Application to renew a licence for a broadcasting distribution undertaking - Form 123

Sample form only: do not complete

This form is for reference purposes only. It is not to be completed in this format. To complete this form and submit it to the CRTC, download the MSWord format form here.

General instructions

Filing

File electronically via My CRTC Account by attaching the application form to the Cover Page. My CRTC Account allows you to securely submit documents to the Commission with a user ID and password. Therefore, a signature is not required when using My CRTC Account. Applicants who file their application in this manner are not required to submit a hard copy of the application form and related documents.

Instructions

The following questionnaire is in HTML format and may be downloaded to the word processing software of your choice. This enables you to complete the downloaded questionnaire by inserting your response in bold letters immediately following the question. You may add lines to the tables if necessary but do not alter or delete any text from the questionnaire.

The application must be divided into sections as set out in the questionnaire and include the numbered questions followed by the corresponding response. Responses must be provided, at a minimum, in a size 10 font.

Applicants who need further information relative to CRTC processes can contact a Commission specialist at 1-866-781-1911.

Important notice: The Commission will return the application if it has not been duly completed. The onus will be on the applicant to submit a complete application that provides all of the relevant information, identifies all regulatory issues raised in the application and provides supporting documentation.

All information with an * is required.

1. General information

1.1 Type of licence

*Select the type of licence: Individual ( ) Regional ( )

*Indicate the location of undertaking(s):

1.2 Type of undertaking

*Select the type of undertaking:

Terrestrial - Cable ( )
Terrestrial - Internet Protocol Television (IPTV):
Direct-to-home (DTH) ( )
Other ( ) Specify:

1.3 Identification of applicant

*Corporation ( ) Other ( ) Specify:
*Name of legal entity who is authorized by the Commission to operate this undertaking:
*Address:
*City/Town:
*Province/Territory:
*Postal code (A1A 1A1):
*Telephone (999-999-9999):
Facsimile (999-999-9999):
*Email (yourname@yourdomain.com):

1.4 Contact person representing the applicant

*Name:
*Title:
*Telephone (999-999-9999):  Ext:
*Email (yourname@yourdomain.com):

1.5 Sent by

*Name:
*Telephone (999-999-9999):  Ext:
*Email (yourname@yourdomain.com):

1.6 Designated representative

I,_________________________, the applicant, hereby designate____________________ as my designated representative for and on my behalf and in my name to complete, sign and file an application with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and to sign and file a reply with respect thereto (if necessary) and I do hereby ratify, confirm and adopt as my own act, such application and all replies made thereto.

Date:
At: Example: city, province
Signature (a signature is not required when submitting electronically):
Address of designated representative:
Title:
Telephone (999-999-9999):   Ext:
Facsimile (999-999-9999):
Email (yourname@yourdomain.com):

1.7 Declaration of the applicant or its designated representative

I, *___________________________________ , solemnly declare that:

  1. I am the designated representative of the applicant named in this application and as such have knowledge of all matters declared therein.
  2. The statements made in this application or in any document filed pursuant to any request for further information by the Commission are (will be) to the best of my knowledge and believed to be true in all respects.
  3. The opinions and estimates given in this application or in any document filed pursuant to any request for further information by the Commission, are (will be) based on facts as known to me.
  4. I have examined the provisions of the Broadcasting Act the Act) and the broadcasting regulations and policies relevant to this application.

And I have signed

Signature (a signature is not required when submitting electronically):
* Date (yyyy-mm-dd):

Witnessed by

Signature (a signature is not required when submitting electronically):
* Name:
* Date (yyyy-mm-dd):
* At: Example: city, province

2. Ownership

Has the ownership information relating to the licensee and the legal entities forming part of its ownership structure been submitted through the Data Collection System (DCS) within 12 months from the date of the current application?

Yes (  )  No (  )

If no, complete the tables provided as “Appendix 2A – Ownership Information", for the applicant and for every corporation that forms part of its ownership structure.

3. Procedural request

The Rules of Procedure allow an interested person to request that the Commission exercise a power under the Rules of Procedure or change the Rules of Procedure for a specific proceeding (sections 5 and 7). This is generally called a procedural request. You may consult the Guidelines on the CRTC Rules of Practice and Procedure, Broadcasting and Telecom Information Bulletin 2010-959 (BTIB 2010-959) for more information.

