{"id":7029,"date":"2014-02-21T16:28:58","date_gmt":"2014-02-21T21:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mhgoldberg.com\/blog\/?p=7029"},"modified":"2014-02-21T23:39:55","modified_gmt":"2014-02-22T04:39:55","slug":"crtc-takes-to-twitter-to-talktv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mhgoldberg.com\/blog\/?p=7029","title":{"rendered":"CRTC takes to Twitter to #TalkTV"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier this week, CRTC Chair JP Blais took to Twitter to have a chat about the second phase<\/a> of the Commission’s Talk TV consultation. <\/p>\n

The chat took place during the Olympic quarter-final men’s hockey game between Canada and Latvia, and the timing itself was the subject of one of the questions. <\/p>\n

The tone seemed chippy at times; when the Chairman was asked if the CRTC had the jurisdiction to regulate Netflix, the response wasn’t a simple “yes” or “no”. Instead, the answer was “I don’t want to debate jurisdiction online. See section 4(2) of the Broadcasting Act.” <\/p>\n

Let’s look at Section 4(2)<\/a> of the Broadcast Act<\/em>. <\/p>\n

(2) This Act applies in respect of broadcasting undertakings carried on in whole or in part within Canada or on board<\/p>\n

(a) any ship, vessel or aircraft that is<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. (i) registered or licensed under an Act of Parliament, or<\/li>\n
  2. (ii) owned by, or under the direction or control of, Her Majesty in right of Canada or a province;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    (b) any spacecraft that is under the direction or control of<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. (i) Her Majesty in right of Canada or a province,<\/li>\n
    2. (ii) a citizen or resident of Canada, or<\/li>\n
    3. (iii) a corporation incorporated or resident in Canada; or<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      (c) any platform, rig, structure or formation that is affixed or attached to land situated in the continental shelf of Canada. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Clear on that?<\/p>\n

      I’m not sure how many Canadians would be able to readily find the Broadcast Act, let alone understand what spacecraft, ships, vessels or aircraft have to do with a computer app. And that was just the second question asked by a member of the general public. <\/p>\n

      The question didn’t seem to be baiting the Chair for a debate. It would seem reasonable for a “conversation with Canadians” to be able to get a straight answer to a pretty basic question: In the view of the Chairman of the CRTC, does the Commission have the jurisdiction to regulate Netflix?<\/p>\n

      I thought it might be helpful to capture the Twitter conversation to make it easily accessible for review. <\/p>\n

      The following is the English language Twitter chat that took place on February 19, 2014 at 1:00pm [eastern].<\/p>\n

      \n
      \n

      Q1 @KIVUNature<\/a> Does CRTC see the Internet as a valid programming venue for TV shows? #talktv<\/a><\/p>\n

      — CRTCeng (@CRTCeng) February 19, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n