ARCHIVED - Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

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Section II - Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome

Strategic Outcome 1.0

 

Program Activity 1.1: Canadian Broadcasting

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Program Activity: Canadian Broadcasting

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ millions)
2010-11		2011-12		2012-13
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
133	17.5	133	17.5	133	17.5

Program Activity Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets
The Canadian broadcasting system consists of a variety of voices that represent Canada's linguistic and cultural diversity	Level of Canadian content throughout the television and radio media.	Thirty-five percent of radio selections are Canadian and 60%15 of conventional television content is Canadian.
	The levels of diversity of voices, as measured in the CRTC Monitoring Report, for radio and conventional television.	No more than 70% of the radio market shares (measured by revenue) shall be held by the five largest private radio operators. No more than 75% of the conventional television market shares (measured by revenue) shall be held by the four largest English-language private conventional television ownership groups. No more than 60 % of the conventional television market shares (measured by revenue) shall be held by the two largest French-language private conventional television ownership groups.
Canadians continue to have access to the broadcasting system through traditional and new platforms.	Over-the-air broadcasters successfully managed transition from analog to digital transmission to ensure access for all Canadians.	All over-the-air television broadcasters in urban areas have achieved transition from analog to digital transmission. All over-the-air broadcasters in rural areas have alternate solutions in place to ensure access to digital signals.

Canada Economic Action Plan

No elements of Canada's Economic Action Plan support this program activity.

Planning Highlights

Implementation of the Broadcasting Distribution Undertaking and Specialty Services Policy

The CRTC announced new policies and proceedings¹⁶ to ensure its regulatory framework for cable, direct-to-home satellite distribution and specialty undertakings is appropriate for a multi-platform digital environment. The majority of related changes will come into effect on August 31, 2011. Throughout 2010–11, the CRTC will implement these policies in preparation for the August 2011 deadline. The updated regulatory framework for distributors and specialty programming services will ensure that Canadians continue to have access to a wide variety of high-quality Canadian programming.

Accessibility Policy

In the next three years, as television and radio licences are issued and renewed, the CRTC will continue to implement the requirements of, and follow up on the processes set out in, its regulatory policy on the accessibility of broadcasting and telecommunications services to persons with disabilities.¹⁷ Activities under this program activity will ensure, for example, improved access for persons with disabilities to described video and closed captioning.

Community Television Review and Community and Campus Radio Review

The CRTC will hold two public hearings in 2010. One to review the CRTC's policy for campus and community radio and the other to review its policy for community television. The CRTC will implement the revised policies through conditions of licence and changes to the Radio Regulations, the Television Regulations and the Distribution Regulations. The new policies will ensure that the community sector of broadcasting makes a strong contribution to the achievement of the Broadcasting Act's objectives.

Local Programming Improvement Fund (LPIF)¹⁸

In 2009–10, the CRTC established the LPIF to maintain the quality of local television programming in non-metropolitan television markets across Canada. The fund is independently administered and requires financial information and eligibility assessment from the CRTC. The Terms and Conditions of the LPIF have been established for 2009–10 and are subject to review by the CRTC in 2010–11. The CRTC will also establish a reporting system to provide the fund's administrator with the information necessary to receive contributions and make disbursements.

Monitoring

In 2010–11, the CRTC will monitor the financial and market performance of the Canadian communications industry and its participants. As a follow up to its renew media,¹⁹ the CRTC will hold a public proceeding to establish requirements and standards for collecting information on new media broadcasting. This process will allow for a better measurement and understanding of the impact of broadcasting in new media.

As part of its monitoring activity, the CRTC verifies regulatory compliance and ensures that broadcasters meet their licensing conditions. In addition, the CRTC plans to release its new Radio Market report that will provide statistical and financial data covering a five-year period for the radio sector, by market size, and support a more efficient means to assess radio licence applications.

Benefits for Canadians

The broadcasting industry is an essential element of the Canadian economy, in addition of being a pillar of the cultural, information and entertainment landscapes. While the global economic downturn puts pressure on the industry, Canadians continue to enjoy important benefits, such as:

• more than 32,700 Canadians employed by the broadcasting industry
• new mechanisms that support local programming
• timely and efficient complaints-resolution mechanisms
• a diversity of voices within the Canadian communications industry
• enhanced access by persons with disabilities to television programming
• better and increasing access to television programming in digital and high-definition formats
• meaningful relationships with Canadian and international regulatory policy-makers to benefit from best practices
• a flexible and forward-looking regulatory framework that responds to evolving consumer needs and industry realities, and
• access to high-quality diverse Canadian programming from the private, public and community elements of the Canadian broadcasting system.

