Commission gives CRFC plan provisional pass

The CRTC announced Wednesday that it approved a structural and operational plan submitted by the Community Radio Fund of Canada (CRFC), subject to certain amendments. In a previous decision on campus and community radio policy, the commission determined that the CRFC would administer Cancon contributions from commercial radio broadcasters with annual revenues higher than $1.25 million. But the CRFC’s access to the contributions was contingent on it providing a plan for governing the fund. Seven commercial broadcasters, including Astral Media Radio Inc., Bell Media Inc. and Rogers Media Inc., submitted a joint comment in the proceeding. The commission determined that commercial radio broadcasters could nominate one representative to the CRFC’s board of directors, as long as the individual isn’t currently associated with a commercial radio broadcaster. The commission denied a request from the commercial broadcasters to limit available sources of funding, saying that “to limit the CRFC to the administration of funds from commercial radio broadcasters would limit its further growth as well as its ability to meet the ongoing and changing needs of campus and community radio.” The CRTC also said that CRFC projects funded from Canadian content development initiatives will have to demonstrate a “measurable improvement” in their operations or programming. The measurement of improvements will be determined by such indicators as the number of volunteers logged or the number of interviews broadcast. The commission directed the CRFC to submit a revised plan containing amendments no later than Aug. 22, 2011. The commission also holds the right to review the structure and performance of the approved plan within three years.

Commission gives CRFC plan provisional pass

Brief | July 20, 2011

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