ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Procedural Letter Addressed to Distribution List
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Ottawa, 15 July 2016
VIA E-MAIL
Distribution List
Dear Sir / Madam,
Re: Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2016-197 – Notice of hearing
In Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2016-197, the Commission announced that it would hold a public hearing commencing on 7 September 2016 to consider the licence renewal applications of the terrestrial broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDUs) whose licences are expiring on 30 November 2016 and to review the practices of all BDU licensees in regard to the small basic service and flexible packaging requirements.
As indicated in this notice, the scope of the hearing will be limited to the following issues:
- the review of all licensees’ practices in regard to the small basic service and flexible packaging requirements;
- the imposition of conditions of licence related to the Wholesale Code, the Television Service Provider Code and participation in the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services Inc.; and
- the renewal of those licences listed in Appendix 1 of the notice.
However, during the oral phase of the hearing, the Commission will focus its questioning on the following issues:
- licensees’ practices in regard to the small basic service and flexible packaging requirements; and
- implementation of the requirement to distribute, on or after 1 December 2016, all discretionary services offered by the licensee both on a stand-alone basis or in packages of up to 10 programming services.
In a separate letter also issued today, the Commission has indicated that it is calling to the appearing portion of the hearing:
- Bell Canada; and Bell ExpressVu Inc. (the general partner) and Bell Canada (the limited partner), carrying on business as Bell ExpressVu Limited Partnership;
- Rogers Communications Canada Inc.;
- Shaw Cablesystems Limited; Shaw Cablesystems (VCI) Limited; and Star Choice Television Network Incorporated; and
- Videotron Ltd. and 9227-2590 Québec inc., partners in a general partnership carrying on business as Videotron G.P.
The Consumers’ Association of Canada and Public Interest Advocacy Centre, Union des consommateurs and Mr. Mohammed Vepari are being invited to appear.
Therefore, the present letter is to inform you that you should be prepared to discuss your company’s plans to make available discretionary services on a stand-alone basis and in small packages, (e.g., the retail rates for each package of services or stand-alone offerings, including any possible discounts that would apply; any terms, costs, limitations and/or conditions that would apply to the purchase of discretionary services by subscribers; and how consumers will be made aware of these offerings). If already in place, you may be asked to elaborate on whether any changes to your offerings are being considered.
Parties may not address any other issues in their presentations. The Commission will consider any other substantive issues (e.g., compliance issues) at the next licence renewal (i.e., in 2017 or later, based on your company’s licence expiry date) and interested persons will have an opportunity to comment at the appropriate time.
A copy of this letter will be added to the public record of the proceeding.
Yours sincerely,
Danielle May-Cuconato
Secretary General
Distribution list:
Kevin Goldstein
Vice-President - Regulatory Affairs, Content and Distribution, Bell
kevin.goldstein@bellmedia.ca
Peggy Tabet
Senior Director - Regulatory Affairs, Broadcasting, Quebecor Media
peggy.tabet@quebecor.com
Pamela Dinsmore
Vice-President - Cable-Regulatory, Rogers Communications
pam.dinsmore@rci.rogers.com
Dean Shaikh
Vice-President - Regulatory Affairs, Shaw Communications
dean.shaikh@sjrb.ca
c.c. alau@piac.ca; slambert-racine@uniondesconsommateurs.ca; autismm56@gmail.com
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