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Policy Briefs

As part of its advocacy work, FRIENDS of Canadian Broadcasting frequently makes submissions and presentations to the CRTC, Parliamentary Committees, and other bodies.

Feb 9, 2011 — Policy Brief: Re: Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2011-14

In a submission to the CRTC, FRIENDS comments on proposed regulation changes for "false or misleading" news coverage.

Feb 9, 2011 — Policy Brief: Re: Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2010-952: Group-based licence renewals for English-language television groups

In a submission 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.

Jan 11, 2011 — Policy Brief: Re: BN CRTC 2010-926: Application 2010-1506-6 Change of Effective Control of CTVgm’s Broadcasting Entities to BCE

FRIENDS supports the proposed change of effective control of CTVglobemedia's broadcasting assets to BCE, subject that the CRTC require BCE to revise the content of its public benefits proposal.

Oct 24, 2010 — Policy Brief: Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2010715

In a submission to the CRTC, FRIENDS supports the application by Bluepoint Investments to acquire the assets and control of Saskatchewan Communications Network Corporation (SCN).

Sep 30, 2010 — Policy Brief: Re: CRTC Broadcast Notice of Consultation 2010-623

FRIENDS supports a proposal that would see 0.5% of cable gross revenues directed towards the creation of a Community Access Media Fund to which independent non-profit community-run access channels could apply for support.

Sep 30, 2010 — Policy Brief: Re: CRTC Broadcast Notice of Consultation 2010-649: Application 2010-1188-2 [TVA Group Inc. on behalf of a general partnership to be constituted or a corporation to be incorporated]

FRIENDS opposes a request that would see Québecor's Sun TV receive mandatory access in its first three years of operation and offers several observations and suggestions for consideration by the CRTC.

Sep 28, 2010 — Policy Brief: Re: Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-629 — Criteria for assessing applications for mandatory distribution on the digital basic service

In a letter to the CRTC, FRIENDS says a proposed two-year moratorium on the consideration of any Category 1 broadcast applications would be highly prejudicial to the smaller, independent members of the broadcasting system.

Sep 7, 2010 — Policy Brief: Re: CRTC Broadcast Notice of Consultation 2010-551: Application #2009-1674-4

FRIENDS comments on an application by Corus for a broadcasting licence to operate a regional specialty television channel.

Aug 23, 2010 — Policy Brief: Re: Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2010-498: Shaw Communications acquisition of CanWest Global's Broadcasting entities

As part of Shaw's application to take over CanWest's broadcasting assets, FRIENDS recommends the CRTC ensure commitment to local programming and adequate public benefit consistent with commission policies.

Aug 13, 2010 — Policy Brief: Re: Pre-Budget Consultation Submission

FRIENDS says The Standing Committee on Finance should adopt the 2008 recommendation of the Canadian Heritage Committee to increase the CBC's per‐capita grant to $40 per annum.

Jul 30, 2010 — Policy Brief: Opening Canada’s Doors to Foreign Investment in Telecommunications: Options for Reform

In a submission to Industry Canada, FRIENDS says that in an integrated communications environment, changing the foreign ownership requirement for one sector - telecom - can be expected to cause a domino effect in the other sectors - such as broadcasting.

Jul 13, 2010 — Policy Brief: Digital Economy Consultation

FRIENDS recommends that the Canadian Media Fund, and other federally-sponsored funds, be augmented by tapping into the huge profits of the four big cable monopolies, whose profit before interest and taxes in 2009 exceeded 25%.

Mar 30, 2010 — Policy Brief: Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science & Technology

FRIENDS tells parliamentarians that tinkering with foreign ownership rules in one part of the  media and communications industry will place other parts, such as broadcasting, at risk.

Mar 1, 2010 — Policy Brief: Re: Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2009-732: Mandatory distribution – Section 9(1)(h)

FRIENDS supports the mandatory carriage of those television services which the CRTC determines to be in the public interest.

Feb 1, 2010 — Policy Brief: Re: Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2009-661: Policies for Community Television

FRIENDS endorses a proposal that would see community TV stations become more like public libraries with local control and dedicated funding.

Jan 27, 2010 — Policy Brief: Re: Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2009-803, item 1: Application # 2008-0203-4: Média de Novo Inc.

FRIENDS offers comments and poses questions on a Média de Novo submission to the CRTC that would see the company sell the 'local availabilities' on U.S. specialty channels.

Dec 9, 2009 — Policy Brief: Compensation Regime for the Value of Local Television Signals (BN CRTC 2009-614)

FRIENDS recommends that the CRTC re-regulate the basic service of the big four cable monopolies and ensure that cable distributors do not pass along signal compensation charges to their subscribers.

Nov 2, 2009 — Policy Brief: Re: Compensation Regime for the Value of Local Television Signals: Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2009-614

FRIENDS recommends that the CRTC re-regulate basic cable rates, ensure that big cable companies do not pass along signal costs to subscribers and new compensation be divided among local conventional stations based on viewership of Canadian programs.

Sep 14, 2009 — Policy Brief: Re: Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2009-411 – Policy proceeding on a group-based approach to licensing of television services

FRIENDS recommends that Cable broadcast distributors should share a portion of their considerable profit with local TV broadcasters and that those fees should be divided based upon the total audience assembled for Canadian programs.

Aug 3, 2009 — Policy Brief: Re: Broadcast Notice CRTC 2009-425: Proposed acquisition of CJNT & CHCH by Channel Zero (applications 2009-1020-0, 2009-1018-4, 2009-1021-7 & 2009-1019-2)

In a submission to the CRTC, FRIENDS supports Channel Zero's applications to acquire the television stations CJNT and CHCH.