CRTC must be flexible to deal with future landscape, Eatrides says

Those looking to predict the future of broadcasting and telecommunications should expect the unexpected, CRTC chair Vicky Eatrides told the C. D. Howe Institute on Tuesday. The commission head was delivering her remarks to a gathering in Toronto. “We know that things will continue to change around us while we are renewing our regulatory regime,” she stated. “That is why we are taking a consultative and flexible approach.” Discussing the what and the why are easy, the chair noted. The difficulty comes in explaining the how of adaptation. “Our goal is to build a regulatory framework that is flexible and can adapt to disruption,” Eatrides said. “To develop an approach that is prospective rather than prescriptive, and to create a system that is robust in the face of change.” She began by discussing the telecommunications sector. The government has given the CRTC a mandate to have ubiquitous affordable telecom and internet services. To promote that policy will take meaningful competition. The chair pointed to the framework of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). Established wireless carriers must make their networks available to competitors. Those competitors in turn must build out their own networks within seven years. On the internet side, it is hard for smaller players to survive. She noted that several competitors have been sold or are currently on the market. A decision on how much competitors pay the large companies for access should be forthcoming soon, the chair added. When it comes to broadcasting, Eatrides mentioned the Online Streaming Act and the changes it has brought to the sector. It will be a challenge to wrangle all parties into one cohesive group. “Well, as I have said before, when I think about the work that lies ahead, I am reminded of the proverb: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together’,” she told the audience. “Our plan is to go fast and far together.” The commission has started consultations on the new regime and has received more than 600 submissions. The first consultation looked at who should be covered by the new regulations. The second covers conditions of service for streaming services. The third will review the fees the regulator assesses while the last looks at the contribution levels the streamers must pay to support the Canadian industry. The CRTC is currently repeating the pattern to fulfill the provisions of the Online News Act. Lastly, the chair stated the commission is looking to improve its own levels of service. “We are clearing backlogs. We are looking at our internal processes to see how we can do better,” Eatrides asserted. “And we are dealing with applications in a more transparent and timely way.” She reported that so far in 2023, the commission has issued 325 rulings, a 25 per cent increase from the same period a year prior. “Nobody knows exactly what the world will look like in twelve months, or even twelve weeks,” the chair concluded. “But we know that we need to be ready for what is around the corner.” –Reporting by Paul Park at ppark@thewirereport.ca and editing by Jenna Cocullo at jcocullo@thewirereport.ca

CRTC must be flexible to deal with future landscape, Eatrides says

News | October 4, 2023

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us

CRTC must be flexible to deal with future landscape, Eatrides says

News | October 4, 2023

Unlock all the Canadian telecom, broadcasting and digital media news you need.

FREE TRIAL

SUBSCRIBE

Related Stories

Freedom Mobile no longer pursuing full MVNO status

Federal arbitrator releases paid time political broadcast schedule

TV broadcasters denounce streamers’ appeals of CRTC’s broadcasting contribution decision

CRTC considering expanded mandate for Broadcasting Participation Fund

Reuse & Permissions

Inside The Wire Report

Information

Hill Times Publishing

Get in Touch With Us