Commentary: CAB decision to abandon CRTC in favour of political lobbying a “mistake”

The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) believes it can find a more sympathetic ear from federal politicians and senior bureaucrats than from the CRTC when it comes to influencing copyright and broadcasting policy. But to direct our industry's attention away from an informed and independent CRTC and towards quixotic politicians is a mistake. Last week the CAB announced its decision to restructure the association "as a streamlined and effective advocacy association representing private radio and television broadcasters to the federal government. The renewed organization will operate with reduced resources and a more focused approach to advocacy relating to broadcasting sector policies and copyright matters." In short, the CAB has decided that it will no longer file regulatory submissions with the CRTC, appear at CRTC hearings or lobby CRTC staff and commissioners. Rather, future lobbying efforts will target decision makers on Parliament Hill. Granted, these are truly unprecedented times with regard to market failure and technological change. And while it's important to recognize that the CAB leadership had every good intention of being responsible and changing with the times, sometimes very good intentions give rise to bad consequences. As a CAB committee chair, former senior VP of the CAB, and a former board member, I'd invite some sober second thought during this transitional phase. And as a small and independent broadcaster, I have to raise my hand and say this "new" CAB may be a folly. To direct our media industry's attention away from an informed and independent CRTC and towards quixotic politicians is a mistake. Yes, it is important to inform and befriend our democratically elected representatives and their staff. However in a hockey game you don't want on-ice, skilled and informed referees and linesmen replaced by remote NHL owners from Nashville and Florida carving up the bounty amongst friends - indeed those guys probably think "icing the puck" is a new martini. So, in short, I don't think public policy should become the domain of private dinners at Hy's in Ottawa. The CRTC is perhaps the most open and public regulatory process in the country. Because of it, we have a unique Canadian broadcasting system; and one of the best if not THE best broadcasting system in the world. Instead of undermining the CRTC, we as broadcasters should be supporting it and helping it secure the talent and resources to do a better job in challenging times. The CRTC should have more research capacity, more ability to stay current with fast-paced technological and cultural trends, and more ability to nurture institutional memory. To put our industry's eggs into the basket of an ADM at Canadian Heritage that last week was a director general at Fisheries and next year will be a DM in Northern Affairs seems cracked. Admittedly, our large and integrated media companies, especially those with BDU connections, have now amply bulked up on regulatory hired guns. I think one of the BDU entities probably has more Ottawa lobbyists than S-VOX has employees! They don't need a conflicted CAB to muddle that process any longer - and I appreciate and understand that. Private companies with shareholder and investor expectations, and owner demands, have a legitimate responsibility to focus their intentions and consequences on profit margins, quarterly stock broker reports and the EBITDA metric. Of course the "new" CAB will be able to access ministers on appointments for friends of those big media companies, and most likely they will be chummy with deregulation as well. However, I have yet to meet a minister (even those special people who once worked in our world) who really, and objectively, understood the history, pace and detail of our complex media environment. Without the best and authoritative CRTC referee we'd have a brawling goon show of survival of the fittest that would make "Survivor" look like high art. Putting our lobby focus on ideologically motivated politicians of any stripe invites the kind of interference and influence mischief that often ends up with jail terms. History and current events tell us a profound story. Deregulating infrastructure industries is not healthy and not sustainable, except for a very few who make off in their Lear jets. Unregulated, those markets are motivated by greed alone and fail us as citizens and consumers and erode democracy - and that can happen in our media lives as well. Predatory de-regulation to benefit a select group of large players is what Russian oligarchs are all about - and how is that working for us lately? Assuredly, hanging out with Parliament Hill types is a thrill. Our elected MPs are courageous and command our respect and appreciation for their commitment to public service. But they can't be expected to care for constituents or portfolios, and also be experts on the genesis and intricacies of Canadian broadcasting in the digital era. As a small and independent broadcaster, I'd just like our CAB leadership to have a moment's pause before we set this new course in concrete. I don't want it to sink us. The fine ecology of our broadcasting system embraces quintessentially Canadian small entities that wonderfully complement our behemoth cousins. Only Canada would offer us APTN, TV5 and VisionTV - those modest beacons of the Canadian difference will not come from Mobile, Alabama. As the tea advertisement once said, "Only in Canada eh, Pity!" Or as Heather Riesman boosts on her bookstores "The world needs more Canada". And with utmost respect, to my mind, our CAB should be making that consonant pitch too. Bill Roberts is president/CEO of S-VOX (formerly the VisionTV group of channels). Previously, he worked as secretary general of the North American Broadcasters Association, as senior VP television at the CAB and as a senior policy analyst with the CRTC.

Commentary: CAB decision to abandon CRTC in favour of political lobbying a “mistake”

News | 02/02/2009 7:57 pm EST

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