The Canadian Radio-Television Commission (CRTC) 
is launching a study to reassess their role in digital media broadcasting. Next year.
After spending the last several months gathering information, the CRTC is prepared to hold a series of public hearings starting on the 17th…..of February. Better late than never, I suppose.
The CRTC originally decided almost a decade ago that information on the internet was exempt from the Commission’s regulations. A lot has changed since 1999, though, and with the lines between traditional and digital broadcasts becoming increasingly blurry, the CRTC has decided to take a second look at their involvement with broadcasting on the web.
At the rate they’re going, though, by the time they’ve reached a decision digital broadcasting will have evolved even further.
At any rate, the CRTC is looking for Canadians’ feedback on, among other things, the following:
-The definition of broadcasting in new media
-The significance of broadcasting in new media, and its impact on traditional media, and
-The “appropriateness” of the Commission’s exemption orders for new media and mobile broadcasting services.
That last one is particularly interesting. It almost sounds like the CRTC feels the need to bring some order to the Wild Wild Web. Or, at the very least, some Canadian content rules to what’s being broadcast through your PC.
We’ll keep our eyes on this as it (very slowly) unfolds.
