Commission set to take on new media

The CRTC today launched a consultation on broadcasting in the new media environment, taking the first step in what will likely be a year-long examination of the impact of new media. The consultation seeks comments on the scope of a new media hearing that is currently tabled for early 2009. "The Commission has a responsibility to ensure that the broadcasting system is in a position to achieve the objectives of the Broadcasting Act, today as well as in the future," said CRTC chair Konrad von Finckenstein in a news release. "New digital technologies and platforms are creating opportunities for the broadcast of professionally-produced Canadian content that simply didn't exist a few years ago. Our intention is not to regulate new media, but rather to gain a better understanding of this environment and, if necessary, to propose measures that would support the continued achievement of the Broadcasting Act's objectives." Wanting to narrow the range of issues to be discussed in the hearing, the commission is asking for public input on the following questions: What is broadcasting in new media? Should the creation and promotion of Canadian broadcasting content for the new media environment be supported? If so, how? Are there any barriers to accessing Canadian broadcasting content in the new media environment? What other issues should be considered? Scheduled for 2009, the hearing will come a full 10 years after the CRTC released the exemption order for new media broadcast undertakings. In the Public Notice issued for the consultation, the commission reflects back to the determinations that informed its 1999 decision, namely: New media had not had an impact on conventional radio and television audiences. The Commission was of the view that the effect of new media on television audience size would be limited, at least until such time as high-quality video programming could be distributed on the Internet. Evidence that the Internet had impacted advertising revenues of traditional broadcasters was not apparent. Much has clearly changed since 1999, and, in laying the grounds for a new hearing, the commission notes, "Canadian participation is lagging with respect to the amount of high-value, professionally produced new media broadcasting content and the level of early stage investment in the new media broadcasting environment." The CRTC today also issued Perspectives on Canadian Broadcasting in New Media, a compilation of views from the Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications industries, academia, and national and international policy-makers commissioned by the CRTC over the last year. Keeping in the new media spirit, the CRTC also today launched an eConsultation webpage enabling users to comment directly on the key new media questions. The discussions, which are being moderated by president and CEO of Nanos Research Nik Nanos, have already begun. "Do not regulate other than to remove unnatural impediments to the evolution of the internet as a broadcast medium," wrote one poster this afternoon. "The only performance imposition that should be made is that networks be designed such that lower bandwidth users are not penalized by high bandwidth users when the system is congested. This does not mean "Throttling" just appropriate system design to assure that lower bandwidth users are not affected by congestion any more than high bandwidth users." The CRTC will keep the eConsultation page open for postings until June 15. Parties submitting comments on the actual consultation must do so by July 11.

Commission set to take on new media

Broadcast | May 15, 2008

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