CRTC Satellite Radio Ruling Stands

Telecom News Editorials Reports Glossary

1:10 am on September 12, 2005 | Category: Wireless Technology, Regulation

The federal Liberal government decided on Friday to uphold the CRTC’s decision to legalize subscription-based satellite radio. After a heated two hour meeting, a federal committee rejected a controversial appeal to the ruling, which was launched by the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, and the Canadian Recording Industry Association last month.

Ian Morrison, an active member of the appeal campaign, called the meeting “a sad day for Canadian content.” He believes that since satellite radio stations are able to bundle American programming with subscriptions, conventional radio broadcasters will want Ottawa to reduce minimum Canadian content requirements, to allow them to compete. There have been no indications, however, that any such reductions are planned.

Kevin Shea, who is the head of Sirrius Canada, one of the companies who received a satellite radio licensee, claims that the committee’s decision is a good one, which allows more opportunities for consumers and artists alike. “If (the government) had said no to this, it would have been like saying no to the Internet,” he commented.

Links: CRTC, Canada, Satellite Radio, Recording Industry, Music, Canadian Content, Broadcasting, Satellite, Radio.

1 Comment »

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI

[…] After much indecision, the federal government finally came to the decision that the appeal was without merit, and allowed the earlier ruling to stand. […]

Pingback by Satellite Radio: The Birth of an Industry » Satellite Communication News — October 18, 2005 #