OTTAWA, January 29, 2015 – The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) commends the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s decision to require local television stations to maintain over-the-air (OTA) signals.
“Over-the-air television is an important, affordable alternative for all Canadians, and we’re pleased that the CRTC has recognized that,” said John Lawford, Executive Director and Counsel to PIAC. “There was strong public opposition to shutting down OTA transmitters, and the Commission listened to Canadians.”
At the CRTC’s Let’s Talk TV hearing last September, PIAC in a coalition with other public interest organizations advocated for the importance of local television, and opposed allowing any local stations to shut down their over-the-air television transmitters.
“The CRTC recognized that holding an over-the-air local station licence gives a broadcaster many privileges, including a spot in the basic television package and simultaneous substitution. To benefit from those privileges while shutting down over-the-air TV would be unfair to all Canadians,” said Alysia Lau, Legal Counsel at PIAC.
PIAC participated in Let’s Talk TV in a coalition with other organizations named the Groups for the Public Interest. The Groups also included the:
- Canadian Ethnocultural Council;
- Consumers’ Association of Canada;
- Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of British Columbia;
- National Pensioners Federation; and
- Option consommateurs
PIAC cautions the public however that the spectrum used to deliver over the air television presently is being reviewed by Industry Canada and that Canadians should voice their opinions to the government.Read the CRTC decision here: Over-the-air transmission of television signals and local
programming
For more information please contact:
Alysia Lau
Legal Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)
(613) 562-4002 ×38
alau@piac.ca
www.piac.ca
John Lawford
Executive Director & General Counsel
Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC)
(613) 562-4002 ×25
Mobile (613) 447-8125
lawford@piac.ca
www.piac.ca