Program Activity 1.2: Canadian Telecommunications

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Program Activity: Canadian Telecommunications

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ millions)
2010-11		2011-12		2012-13
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
130	14.1	130	14.1	130	14.1

Program Activity Expected Results	Performance Indicators	Targets
Canadians have access to a choice of service providers that offer reliable telephone and other high-quality telecommunications services at reasonable rates.	Access to increased local competition.	A 2% increase in the residential phone lines served by competitors to the incumbent telephone companies.
	Increase in local-exchange service rates for a given year.	Increases in local-exchange service rates are limited to the rate of inflation.
	The number of quality-of-service complaints.	Maintain a maximum threshold of 10,000 quality-related complaints received.
Increased reliance on competitive market forces to implement the Telecommunications Act's policy objectives.	Number of existing regulatory measures reviewed.	At least five existing regulatory measures to be reviewed with the goal of streamlining processes and increasing reliance on market forces.
	The percentage of total telecommunications revenues not subject to regulation.	Maintain a minimum threshold of 90% of telecommunications service revenues derived from deregulated services.

Canada's Economic Action Plan

The CRTC Broadband Mapping Initiatives

The CRTC will build on its three-year broadband mapping initiatives, which are partially funded by Canada's Economic Action Plan, to identify broadband Internet access across Canada. This initiative supports Industry Canada's $225-million broadband expansion program. The CRTC will also study the availability of broadband mobile services. In 2010–11 and 2011–12, the CRTC will map Canada's broadband infrastructure by collecting data on broadband speeds available across the country. This data is essential to determine the extent to which Canadians can benefit from broadband Internet connections and the resulting access to existing and new business models and applications in areas such as health care, education, entertainment, communications and commerce. 

Planning Highlights

Internet Traffic Management Practices (ITMPs)

As dians use the Internet for a wider variety of communications purposes than ever before, the CRTC must strike an appropriate balance between serving the public interest and supporting Internet service providers' (ISP's) need to innovate and protect their networks from congestion. In 2010–11, the CRTC will review the practices of ISPs in response to any complaints it receives, or if it considers it necessary.²⁰ These reviews will ensure that Canadians continue to have access to high-quality Internet services.

Review of the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS)

In 2010–11, the CRTC will hold a public proceeding to review the mandatory membership requirement related to the Commissioner for Complaints for Telecommunications Services, as well as the agency's mandate, structure and effectiveness. As indicated in 2007,²¹ the review is necessary to ensure the CCTS meets its mandate to resolve residential and small-business retail customers' complaints and to develop industry codes of conduct and standards. The CRTC will monitor the CCTS's progress through 2011–12 and beyond.

National Do Not Call List (DNCL)

In 2008, the CRTC launched the National DNCL to reduce the number of unwanted telemarketing calls Canadians receive and help ensure the privacy of Canadians. In 2010–11, subject to the receipt of incremental funding,²² the CRTC plans to continue to:

• manage the National DNCL Operator
• submit its annual report to Parliament
• investigate complaints and enforce the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules, and
• educate telemarketers and consumers about the National DNCL and associated rules.

Accessibility Policy

In 2010–11, the CRTC will implement the requirements for telecommunications undertakings and follow-up processes set out in the regulatory policy to improve accessibility of broadcasting and telecommunications services to persons with disabilities.²³ Activities under this program activity will ensure, among other things, improved access for persons with disabilities to relay services, mobile wireless handsets, and customer information and support.

Monitoring Activities

In 2010–11, the CRTC will monitor the financial and market performance of the Canadian communications industry and its participants, as well as the deployment of broadband facilities and capabilities. The CRTC will assess the extent to which Canadians have access to advanced telecommunications services, particularly mobile broadband wireless services. The CRTC will continue to work with Statistics Canada to streamline data-reporting requirements and procedures for the industries. The CRTC will release its annual Communications Monitoring Report.

Telecommunications Regulations Review

A focused and modernized regulatory framework enables telecommunications service providers to operate under fewer and more current regulations, and helps the industry function in a competitive environment. In 2010–11, the CRTC will review economic, non-economic, and social telecommunications regulatory measures raised by the industry in light of the December 2006 Governor in Council's Policy Direction.²⁴ Some of the measures the CRTC will review include the local-service subsidy regime, the obligation to serve, and the basic service objective. The CRTC will also consider the appropriateness of implementing local competition in small incumbent local exchange carriers' territories.

Dispute Resolution

As competition becomes more intense in a converged environment with less regulation and greater reliance on market forces, the CRTC's role in resolving disputes is expected to grow in the coming years. The CRTC encourages parties to resolve their differences through private third-party mediation or arbitration, bilateral negotiations or other means, without CRTC participation. When these means do not resolve matters, parties may come to the CRTC for staff-assisted mediation, final-offer arbitration or expedited hearings. Streamlined dispute-resolution tools contribute to a more effective, predictable and efficient regulatory framework for entities, and improved services to Canadians.

