Until now, Canada’s broadcast regulator has kept its hands off the Internet and whether providers such as telecommunications and cable companies give room for Canadian content.
However, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said Thursday it will re-examine its relationship over new media by holding hearings next year, including whether Internet traffic-management by providers could impair Canadian programming on the Web.
In a press release commission chair Konrad von Finckenstein was quick to say the intent is not to regulate new media, as it does now with content rules for television. But he added, “if necessary” hearings may show justification “to propose new measures” that would support the goals of the federal Broadcasting Act, which sets Canadian content rules.
In a background paper the commission noted there are a number of Canadian funds to support the creation of new media, although it called them "minimal" compared to funding available for traditional TV and movies.
Exactly what measures von Finckenstein has in mind isn't clear, but Ken Englehart, Rogers Communications' vice-president of regulatory affairs, swifty made clear what it shouldn't: a tax on Internet service providers to pay for Canadian content.
The notion is floating around Ottawa, he said in an interview, adding, "I think that would be a terrible idea."
"There’s no evidence new media content can’t be produced in Canada without a subsidy. People can make this stuff sitting in their garage wearing a backwards baseball cap."
Asked if there's a difference between producing content and getting it on the Web, he said: “I’m not aware that Canadians have problems getting new media content on the Internet."
Iain Grant, managing director of the SeaBoard Group, which advises telecommunications companies, said its a good idea for the CRTC to look at the issue because it's been almost 10 years since the commission decided to exempt new media from its scrutiny.
However, he said, "unless you regulate the Internet like Saudi Arabia or China, it’s very difficult for them to do anything to stimulate Canadian content by fiat. The only way of really stimulating Canadian content is by offering money, and that isn’t the commission’s role.”
Through the Broadcast Act, the commission has encouraged Canadian TV, film and radio production with content minimums imposed on traditional television, FM and AM broadcasters.
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