Dr. Alex Himelfarb
Clerk of the Privy Council &
Secretary to the Cabinet
Langevin Block
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A3
Dear Dr. Himelfarb:
On behalf of our respective organizations, and as provided for in Subsection 28 (1) of the Broadcasting Act, we the undersigned respectfully petition the Governor in Council to set aside or refer back to the CRTC for reconsideration and hearing two of its decisions on subscription radio issued on June 16th, 2005 (2005-246 & 2005-247).
We will shortly submit evidence and argument that the above decisions derogate from the attainment of the objectives of the broadcasting policy set out in Subsection 3 (1) of the Act.
Yours sincerely,
Stephen Waddell
ACTRA
Brian Chater
Canadian Independent Record Production Association
Peter Murdoch
Communications, Energy & Paperworkers Union of Canada
Pamela Brand
Directors Guild of Canada
Ian Morrison
Friends of Canadian Broadcasting
Melissa Kaestner
National Campus & Community Radio Association
Paul Spurgeon
SOCAN
Catharine Bird
Songwriters Association of Canada
Maureen Parker
Writers Guild of Canada
cc: Secretary-General, CRTC
Canadian Satellite Radio Inc.
SIRIUS Canada Inc.
June 16, 2005 - FRIENDS Press Release: CRTC and CBC attempt to subvert Parliament
Today's CRTC decision on pay radio runs counter to the Broadcasting Act and Parliament's goal of ensuring Canadian programs are predominant on Canadian airwaves, according to the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.
* * *
June 27, 2005 - TelecomWeb: Analysts Expect Sirius, XM To Move Forward In Canada
FRIENDS notes that the broadcasting licenses issued to U.S. satellite broadcasters require them to meet much lower Canadian content requirements than conventional radio broadcasters.
June 20, 2005 - Billboard Radio Magazine: Groups Oppose CRTC Sat Radio Ruling by Bram Teitelman
Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, along with several other arts groups, says it will appeal CRTC ruling on subscription radio.
June 18, 2005 - The Edmonton Journal: Plenty of static over CRTC licence ruling by Paul Brent
Arts groups say they will appeal CRTC ruling on satellite radio over lax Canadian content regulation.
June 18, 2005 - Windsor Star: CRTC ruling appealed
FRIENDS says at least one appeal from cultural groups is likely following CRTC pay radio decision.
June 18, 2005 - Montreal Gazette: Pay-radio appeals likely by John McKay, Gary Norris and Kevin Dougherty
Quebec government fears pay radio ruling a threat to Quebec culture; satellite operators dismiss news of appeals.
June 18, 2005 - St. Catharines Standard: Appeals coming to CRTC ruling on satellite radio by John McKay and Gary Norris
A half-dozen arts organizations agreed in a conference call Friday to appeal the CRTC pay radio decision to the federal Cabinet or the courts.
June 18, 2005 - Globe & Mail: CSR owner says IPO 'imminent' by Richard Bloom
Canadian partner in U.S. satellite radio licensee plans IPO; FRIENDS and other groups plan appeal of CRTC licensing decision.
June 17, 2005 - CBC News: Appeal planned against satellite radio decision
Friends of Canadian Broadcasting to be joined by other arts groups in appealing CRTC ruling on subscription radio.
June 17, 2005 - Canadian Press: CRTC pay radio ruling prompts appeal
FRIENDS says there will be one or more appeals of CRTC pay radio ruling.
June 17, 2005 - Toronto Star: CRTC likely to make its rules stick by Antonia Zerbisias
Canadian Association of Broadcasters complains that CRTC pay radio decision creates an uneven playing field for conventional radio broadcasters in terms of Canadian content requirements.
June 17, 2005 - Canadian Press: Pay radio licences approved by John Ward
FRIENDS says CRTC decision to approve two U.S. satellite pay radio services is likely to scuttle the Canadian alternative proposed by CHUM and Astral.
June 17, 2005 - Communications Daily: Regulators Give XM and Sirius Go-Ahead in Canada by Adrianne Kroepsch
FRIENDS says the Canadian content requirements contained in the CRTC's pay radio decision are inconsistent with the Broadcasting Act.
June 17, 2005 - Vancouver Sun: Stores eagerly anticipate satellite radio by Gillian Shaw
Arts organizations, including FRIENDS, to consider potential appeal of CRTC pay radio decision.
June 17, 2005 - Toronto Star: Radio ruling draws static from CHUM-Astral team by Graham Fraser
Licensing of two U.S. pay radio services with low Canadian content requirements means CHUM/Astral pay radio service may not launch; conventional broadcasters suggest they will seek lower Cancon requirements; FRIENDS says CRTC (and CBC, a minority partner in one of the U.S. services) have opened the floodgates to American radio programming.
June 16, 2005 - CBC News: CRTC approves satellite radio
FRIENDS says CRTC pay radio decision creates pipeline for U.S. radio programs into Canada, but offers little in return.
June 16, 2005 - Communications Daily: CRTC Decision Due Thurs. on XM, Sirius in Canada by Adrianne Kroepsch
CRTC pay radio decision is fundamentally about the integrity of Canadian content requirements.
June 16, 2005 - Canadian Press: Pay-radio decision expected today
FRIENDS believes watered down Canadian content requirements, sought by two of the three applicants for pay radio licences, would have spillover effects for conventional radio.
June 13, 2005 - FMQB: Canada Deciding Satellite Radio Fate This Week
The CRTC will shortly decide on three applications for pay radio licences; Friends of Canadian Broadcasting supports the CHUM/Astral application because it is the only one that complies with Broadcasting Act Canadian content requirements.
June 10, 2005 - Canadian Press: Key CRTC ruling on subscription radio applications coming next Thursday
CRTC to rule on pay radio this week; FRIENDS says only one of the three applicants would meet Broadcasting Act requirements.
June 6, 2005 - Toronto Star: Pay-radio hungry for CRTC nod by M. Corey Goldman
FRIENDS speculates the CRTC will find it difficult to please all stakeholders in its forthcoming digital pay radio decision.
