The need to modernize radio processes and reduce regulatory burdens on radio broadcasters has led Canadian broadcast authorities to make radio broadcast licenses open-ended with no expiration dates.
The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) says this deregulation will “save stations time and money on renewals.”
The CRTC, which says it had been processing around 300 license renewals a year, hopes to help radio in what it calls “a period of transition for terrestrial broadcasting.” It says, despite challenges, radio remains crucial for entertaining, informing, discovering new artists and ensuring that local voices are heard in Canada.
“Radio helps keep communities informed, entertained and connected,” said Vicky Eatrides, chairperson and CEO of the CRTC. “The CRTC is reducing the administrative burden on radio stations so that they have more time to deliver news and music to their communities.”
Previously, the maximum license term in Canada was seven years, regardless of the type of station. The CRTC said “the renewal process was a lengthy one, with licensees filing their renewal applications approximately one year before the expiry date of the license.”
The CRTC says this new framework will be phased in as renewals take place for existing stations.
The rule changes — approved last Friday — also give Canadian broadcasters permission to simulcast AM content on FM frequencies within the same market, albeit only for a one-year trial period.
After the one-year trial period, CRTC says, licensees will either have to revert to their original programming and cease simulcasting, or submit an application to revoke the AM license.
In addition, the government agency is streamlining its processes for obtaining a license for a “developmental” station in Canada, making it easier for new licensees to enter the market. It’s also simplifying the process for stations that wish to go from low power to full power.
The commission says it will make sure broadcasters are following its rules by conducting regular, simplified audits.
“Indefinite licenses will require a shift in the commission’s approach to monitoring, since it is presently typically done at license renewal; indefinite license terms will not affect the commission’s ability to deal with non-compliance as it can review compliance at any time,” it said in the statement announcing the changes.
The CRTC’s decision last week did not address a request from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters to grant radio broadcasters a reduction in the Canadian content percentages for music across all radio stations.
A CRTC spokesperson told Radio World in an email that the commission will be holding a separate public hearing to “review some of the regulatory tools currently used to support the creation, presentation and discoverability of Canadian and Indigenous music and audio content.”
The CRTC has been in the process of modernizing Canada’s broadcasting framework, similar to what its counterpart in the United States is in the process of carrying out. The FCC is considering a reset of radio ownership rules after opening a review. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has made it a priority to reduce the regulatory burden on broadcasters.
