - educational)

Video-on-demand

Pay-per-view

Exempt services operated by the Legislative Assemblies of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories

Date modified:

2017-06-01