Today, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) shared its plan for implementing Bill C-18, the Online News Act, starting with the launch of public consultations this fall.

CRTC is inviting industry representatives, affected parties and the public to comment on how the bargaining and arbitration process with news outlets will work; the eligibility process for news organizations; a potential code of conduct to support fair negotiations; and the range of data the CRTC should be compelled to collect under the Act. The commission says those comments will help inform the bargaining framework and subsequently the CRTC’s decision.

In addition, they will also issue a call for proposals for an independent auditor, who will prepare an annual report on the impact of the Act on Canada’s digital news marketplace.