As part of its advocacy work, FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting frequently makes submissions and presentations to the CRTC, Parliamentary Committees, and other bodies.
May 23, 2013 — Policy Brief: Presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance regarding Bill C-60
FRIENDS spokesperson tells parliamentarians that the CBC must retain its arms-length relationship to the government.
Apr 2, 2013 — Policy Brief: BN CRTC 2013-106 (BCE Acquisition of Astral)
FRIENDS supports the applications regarding BCE's acquisition of Astral, subject to the CRTC's due diligence.
Feb 22, 2013 — Policy Brief: Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2013-19 Applications for Mandatory Distribution
In a submission to the CRTC, FRIENDS says that that Starlight: The Canadian Movie Channel meets the criteria required for mandatory carriage while Sun TV News does not.
Dec 11, 2012 — Policy Brief: Re: Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC-2011-379-6: Final Comments
FRIENDS submits final comments to the CRTC on several subjects: CBC Television - Balanced Schedule, Programs of National Interest, and Regional Production; CBC Radio 2 and Espace musique - Commercial Messages; and CBC Television - NHL Hockey.
Nov 27, 2012 — Policy Brief: FCB Undertaking #2, November 23 re: Application of the BBC Trust Model in Canada
FRIENDS presents information concerning the BBC Trust model and its potential to address accountability issues at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Nov 27, 2012 — Policy Brief: FCB Undertaking #1, November 23 re: Forecast of Potential CBC/SRC Radio Advertising Revenues
FRIENDS presents information on projected revenues should the CRTC approve the CBC's proposal to introduce commercials on Radio Two and Espace Musique.
Nov 23, 2012 — Policy Brief: Presentation to the CRTC on the licence renewals for the CBC’s French and English-language services
In a presentation to the CRTC, FRIENDS recommends that the broadcast regulator help CBC learn how to earn and deserve renewed public support – and then mobilize that support to advocate for resources to do its job.
Oct 5, 2012 — Policy Brief: Re: CRTC 2011-379: Licence Renewals for the CBC’s French- and English-language services
FRIENDS supports the renewal of CBC's various licences subject to a number of comments, recommendations and proposed conditions.
Aug 9, 2012 — Policy Brief: Re: Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2012-370: Applications 2012-0516-2, 2012-0573-2, 2012-0710-9, 2012-0736-6 and 2012-0735-8 (BCE Acquisition of Astral Media)
FRIENDS recommends that the CRTC consider adopting dispute resolution mechanisms and meaningful penalties to ensure that an acquisition of Astral Media does not allow BCE to take undue advantage of behaviour that would subsequently be judged in contravention of telecom rules.
Jul 12, 2012 — Policy Brief: Applications by the CBC to renew broadcasting licences for radio, television, and specialty television as per Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2011-379-2 and your letter to the CBC dated 18 May 2012
FRIENDS recommends that as part of the CBC licence renewal process, the CRTC carefully examine the importance of hockey rights to the overall CBC English Television commercial revenue model.
Jun 18, 2012 — Policy Brief: Re: PN CRTC 2012-0509-7 CBC Analog Transmitters
FRIENDS says the CRTC should defer a decision on a CBC proposal to cut off free over-the-air TV service to large numbers of Canadians until the Corporation's network licences are reviewed.
Apr 12, 2012 — Policy Brief: Re: Advertising on CBC Radio 2 & Espace Musique
FRIENDS encourages the CRTC to reject a CBC proposal to place ads on Radio 2 & Espace Musique and instead proceed with the long-delayed review of the overall licensing of the Corporation's networks and services.
Feb 15, 2012 — Policy Brief: Re: BN CRTC 2011-788 – Review of Local Programming Improvement Fund
FRIENDS recommends that the CRTC bend over backwards to defend and protect the position of smaller ownership groups in view of the undue influence of the largest players in the broadcasting system.
Oct 27, 2011 — Policy Brief: Presentation to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics House of Commons
FRIENDS tells a Parliamentary committee looking into CBC's access to information policies that the root cause of the public broadcaster's disclosure avoidance is patronage appointments of its Board and President.
Jul 21, 2011 — Policy Brief: Re: Application 2011-0966-1 amendment: a transmitter to serve Saint John
FRIENDS asks the CRTC for clarification on the closing date for comments on the CBC application for a Saint John transmitter.
Jul 17, 2011 — Policy Brief: Re: Application 2011-0966-1 amendment: a transmitter to serve Saint John
Submission to the CRTC on CBC's proposal for a digital transmitter to serve Saint John New Brunswick.
Apr 27, 2011 — Policy Brief: Re: CRTC Notice of Consultation CRTC 2010-783 Vertical Integration Regulatory Framework
Considering that all large broadcasters in Canada - except the CBC - are now controlled by distributors, FRIENDS recommends that the CRTC protect the interests of small independent players.
Apr 27, 2011 — Policy Brief: Re: Final Submission: Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2010-952
Final submission to the CRTC on the group-based licence renewals for English-language television groups.
Apr 11, 2011 — Policy Brief: Group-based Licence Renewals for English-language Television groups
In a presentation to the CRTC, FRIENDS says that proposed changes to station group licences would result in a reduction of approximately $90 million annually in Canadian programming spending.
Mar 21, 2011 — Policy Brief: Mandate and Funding of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
In a presentation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, FRIENDS says that implementing the Committee's recommendation of increasing the CBC's parliamentary grant to at least $40 per capita would be a good first step in addressing the funding gap for Canada's public broadcaster.
