Broadcasting - Secretary General Letter addressed to Monica Auer (Forum for Research and Policy in Communications (FRPC))
Gatineau, 19 December 2025
Reference: 1011-NOC2025-0052
BY EMAIL
Monica Auer, M.A., L.L.M.
Executive Director
Forum for Research and Policy in Communications (FRPC)
execdir@frpc.net
Subject: The Path Forward – Supporting Canadian and Indigenous audio content, Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2025-52, 20 February 2025 – Request for clarification regarding costs
Dear Monica Auer,
We are writing to inform you of the Commission’s decision regarding the procedural request filed by the Forum for Research and Policy in Communications (FRPC) on 29 October 2025 requesting that the Commission review paragraph 108 of The Path Forward – Supporting Canadian and Indigenous audio content, Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2025-52, 20 February 2025, to clarify the costs application process for public interest and consumer groups participating in the proceeding. The Ontario Library Association filed a letter in support of FRPC’s request.
Paragraph 108 of the Notice of Consultation (NoC) states that public interest and consumer groups that need help with the cost of participating in this proceeding can apply to the Broadcasting Participation Fund (BPF) and refers them to the BPF website for more information. The BPF is independent of the Commission. Although the BPF has received funding through payments made by broadcasters as directed by the Commission, it is responsible for managing its own funding. In addition, the Commission does not oversee the BPF's processes or awards decisions. The Commission notes that the NoC was published seven months before the BPF announced that it would no longer accept funding applications.
The Commission acknowledges the importance of public participation in broadcasting proceedings and recognizes the impact that a lack of funding can have on certain groups. To address this, the Commission is examining ways to update its approach to funding public interest participation in its proceedings through Call for comments – A new approach to funding public interest participation in Commission proceedings, Broadcasting and Telecom Notice of Consultation CRTC 2025-94, 12 May 2025. No decision has been issued as part of that proceeding.
Therefore, the Commission will maintain the wording at paragraph 108 of Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2025-52.
A copy of this letter will be added to the record of Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2025-52.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Scott Shortliffe, Vice-President, Broadcasting, at Scott.Shortliffe@crtc.gc.ca.
Sincerely,
Marc Morin
Secretary General and Executive Vice-President
CC: Scott Shortliffe, Vice-President, Broadcasting, CRTC, Scott.Shortliffe@crtc.gc.ca
John Gaudaur Savage, Community Media Representative, Ontario Library Association, john.pg.savage@gmail.com
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