Broadcasting and Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2021-124

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References: 2020-108 and 2020-357

Ottawa, 6 April 2021

Amendments to the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure, and the Discretionary Services Regulations

1. The Commission amends the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations as proposed in Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2020-108, and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure and the Discretionary Services Regulations as proposed in Broadcasting and Telecom Notice of Consultation 2020-357. The amendments, which are set out in the appendix to this regulatory policy, will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, and will come into force on the date of their registration.
2. In response to Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2020-108, the Commission received comments from the Independent Broadcast Group and from Rogers Communications Canada Inc. In response to Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2020-357, the Commission received a comment from TELUS Communications Inc. In each case, the interveners did not raise any objections in regard to the proposed amendments.
3. The amendments give effect to the Commission’s determination to replace the reference to Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin 2013-637 with a reference to Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin 2019-184.^{Footnote 1} Specifically, in the latter, the Commission set out its revised dispute resolution practices and procedures.

Secretary General

Related documents

• Call for comments – Amendments to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure and the Discretionary Services Regulations, Broadcasting and Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2020-357, 23 October 2020
• Call for comments on the amendment to the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations, Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2020-108, 26 March 2020
• Practices and procedures for dispute resolution, Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2019-184, 29 May 2019
• Practices and procedures for staff-assisted mediation, final offer arbitration and expedited hearings, Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2013-637, 28 November 2013

Appendix to Broadcasting and Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2021-124

Regulations Amending the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations

Amendment

1. Subsection 12(9) of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations^{Footnote 2} is replaced by the following:

(9) If the dispute relates to the rates, terms or conditions, or any combination of them, surrounding a programming service that is being distributed in the absence of a commercial agreement and the matter proceeds before the Commission for dispute resolution, the licensee shall submit to having the dispute resolved in accordance with the procedural requirements established by the Commission in Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2019-184, dated May 29, 2019, and the rates, terms and conditions established by the Commission will apply as of the day on which the programming service was first made available to the distributor in the absence of a commercial agreement.

Coming into Force

2. These Regulations come into force on the day on which they are registered.

Rules Amending the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure

Amendment

1. Section 52 of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure^{Footnote 3} is replaced by the following:

Requirements to be followed

52 An application for the resolution of a matter under an alternative dispute resolution process must be made in accordance with the procedural requirements established by the Commission in Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2019-184, dated May 29, 2019.

Coming into Force

2. These Rules come into force on the day on which they are registered.

Regulations Amending the Discretionary Services Regulations

Amendment

1. Paragraph 14(4)(a) of the Discretionary Services Regulations^{Footnote 4} is replaced by the following:

(a) the dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the procedural requirements established by the Commission in Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2019-184, dated May 29, 2019 and entitled Practices and procedures for dispute resolution; and

Coming into Force

2. These Regulations come into force on the day on which they are registered.

Date modified:

2021-04-06