International Outreach

In 2010–11, the CRTC will continue its international outreach and information-sharing initiatives to understand the evolving economic, social and regulatory landscape of communications services in an increasingly globalized context. The CRTC will apply experience from other jurisdictions to Canadian challenges and ensure Canada's position is represented internationally by sharing best practices, participating in joint research projects and collaborating on Canadian-industry data collection exercises.

Benefits for Canadians

Through its regulatory and monitoring activities, the CRTC ensures that all Canadians enjoy reliable, affordable and high-quality telecommunications services across the country. Where the CRTC is satisfied that the marketplace is competitive—and consumers are protected—the CRTC relies on market forces to the maximum extent possible. Where market forces do not protect consumers, the CRTC regulates with appropriate measures. The telecommunications industry is a vital element of the Canadian economy.

The telecommunications industry offers the following benefits to Canadians:

• employment for approximately 110,000²⁵ Canadians
• greater privacy protection through the National DNCL
• a wide range of services that connect Canadian citizens and businesses
• greater confidence in e-commerce through the introduction of the ECPA²⁶
• assurance that rates for telecommunications services are reasonable
• assurance that the Canadian emergency-service system keeps pace with new technology via 911 service improvements
• recourse for complaints about telecommunications services in deregulated areas through the CCTS, and
• greater choice and pricing flexibility for telecommunications services through increased competition.

In addition, Canadian telecommunications compare favourably with those in other countries.²⁷ For example, Canada has the highest proportion of households with broadband connections among G7 countries, and residential local and long-distance service prices in Canada are among the lowest of the 30 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.²⁸

Program Activity 1.3: Internal Services

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Program Activity: Internal Services

Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ millions)
2010-11		2011-12		2012-13
FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending	FTEs	Planned Spending
162	16.5	162	16.5	162	16.5

Program Activity expected results	Performance indicators	Targets
The CRTC incorporates a new, streamlined regulatory framework and reporting process for industry.	Streamlined reporting mechanism for industry.	Comments from stakeholders confirm fewer reporting obligations and better adapted processes.
	A final, streamlined set of regulations.	Industry consultation process completed and comments analyzed. The final set of regulations was submitted to the Department of Justice for approval. Adoption of a new regulatory framework.
The CRTC is an innovative, expert and effective organization.	Successful implementation of CRTC's continuity plan as part of the Public Service Renewal Action Plan.	Talent development plans are in place for all employees. All leadership positions have been filled.
	Modernize employee desktop operating system.	Increased employee satisfaction .
	Greening of CRTC operations.	Thirty percent of public hearings are now conducted electronically, reducing the need for paper documents during public hearings.

Canada's Economic Action Plan

In 2010-11, the CRTC will draw on the fund created to increase student hiring in the federal public service to hire 5 to 10 students.

Planning Highlights

Implementation of the settlement between the Government of Canada and members of the broadcasting industry on Part II broadcasting licence fees received by the CRTC

Part II licence fees are regulatory charges for the privilege of holding a broadcasting licence and recover part of the significant annual investment by the Government of Canada in the Canadian broadcasting system. Following the October 7, 2009 announcement of a settlement between the Government of Canada and members of the broadcasting industry regarding Part II broadcasting licence fees, the CRTC is developing a new fee regime, for the broadcasting year commencing on September 1, 2009. In 2010-11, the CRTC will continue its work, including a public process²⁹ to amending the Broadcasting Licence Fee Regulations, 1997, to have the new regulation in effect rapidly and licence fees due and payable on December 1, 2010.

Enhanced Information Technology (IT) Management

In 2010–11, the CRTC will harmonize its IT planning process to reduce complexity, promote system integration and optimize service delivery. Through various internal initiatives, the CRTC will improve its electronic communication capabilities, implement an integrated case-management system, increase access for Canadians to a broad range of information and develop an IT risk-management program and governance model.

Public Service Renewal

The CRTC is making progress in its efforts toward the Public Service Renewal exercise. Nearly 30 percent of the CRTC's workforce is eligible to retire in the next five years. As a result, the CRTC has initiated a detailed action plan to help attract, develop and retain dynamic, skilled and effective employees. In 2010–11, the CRTC will continue with important initiatives such as leadership-development training, job standardization, and professional development and training.

Greening of Public Hearings Related Processes

In 2010–11, the CRTC will continue to offer online access to all hearings-related files. It will also adopt a secure method for submitting and distributing all official documentation related to public hearings. These processes will allow shorter, more efficient and environmentally responsible procedures, enhancing the CRTC's services to commissioners and the public, and reducing costs.

Benefits for Canadians

• The CRTC's processes are transparent and efficient.
• Once implemented, the streamlined and focused rules will be well adapted to new technologies.
• The new fee regime for broadcasters will provide stability and predictability for the industry, and protect the interests of Canadians.
• Improved electronic communications capabilities allow for better service and access for Canadians.
• Greener practices reduce costs, enhance effectiveness and reduce environmental impact.

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