*Is the applicant requesting that the Commission make an exception to its Rules of Procedure in the treatment of this application?

Yes (  )  No (  )

If yes, indicate which section of the Rules of Procedure you wish to vary, and provide a detailed rationale as to why this request should be granted:

4. Application

4.1 Obtaining a copy of the application

*Submit a website address or an e-mail address where an electronic copy of the application may be requested:

Website (www.mycompany.com):

E-mail (yourname@yourdomain.com):

4.2 Location of undertaking and number of subscribers

*Indicate the location of the main undertaking(s) and its related secondary location(s), as well as the number of subscribers by completing the table below.

Should you wish to designate the number of subscribers as CONFIDENTIAL, provide the completed chart containing the number of subscribers, as "Appendix 1B – Location of undertaking and number of subscribers", and provide a detailed rationale to explain why the disclosure of the information is not in the public interest.

Location of undertaking and number of subscribers

Location of main undertaking(s) (service area(s))

Related secondary location(s)* Province/Territory

Number of subscribers**

City/Town      
 
City/Town      
 
City/Town      
 

*Defined as adjacent communities surrounding the main location.

**You may designate this information as confidential.

4.3 Conditions of licence, authorizations and expectations

*Complete the table provided as “Appendix 1C –Conditions of licence, authorizations and expectation".

4.4 Distribution of services

*For each undertaking location, provide the website address where the distribution grid (i.e., the channel lineup) can be found.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The distribution grid provided on the website must contain the following information (for more details, refer to Broadcasting Information Bulletin 2009-384):

  1. Call sign and location or name of the television undertaking;
  2. Service type;
  3. Reception method;
  4. Mode of distribution (basic or discretionary); and
  5. Channel or frequency on which each signal is distributed.

4.5 Community channel and outlet for local expression

  1. *Do you currently distribute a community channel/community programming service?
    • Yes ( ) No ( )
    • If no, confirm that you do not intend to offer community programming during your next licence term.
    • If yes, provide the following information:
  2. *On what platform do you offer community programming?
    • On-demand service ( ) Linear channel ( )
  3. *Provide a brief description of the types of community programming distributed including the language(s) of the locally originated programming.
  4. *Where locally originated programming is provided, provide a brief description of:
    1. Facilities and equipment used (including mobile or remote);
    2. Staff involved (paid and volunteers); and
    3. Types of programming distributed (local, access, other) and average number of hours per week for each type of programming.
  5. *Outline how you have operated in accordance with the provisions set out in the Community Television Policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2016-224 (BRP 2016-224), particularly with respect to:
    1. Roles and objectives;
    2. Local community television programming;
    3. Community programming;
    4. Access programming; and
    5. Accountability and reporting.
  6. *Outline how you have reflected the various language/ethnic communities within each licensed area.

4.6 Closed captioning

  1. Appendix 2 to BRP 2016-224 states that the Commission intends 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 next licence term or no later than 31 August 2025, as stated in Broadcasting Decision 2018-263, paragraph 131.
    • This requirement is subject to exceptions that take into account instances, but not patterns, of equipment/technical malfunctions and human errors that are beyond the BDU's control, or circumstances beyond the BDU's control where captioning may not be available.
    • *Please comment on the captioning requirement as it relates to your service for the new licence term. If you are proposing an alternative to the 100% captioning requirement described above, please provide reasons, with specific and detailed supporting evidence, including financial information, to support your rationale for the captioning requirement you are proposing.
    • *Please confirm that your company will adhere to the captioning requirement by condition of licence.
    • Yes ( ) No ( )
  2. Appendix 2 to BRP 2016-224 states that the Commission expects licensed BDUs to ensure that 100% of original access programming is captioned by the end of the next licence term.
    • *Please describe how your company will ensure that 100% of original access programming is captioned by the end of the new licence term.
  3. As set out by the Commission in Standard requirements for television stations, discretionary services, and on-demand services, BRP 2016-436, licensees of television stations, discretionary services and on-demand services are required, by condition of licence, to “ensure that advertising, sponsorship messages and promos in the English and French languages are closed captioned”.
    • *Considering that BDUs are authorized to insert promotional material as a substitute for the “local availabilities” of authorized non-Canadian programming services, please describe how the licensee has fulfilled or will fulfill the expectation to ensure that promotional material inserted in local availabilities are closed captioned.

