Source: CRTC

Ottawa, 18 May 2012

Mr. Hubert Lacroix
President, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
P.O. Box 3220, Station C
Ottawa, ON
K1Y 1E4

Dear Mr. Lacroix:

Re: Applications by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to amend the licences of Radio 2, Espace musique, and their affiliated stations to permit national advertising

Applications by the CBC to renew broadcasting licences for radio, television, and specialty television

On February 1 2012 the Commission, in response to your request, postponed the licence renewal hearing of the CBC that had been scheduled for June 2012 (Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2011-379-2).  The postponement allowed the CBC to establish its future operating budget following the tabling of the federal budget in March.

The Commission received the radio amendment applications on April 4, 2012 along with supplementary material on April 20, and is of the view that approval of the amendments might have perceptible effects on the way CBC radio implements its mandate over the next few years.

Consequently, it will thoroughly explore the performance and plans of CBC radio in relation to its mandate when the renewals of the licences are being considered.  The amendment applications, including the supplementary material, along with this letter, have been added to the existing renewal files (2011-0286-3 and 2011-0288-9) at the Commission.

In recognition of your desire for a timely ruling on the amendments the Commission is scheduling the public hearing to consider the renewals as soon as its agenda permits.  The hearing will commence on November 19, 2012.

Please file material updating the renewal applications no later than July 16, 2012.  The Notice of Consultation formally announcing the hearing and a further opportunity for the public to intervene will be released following receipt of the new information.

Sincerely,

John Traversy
Secretary General

c.c. Ms. Bev Kirshenblatt, Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs, CBC Lacroi

© CRTC