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Radio
CRTC Removes Radio Licensing Terms, Instates New Administrative Changes to ‘Reduce Regulatory Burden’
In an announcement last week, the commission shared its plans to modernize the radio process, following last month's hearings on the updated Broadcasting Act.
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The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is updating its radio policies.
In a recent announcement, the commission shared multiple changes it plans to enact within the industry to reduce “the regulatory burden,” while implementing the modernized Broadcasting Act.
CRTC is removing traditional broadcast terms for radio stations, meaning licenses will no longer have expiry dates. Instead of yearly renewals, the commission will now conduct regular audits for stations, which it says will more efficiently address non-compliance issues.
This is part of the CRTCs' plans to introduce flexibility and simplify radio licensing. Other changes include streamlining the process for obtaining a licence for a developmental station, making it easier for new licensees to enter the market.
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The CRTC will also introduce a one-year trial, allowing stations to simulcast spoken word content from an AM station on the FM band within the same market without changing format.
The commission acknowledges that the radio station industry is in a transitional period. As the platform adjusts to the growing presence of streaming services, the commission says, radio still represents a major part of Canadians’ listening habits, allowing them to retain local news, discover new artists, interact with hosts and make their voices heard, evoking a sense of connection within communities.
“Radio helps keep communities informed, entertained, and connected,” says commission chair Vicky Eatrides. “The CRTC is reducing the administrative burden on radio stations so that they have more time to deliver news and music to their communities.”
Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) president Kevin Desjardins tells Broadcast Dialogue that the decision “offers steps in the right direction.”
“It will be vital to the success of Canadian radio for the Commission to follow up these initial steps to modernize its administrative processes and to reduce regulatory burden through consequential changes as part of their current audio policy hearing,” he concludes.
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Last month, the Canadian music industry weighed in on the benefits of supporting CanCon in response to the CRTC’s once-in-a-generation update to the Broadcasting Act.
Throughout the non-consecutive five days of hearings, speakers from SiriusXM Canada, Amazon, Nettwerk Music Group and CBC/Radio Canada and more took to the stand to discuss how CanCon regulations can in support of the changes taking place in the music industry and the Canadian broadcasting system, including the rise of streaming services, the decline of radio broadcasting, alongside increasing support for Indigenous music and diverse Canadian artists.
In its notice of consultation, the CRTC said streamers should “contribute to the discoverability of Canadian, French-language and Indigenous music either through financial contributions or through initiatives targeting the promotion and exposure of these songs to their users.”
Learn more about the CRTC’s changes to radio broadcasting here.
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