CCSA Responds to Amendments to the Broadcasting Act
QUISPAMSIS (NB), November 3, 2020 – Today, the Canadian Communication Systems Alliance (CCSA) responded to the tabling of Bill C-10, an Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts.
“While we are still reviewing the Bill to understand its implications for our Members, we appreciate that it will give the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) new powers to address anti-competitive behaviours by the vertically integrated (VI) broadcasters,” said Jay Thomson, CEO of the CCSA. “As the CRTC itself has said, the VIs have both the incentive and the ability to act anti-competitively in their broadcasting activities, so we are happy to see today that the government is moving ahead with broadcasting administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) which we hope will help curtail such activities.”
VI broadcasters own and operate the vast majority of Canadian television stations and programming services. Five years ago, the CRTC established the “Wholesale Code” in order to protect independent cable TV and IPTV providers when negotiating carriage arrangements with the VIs. Unfortunately, the VI broadcasters continue to challenge the Code, at the expense of independent broadcasters.
“While we are pleased with the introduction of AMPs, we look forward to working further with the federal government and the CRTC to support the role of local independent providers in providing choice and affordability in communications services for Canadians wherever they live,” concluded Thomson.
ABOUT THE CCSA
The Canadian Communication Systems Alliance (CCSA) represents more than 110 Independent companies providing internet, TV & telephone services to hundreds of thousands of Canadians in communities generally outside urban markets, from coast to coast to coast. CCSA Members include community cooperatives, family businesses, municipalities and companies owned by Indigenous Peoples. For more information, visit http://ccsaonline.ca.
CONTACT
Cheryl MangussoManager, Communications CCSA Phone: (506) 849-1334 ext. 217Email: cmangusso@ccsaonline.ca