The CRTC announced Tuesday it will defer new applications or complaints relating to radio for the next two years as it focuses on implementing its regulatory plan to modernize the broadcasting system.
Each year, the commission considers hundreds of radio-related complaints and applications, filed by both the public and industry stakeholders.
With the Online Streaming Act to bring major changes to the Canadian broadcasting ecosystem – impacting everything from current and future licensees to conditions of service – the CRTC says that process will require considerable resources, resulting in anticipated delays.
“Consequently, the Commission is of the view that deferring the examination of any new application or complaint of any nature would allow the public and potential stakeholders, many of whom have limited resources, to focus their efforts on participating in the various Commission proceedings aimed at modernizing the Canadian broadcasting system,” the commission wrote in an information bulletin.
“The Commission considers that it would be preferable for all to benefit from the measures and changes that will result from modernizing the Canadian broadcasting regulation framework before pursuing their regular activities. The Commission is also of the view that such a deferral will not cause any undue prejudice in general,” it continued.
The CRTC says it does not anticipate receiving any applications or complaints during the two-year deferral period, “unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated that would justify, with supporting evidence when filing the request, the need to process them.”
The commission will continue to process applications for changes in ownership or effective control of radio undertakings, which are exempt from the deferral.
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