CRTC chair hesitant about CCTA’s recommendations for regulatory reform

CRTC chair Charles Dalfen is unconvinced that the U.S. style of broadcast and telecom regulation that reveals how commissioners vote can be transferred to the Canadian system. Opening the vote process at the CRTC is one of several proposals on regulatory reform put forward recently by the Canadian Cable Television Association (CCTA). "I’m not sure I’m there yet (to an open voting process). We have a very different commission – a different size and a different method of proceeding," he told CCR at the CCTA’s annual convention in Vancouver on April 15. "Our commissioners sit at hearings; at the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), they don’t. They have administrative law judges who sit at hearings, and then the FCC serves as a kind of committee of decision arising from that." Dalfen added: "I’m certainly not closed to the direction of more openness and will encourage it wherever I can. But as to specific proposals, these have to be examined in light of what are the best requirements for Canada." The CCTA has advocated regulatory reform as part of its proposals to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage’s review of the broadcasting system and the Broadcasting Act. Included in that is a more open, accountable, and transparent regulatory process. "It is extremely ironic to us that our applications are public, our interventions are public, our rebuttals are public, the public hearings are public, and yet the staff advice and the commission deliberations are held in secret," Ken Stein, senior VP of corporate and regulatory affairs at Shaw Communications Inc., said during the CCTA’s appearance February 19 before the standing committee. "We don’t think that’s appropriate. We know how the Supreme Court votes, but we don’t know how the CRTC votes," he added. The CCTA has also recommended that the size of the current 13-member commission be reduced to five to seven commissioners. Stein stated that in the CCTA’s view, a smaller commission "would be more efficient and more consistent…" The CCTA has also called for less but more focused regulation and for the CRTC to focus its resources on issues of the greatest priority. Under existing CRTC procedures, decisions are made by panels of commissioners – usually of three, five or seven members – although the full commission may vote on matters of higher importance. The different makeup of various panels, some industry experts claim, often results in widely varying decisions. Commissioners who do not agree with a decision may, but are not compelled to, write a dissent. During the standing committee hearing, at least two members – Grant McNally (Dewdney – Alouette, CA) and Dennis Mills (Toronto – Danforth, Liberal) – expressed their support for a more open CRTC process. Some commissioners, such as Stuart Langford and David McKendry, have told CCR they see no reason for the secrecy (CCR, Jan. 18/02).

CRTC chair hesitant about CCTA’s recommendations for regulatory reform

Broadcast | April 25, 2002

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CRTC chair hesitant about CCTA’s recommendations for regulatory reform

Broadcast | April 25, 2002

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