There will not be a tax on internet services to fund the creation of Canadian content on the internet.
In its Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2009-329 decision yesterday to extend the new media exemption orders on broadcasting content over the internet and mobile networks, the CRTC also called for the development of a national digital strategy.
We have been calling for a national digital strategy for a number of months [for example here and here].
In releasing the CRTC decision, Konrad von Finckenstein, Chairman of the CRTC said yesterday:
Canada needs a comprehensive national strategy to secure its digital future. Such a strategy is essential if we want to maintain a competitive advantage in this global environment.
Another main headline statement for the CRTC is found in paragraph 32 of the decision where the CRTC sets out quite plainly:
the Commission acknowledges that broadcasting in new media is available in many different forms but maintains that it does not intend to regulate in any way the content, quality or availability of material created by individual Canadians in a personal capacity.
Further, the CRTC has finally gotten rid of the artificial distinction between audio and video programming. Three years ago, I wrote a piece asking “Isn’t audio just TV without the pictures?”
A key statement that indicate the CRTC’s understanding of the importance of a hands-off approach to regulation of the internet and new media:
We found that the Internet and mobile services are acting in a complementary fashion to the traditional broadcasting system. Any intervention on our part would only get in the way of innovation.
What else can we read into this? An OpEd in yesterday’s National Post by Marcel Boyer has a similar message in warning not to allow regulation to throttle the ‘net. Still, the CRTC is considering implementing an “undue preference” clause in its consultation for proposed changes to the new media exemption order.
CRTC Chair Konrad von Finckenstein is again going to be a keynote speaker at The 2009 Canadian Telecom Summit. Net neutrality and new media will be a focus of this year’s event. The conference opens a week from Monday, on June 15.
Have you registered yet?