ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Procedural Letter Addressed to Jim Deane (Access Communications Co-operative Limited)
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Ottawa, 17 August 2017
BY EMAIL
Our file number: 2017-0676-4
Mr. Jim Deane
President and CEO
Access Communications Co-operative Limited
documents@myaccess.coop
Re : 2017-0676-4 - Request for the expedited treatment of a Part 1 application
Mr. Deane,
This is in reference to your request that the Commission consider, on an expedited basis, your application for a condition of licence relieving Access Communications Co-operative Limited (Access) from the requirement to contribute to the Independent Local News Fund (ILNF).
The Commission has denied the procedural request for an expedited Part 1 process for the following reasons:
- Given that Access only filed this application on 8 August 2017, even with an expedited process, the Commission would be unable to release a decision before 1 September 2017;
- Should the issuance of a decision after 1 September 2017 result in excess contributions by Access, subsection 54(3) of the amended Broadcasting Distribution Regulations allows the licensee to deduct the excess from the amount of the contribution that is required for December of the broadcast year; and
- Since the licensee is seeking relief from contributing to the ILNF rather than amending, as suggested by the Commission in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2017-278, its condition of licence allowing it to devote the full 5% of its contributions to Canadian programming to local expression, Access’ application may raise policy concerns.
In light of the above, the Commission maintains the following timetable for the proceeding:
Interested parties have until 11 September 2017 to submit interventions relating to the application.
Access Communications Co-operative Limited will have until 21 September 2017 to reply to the interventions.
Sincerely,
Pierre-Louis Prégent
Senior Policy Analyst
Distribution Regulatory Policy
Broadcasting
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