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How to Participate in CRTC Public Proceedings

You can participate in public proceedings by sending your ideas, opinions and comments to the CRTC by submitting an intervention. Interventions help the CRTC update its policies and evaluate:

• applications for new broadcasting licences, licence renewals and amendments and transfers of ownership and control
• tariff and other applications from telephone companies
• applications from the public, related to telephone services
• the performance of federally regulated broadcasting and telephone companies

Public interest and consumer groups that need help offsetting the cost of participating in a broadcasting proceeding can apply to the Broadcasting Participation Fund.

How to submit your intervention

What information needs to be included:

• the file your intervention relates to (the notice, application or file number) as well as the applicant’s/licensee’s name
• whether you support or oppose the issue or application, or simply want to provide a comment
• details to support your position
• whether you wish to appear at a hearing, if a hearing is scheduled

Please note that section 26(1) of the CRTC Rules of Practice and Procedure sets out the information required in your intervention.

When and how to submit your intervention

Submit your intervention by 5 p.m. Vancouver time (8 p.m. Ottawa time) on the deadline date announced in the notice of consultation or indicated on the All Public Proceedings Open for Comment page by:

• using the online form: To fill out your online intervention, go to the All Public Proceedings Open for Comment page, select the notice, application number or file number, and then click on the “Submit” button.
• mail to: Secretary General, CRTC, Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0N2
• fax to: 819-994-0218

If you fax your intervention, make sure to:

• number each paragraph
• include ***End of document*** after the last paragraph to confirm that the document hasn’t been damaged during transmission

When submitting an application-related intervention to the CRTC, you must also send a copy to the applicant.

If a document is sent by electronic means, the sender must keep proof that the document was sent and the acknowledgement of receipt for 180 days after the day on which it was filed.

How to find applications and public proceedings

To find a public proceeding, consult:

• the Public Proceedings Web page, which lists current hearings, notices of consultation Part 1 proceedings and closed proceedings;
• the Canada Gazette;
• newspaper ads: in general-circulation newspapers and community newspapers in affected areas.

What is a notice of consultation?

Many proceedings are announced through notices of consultation. A notice of consultation will be issued for matters such as:

• notices of applications received (except applications processed under Part 1 proceedings or administratively);
• notices of hearings;
• calls for applications; and
• calls for comments on policy matters and proposed amendments to regulations.

What is a Part 1 Proceeding?

A Part 1 Proceeding is initiated by an application filed by an applicant that is not the subject of a notice of consultation. For broadcasting, this would include applications for licence amendments, additions to the list of eligible satellite services and undue preference applications. For telecom, this would include applications related to disputes between providers (e.g. network interconnection, unjust discrimination) and requests for forbearance.

In this type of proceeding:

• applications are posted on the Commission's Web site on the All Public Proceedings Open for Comment page;
• the public has 30 days to submit interventions relating to the applications;
• applicants then have 10 days to reply to the interventions;
• the Commission then examines all of the written submissions and issues a decision.

What is a hearing?

A hearing, announced in a notice of consultation, is a meeting where people can voice their opinions on the topic. A hearing is often used for new broadcasting licence applications, major policy issues or amendments to its broadcasting and telecommunications regulations. You can send written comments, and you can make a request to speak at the hearing.

Request to speak at a hearing

If you wish to speak at a hearing, you must file a written request, when you submit your intervention, and must:

• include the reasons why your intervention will not suffice and an appearance is necessary;
• indicate in your cover page if you require communications support such as assistive listening devices and sign-language interpretation, to be able to appear, so that we can make the necessary arrangements.

Keep in mind that not all public proceedings have a hearing, for example, Part 1 Proceedings. For more information, see the notice of consultation for the proceeding that you are interested in.

Communications support

If you plan to attend a hearing and have not requested to speak and require communications support such as assistive listening devices and sign-language interpretation, let us know at least 20 days before the hearing begins so that we can make the necessary arrangements.

Privacy information about your comments

All the information that you provide as part of a public process becomes part of a publicly accessible file on the CRTC Web site. This information includes your personal information, such as your full name, email address, street address, telephone and fax number(s), and any other personal information you provide. It is posted on the Web site whether you send it in by mail, fax or through the CRTC's Web site. Information that is explicitly granted confidentiality will not be posted on the Web site.

If you send documents through the Web site, they are posted on the CRTC Web site exactly as you send them, including any personal information contained in them, and in the official language and format in which they are received. Documents not received electronically are made available in PDF format.

The personal information you provide will be used and may be disclosed for the purpose for which the information was obtained or compiled by the CRTC, or for a use consistent with that purpose.