4.7 Audio Description

  1. *As directed in Appendix 2 of BRP 2016-224 please confirm that your company will adhere, by condition of licence, to the requirement to provide audio description for all of their information programs and 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).
    • If yes, please describe how will ensure that audio description is provided for all of their information programs and news programming.
    • If no, provide reasons, with specific and detailed supporting evidence, including financial information.
  2. As indicated in Broadcasting and Telecom Regulatory Policy 2009-430 (BTRP 2009 430), solutions to the problems of the provision and quality of audio description do not require significant resources, but rather sensitivity on the part of program producers and hosts when on-air personalities are referring to key on-screen information, such as phone numbers, weather data, sports scores and financial information. Measures to improve and increase the amount of audio description could include training staff to increase awareness, updating production manuals and policies and assigning responsibility for audio description to appropriate staff.
    • *Do you agree to have a requirement to provide the necessary training to hosts and access producers respecting the provision of audio description imposed by condition of licence?
    • Yes ( ) No ( )

5. Accessibility

5.1 Customer information, service and support

  1. Promotion of disability-specific services and products
    1. According to BTRP 2009-430 paragraph 56, the Commission requires terrestrial and DTH BDUs to promote information on all of their disability-specific services and products, in the accessible manner(s) of their choice.
      • *Do you agree to have this requirement imposed by condition of licence?
      • Yes ( ) No ( )
      • If yes, describe the measures the licensee has undertaken or will undertake (and by which date) to ensure that this requirement is fulfilled.
      • If no, provide reasons, including why resources are not available and provide a plan for meeting this requirement, including a timeline for adherence to this requirement, taking into consideration that this requirement has been in place since 2009.
    2. According to BTRP 2009-430, paragraph 57, the Commission requires terrestrial and DTH BDUs to incorporate an easy-to-find home page link to the special needs/disability sections of their websites, if their websites include such sections.
      • *Do you agree to have this requirement imposed by condition of licence?
      • Yes ( ) No ( )
      • If yes, describe the measures the licensee has undertaken or will undertake (and by what date) to ensure that this requirement is fulfilled.
      • If no, provide reasons, including why resources are not available and provide a plan for meeting this requirement, including a timeline for adherence to this requirement, taking into consideration that this requirement has been in place since 2009.
  2. Websites
    1. According to BTRP 2009-430, paragraph 65, the Commission requires terrestrial and DTH BDUs to make the information on telecommunications and broadcasting services and products on their websites accessible to the point of providing a reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. For examples of reasonable accommodation in relation to the customer service information on websites, consult paragraphs 66 and 67 of BTRP 2009-430.
      • *Do you agree to have this requirement imposed by condition of licence?
      • Yes ( ) No ( )
      • If yes, describe the measures the licensee has undertaken or will undertake (and by what date) to ensure that this requirement is fulfilled, including how the licensee has achieved reasonable accommodation.
      • If no, provide reasons, including why resources are not available and provide a plan for meeting this requirement, including a timeline for adherence to this requirement, taking into consideration that this requirement has been in place since 2009.
    2. According to BTRP 2009-430, paragraph 68, the Commission requires terrestrial and DTH BDUs to make accessible any customer service functions that are available solely over the service providers' websites.
      • *Do you agree to have this requirement imposed by condition of licence?
      • Yes ( ) No ( )
      • If yes, describe the measures the licensee has undertaken or will undertake (and by what date) to ensure that this requirement is fulfilled.
      • If no, provide reasons, including why resources are not available and provide a plan for meeting this requirement, including a timeline for adherence to this requirement, taking into consideration that this requirement has been in place since 2009.
    3. Please note that, as stated in BTRP 2009-430, paragraph 68, where customer service functions on websites are not accessible, persons with disabilities must not incur a charge or otherwise be disadvantaged if they use an alternate channel of customer service to access those functions.
      • *Do you agree to have this requirement imposed by condition of licence?
      • Yes ( ) No ( )
      • If no, provide reasons, including why resources are not available and provide a plan for meeting this requirement, including a timeline for adherence to this requirement, taking into consideration that this requirement has been in place since 2009.
  3. General call centres
    1. According to BTRP 2009-430, paragraph 69, the Commission requires terrestrial and DTH BDUs to make their general call centres accessible to the point of providing a reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities by a) training customer service representatives in handling enquiries, and familiarizing them with the service providers' products and b) making Interactive Voice Response Systems (IVRS) accessible.
      • *Do you agree to have this requirement imposed by condition of licence?
      • Yes ( ) No ( )
      • If yes, describe the measures the licensee has undertaken or will undertake (and by what date) to ensure that this requirement is fulfilled, including how the licensee has achieved reasonable accommodation.
      • If no, provide reasons, including why resources are not available and provide a plan for meeting this requirement, including a timeline for adherence to this requirement, taking into consideration that this requirement has been in place since 2009.
    2. *Please describe how the licensee has ensured that its IVRS is accessible to persons with disabilities.

