The CRTC has officially launched its proceeding to examining broadcasting and new media.
In effect, the proceeding is looking at how Canada’s broadcasting system is affected by new delivery mechanisms, such as the internet and point-to-point transfers to mobile devices, as contrasted with over-the-air and cable.
The Commission is focusing on responses to six main themes:
- Defining broadcasting in new media
- The significance of broadcasting in new media and its impact on the Canadian broadcasting system
- Are incentives or regulatory measures necessary or desirable for the creation and promotion of Canadian broadcasting content in new media?
- Are there issues concerning access to broadcasting content in new media?
- Other broadcasting or public policy objectives
- The appropriateness of the new media exemption orders
The CRTC has a New Media website. There are a couple of research studies that were commissioned by the CRTC that can be found there: Changing Channels, that I referred to in a blog post last August, and TV or Not TV, Three Screens, One Regulation, prepared by Eli Noam of Columbia University.
In CRTC parlance, new media refers to broadcasting content over non-traditional broadcast distribution facilities. In other words, this proceeding, issued under the banner of the broadcast side of the CRTC, should be of interest to all telecom service providers and internet service providers.
Comments are due on December 5 and there will be an oral public hearing in Hull beginning on February 17, 2009.