Opposition MP predicts smooth ride for retransmission bill through committee

Bill C-48, the federal government's proposed legislation to amend Canada's retransmission laws to clarify the role of the Internet, is likely in for an easy ride at the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, according to one member of the committee. Wendy Lill, the New Democrat MP representing Dartmouth, says her party supports the bill's aim to protect television content from unauthorized Internet retransmission, though she will demand to see proposed regulations attached to the bill before making up her mind.C-48 is currently languishing on the House of Commons order paper despite some thought earlier in the month that it might be dealt with quickly. Lill, the NDP's critic for culture and communications, is unsure when the bill might pass second reading to move to the committee stage, but says that she and her fellow committee members are not anxious to take up debate.The committee's ongoing review of the Broadcasting Act, she notes, is taking priority for the moment, and no "red flags" have been raised with regard to C-48 to date. She understands, however, that at least some groups have expressed concern about the bill to her office, and that hearings may be necessary before the proposed legislation can pass on to its third reading.In general, though, Lill supports the bill's aims. The government has positioned the proposed legislation as closing the loophole that would allow JumpTV or ICraveTV to pursue Internet retransmission operations, something the MP supports."I don't have any problem with that. The New Democrats don't have any problem with that. Basically, we'll be supporting it," she tells Canadian NEW MEDIA."I think that, generally speaking, people are going to support this. I think what we have to do is maintain the spirit of the Copyright Act, to make sure that people's rights to their creations are protected. I come from a writer's background…so I really do understand the importance of copyright and I belong to CanCopy. As we move into more and more retransmissions of stuff on the Internet, first and foremost that will be my concern as I sit on the Heritage committee and as I give advice to my caucus on these issues - that we protect the creator. As far as I can see, C-48 is basically looking to do that."While Lill expresses no misgivings about the bill, she says it will be important to have the regulations hammered out before the committee can render its judgement on the matter. "There's no point in looking at it if we don't understand how it's going to be implemented. I will certainly ask for and I'm sure nobody will resist. We'll all want to have in front of us a recipe for how this is going to play out."Those regulations, which will spell out the conditions by which retransmission will or will not be allowed on the Internet, still haven't been released, even in draft form. While there had been talk last week of a consultation document being circulated to stakeholders, there has been no sign as yet that anything is up for discussion.(CNM, Dec. 13, 2001)When the regulations are released, industry watchers expect debate to be fractious, Lill's confidence in an easy process notwithstanding. While both content producers and broadcasters were mysteriously mum on C-48 when first introduced, the regulations won't be given a similarly free ride, predict insiders on the issue. Any move by the departments of Canadian Heritage or Industry Canada to restrict Internet retransmission will raise the ire of JumpTV and its allies, and possibly from powerful Industry Canada mandarins. On the other hand, allowing the technology to be used by any but licensed broadcasters or narrowly-defined broadcast distribution undertakings will likely bring swift criticism by both the Canadian Film and Television Production Association and Canadian Association of Broadcasters - each a powerful lobby and important constituency in Sheila Copps' Liberal leadership hopes.As for the current legislative process, Lill is taking it in stride as she anticipates further copyright debates to come. Explaining why she would be unlikely to seek amendments to the bill, Lill explains: "I don't think so, at this point. There's a lot of copyright stuff coming down the pipe, and it's almost like there will be a continuous copyright bill for the next decade. Then we'll have to start again."

Opposition MP predicts smooth ride for retransmission bill through committee

News | 02/22/2002 5:00 am EST

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