5.2 Described video

  1. Access to described video
    • Pursuant to paragraph 118 of BTRP 2009-430, the licensee will, as a condition of licence, provide one or more simple means of accessing described programming, whether in an open or embedded format, that requires little or no visual acuity.
    • *Do you agree to have this requirement imposed by condition of licence?
    • Yes ( ) No ( )
    • If yes, describe the measures the licensee has undertaken to ensure that this requirement is fulfilled.
    • If no, provide reasons, including why resources are not available and provide a plan for meeting this requirement at the time your licence is renewed.
  2. Accessibility of the set-top box
    • Section 7.3 of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations (the Regulations) sets out that, except as otherwise provided under a condition of its licence, a licensee shall make available to its subscribers such equipment, software or other technology that will allow any individual who is blind, visually impaired or who has fine motor skills disabilities to identify and have access to its programming services — including programs with described video — if that equipment, software or other technology is available for purchase by the licensee and is compatible with its distribution system.
      1. *In light of the above, and consistent with BTRP 2009-430, paragraph 120, please describe in detail the licensee’s efforts to address the requirement of Section 7.3 of the Regulations to provide solutions for individuals who are blind, visually impaired or who have fine motor skills disabilities.
      2. *Pursuant to BRP 2015-104 paragraph 68, the Commission requires terrestrial and DTH BDUs to report annually, by the imposition of a set of annual reporting requirements through conditions of licence, on accessible solutions offered to Canadians, detailing:
        1. the availability of accessible set-top boxes and remote controls to customers of BDUs, and their respective accessibility features;
        2. the penetration of accessible set-top boxes and remote controls with the BDUs’ customer base; and
        3. the number of accessibility-related queries received by the BDUs, and the number successfully resolved.
    • *Do you agree to have this requirement imposed by condition of licence?
    • Yes ( ) No ( )
    • If yes, describe the measures the licensee will undertake to ensure that this requirement is fulfilled.
    • If no, provide reasons, including why resources are not available and provide a plan for meeting this requirement at the time your licence is renewed.
    • *Provide an answer with respect to the three requirements noted above to reflect each undertaking’s current situation based on currently available information.
  3. Awareness of described programming
    • As stated in BTRP 2009-430, paragraph 122, the Commission expects BDUs to develop one or more means of identifying programming with described video in their electronic program guides. This could include an audio tone, a visual indicator, or the offer of an audio electronic program guide. In addition, the Commission expects BDUs to make information available in alternative formats to subscribers regarding, among other things, the programming and services offered and the channel line-up.
    • *Please describe how the licensee has fulfilled or will fulfill these expectations, including any consultations with groups representing persons with disabilities.
  4. Pass through of closed captioning and described video
    • *As set out in section 7 of the Regulations, a licensee shall not alter the content or format of a programming service or delete a programming service in a licensed area in the course of its distribution except under very specific circumstances. Identify the mechanism(s) put in place by the licensee to ensure the integrity of the closed captioning and described video passed through, where available

5.3 Other mechanisms

*Please describe any other mechanisms designed to make your services more accessible for people with disabilities.

6. Employment equity

Information relating to employment equity is available in Public Notices 1992-59 and 1997-34.

The Commission requires responses to questions regarding Employment Equity on behalf of the applicant as a whole, with reference to all of its employees in aggregate, that is, employees at all undertakings for which the licensee holds licences.

6.1 Employment Equity Act

*Is the licensee subject to the 1996 Employment Equity Act (applicable to federally-regulated employers with 100 or more employees)?

Yes ( ) No ( )

If yes, do not complete the remainder of Section 6 and proceed to Section 7.

