P1
POLICY REPORT
OTHER
September 3, 1996
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT: Submission to CRTC re New Television Broadcast Licence
RECOMMENDATION
A. THAT Council endorse the attached letter to the CRTC and its
presentation to the hearings on a new broadcast television
licence, with such amendments and additions as Council
considers desirable.
B. THAT if Recommendation A is approved, Council direct whether
the presentation should be made by staff, or select a member
of Council to present the City's position.
CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS
A number of Council members have been contacted by applicants for a
television broadcast licence. While City practice has been not to
endorse a particular applicant or make any submission to the CRTC,
Council has recently adopted a policy to take a leadership role in
the telecommunications area. While respecting the practice of not
endorsing a particular applicant, a letter has been sent to the
CRTC outlining general City interests in this regard and indicating
an intent to appear before the Commission. The City's appearance
and the content of the submission is subject to Council's decision
today.
COUNCIL POLICY
There is no existing policy applicable to this matter.
Council is the appropriate body to establish corporate policy in the
telecommunications area.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this report is to seek Council's endorsement for a
submission to the CRTC setting out interests that the City believes the
CRTC should take into consideration in determining whether to issue a
new licence, and criteria for selecting an applicant.
BACKGROUND
The last CRTC hearing for a broadcast television licence in this area
was held in 1978. Since that time, the City and region have changed
dramatically. There is an opportunity through the issuance of a new
licence to ensure broadcasting with greater local relevance and support
for local production capability and cultural talents.
DISCUSSION
The attached self explanatory letter outlines a proposed presentation
to the CRTC in support of City interests in this regard. It focuses on
seven issues:
1. An additional station should be approved.
2. The successful applicant should be required to purchase a high
proportion of locally produced material.
3. Public affairs programming be properly funded and be regional in
nature.
4. A significant portion of the programming effort should be directed
to and about our cultural communities.
5. A successful applicant should make every effort to market locally
produced material across Canada.
6. The Commission should require strong and independent local
management from the successful applicant.
7. The Commission should set hard dollar and program time requirements
based on these criteria for the successful applicant.
These criteria are proposed to ensure that the community gains
significant benefits from a new broadcast licence.
ALTERNATIVES
Council could choose to endorse the submission recommended in this
report, modify it to delete parts or to add comments, or maintain its
past practice of making no submission in this area.
IMPLICATIONS
There are no financial or personnel issues for the City associated with
this report. If Council approves this report, and the Commission
accepts the arguments in the attached letter, the community should
receive benefits through more appropriate programming and enhancement of
local cultural and production capabilities.
CONCLUSION
It is appropriate for Council to take a position on the issuance of a
new broadcast television licence, and suggest the criteria by which an
application should be reviewed to obtain maximum benefit for the
community.
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