Call for broadcast participation fund cash injection gets support at CRTC

A group of consumer advocacy organizations have received some support for their call for a restructuring of the Rogers Communications Inc. tangible benefits payment to shore up the Broadcast Participation Fund. Interventions from Telus Corp. and the Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy & Public Interest Clinic at the University of Ottawa, known as CIPPIC, endorsed the notion of the regulator Rogers to make its mandated contribution of $725,439 to the BPF by September of this year, rather than spread out across multiple years. Under the terms of the CRTC’s approval of Rogers’ acquisition of Shaw Communications Inc.’s broadcasting assets, the cable company was required to pay the contribution over three installments over the course of three years. "The participation of consumer advocacy groups is an important part of the public discourse in consultations and proceedings that affect Canadian consumers," Telus wrote in its intervention. "It is particularly important to ensure the ability of consumer advocacy groups to participate in public proceedings now, given the recent announcement of the CRTC’s plans to modernize the Canadian broadcasting system, and the launch of three initial consultations to review the framework for online streaming services." In April the Broadcast Participation Fund had announced that if the “gap between available funds and qualified applications is not addressed,” the fund would have to cease its operations this year. "Since the Broadcasting Participation Fund is the only funding mechanism that supports public-interest participation in CRTC broadcasting proceedings, it is clear that the applicants’ request for relief in the form of an advance payment of tangible benefits has merit, and should be granted," Telus argued. Without the fund, CIPPIC wrote in its own intervention, " it will no longer be feasible for many consumer and public-interest organizations, like CIPPIC, to advocate on behalf of the public before the CRTC." "This would reduce the record of CRTC proceedings to evidence from broadcasters, industry and employee associations, academic scholars, and the few members of the public with the time and inclination to become involved," the law clinic wrote.

Call for broadcast participation fund cash injection gets support at CRTC

Brief | May 31, 2023

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Call for broadcast participation fund cash injection gets support at CRTC

Brief | May 31, 2023

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