If no, proceed to question 6.2.

6.2 Measures of the designated groups

*Outline examples of any measures (including hiring and training, apprenticeship programs, work arrangements) that you have or will put in place for the designated groups (women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and visible minorities).

Questions 6.3 to 6.5 - Applicable if between 25 and 99 employees only:

6.3 Policies

How do you or will you communicate details of your employment equity policies to managers and staff?

6.4 Monitoring

Have you assigned, or will you assign, a senior level person to be responsible for tracking progress and monitoring results?

Yes ( ) No ( )

If yes, what authority does or will that person have to ensure goals are achieved?

6.5 Promotion

What financial resources do you have or will you put in place to promote employment equity in the workplace (for example, funds for daycare, access for persons with disabilities, etc.)?

7. Compliance

*Over the current licence term, including any administrative renewal, was/were the undertaking(s) operated in compliance with the provisions of its licence, the Act, and all applicable regulations of the Commission?

Yes (  )  No (  )

If no, provide the full details of any non-compliance during the current licence term, including any administrative renewal, and include the reasons for this non-compliance, any remedial action and, where applicable, the period of time expected before the undertaking is operating in compliance.

8. Technical Information (terrestrial BDU only)

*With regard to how the BDU service is delivered and accessed, have there been any changes to the technology used since your licence was issued (if this is your first renewal) or last renewed?

Yes ( ) No ( )

If yes, please explain.

9. Request for documents to be designated as confidential

Sections 30 and 34 of the Implementation of new Rules of Practice and Procedure, BTRP 2010-958, set out a process by which parties to Commission proceedings may file information on the record of a public proceeding in confidence.

A party filing information can “designate” it as confidential at the time it is filed with the Commission (section 31) if it falls into one of the following categories:

  1. Information that is a trade secret;
  2. Financial, commercial, scientific or technical information that is confidential and that is treated consistently in a confidential manner by the person who submitted it; or
  3. Information the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected
    1. To result in material financial loss or gain to any person;
    2. To prejudice the competitive position of any person; or
    3. To affect contractual or other negotiations of any person.

At the time that the party files the information it designates as confidential, it must provide an abridged version of the document along with an explanation of how the information falls into a category of information listed in section 31. The party must provide a detailed rationale to explain why the disclosure of the information is not in the public interest (section 32(1)).

The confidential version of the document must be filed separately and must be marked “CONFIDENTIAL” on each page. If the document is filed electronically, each file containing confidential information must include “confidential” in the file name.

The abridged version of the document and the reasons for the designation of information as confidential will be placed on the public record of the proceeding.

Please consult the Procedures for filling confidential information and requesting its disclosure in Commission proceedings, BTIB 2010-961, for the complete process for filing confidential information.

*Are you requesting for information to be designated as confidential?

Yes (  )  No (  )

If yes, provide a detailed rationale to explain why the disclosure of the information is not in the public interest:

10. Documents to be appended to the application and naming conventions of electronic documents

Documents should be submitted in an accessible format (BTIB 2015-242).

The following documents should be submitted as separate electronic documents using the naming convention specified below. The document number (Doc#) indicates the ascending order in which the documents should appear on the public file.

Naming convention for the electronic documents
Document Electronic file name

Appended

(Yes or No)

Confidential

(Yes or No)

Covering Letter (if any) APP - Doc1 - Cover Letter    
Application Form APP - Doc2 - Application form    
Appendix 1A APP - Doc3 - Appendix 1A - Supplementary brief    
Appendix 1B APP - Doc4 - Appendix 1B - Location of undertaking and number of subscribers    
Appendix 1C APP - Doc5 - Appendix 1C - Conditions of licence    
Appendix 2 APP - Doc6 - ABRIDGED VERSION - Appendix 2 - Ownership Information    
Appendix 2 APP - Doc6 - CONFIDENTIAL - Appendix 2 - Ownership Information    
Each confidential document NOT WEB - APP - Doc# - CONFDOC - "brief description of the document"    
Abridged version of each confidential document APP - Doc# - ABRIDGED VERSION - "same description of the document for which confidentiality is requested"    
Additional documents APP - Doc# - "brief description of the document"    

CRTC 123 (2020-05-26) - Application to renew a licence for a broadcasting distribution undertaking - Form 123

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