Silly Little Country

Geist on the CRTC Hearinga

I watched a good bit of the hearings last week (on-line!) and realized only as the week went on that there were many more things being discussed than a simple surtax on cable and satellite providers, as had been suggested by the initial rent-seeking activity of both sides of the debate, the annoying and moronic ads running by both sides.
Michael Geist has a fine summary of all of the points in The Star.

Fee for carriage is only part of the story, as broadcasters are also seeking to: block U.S. signals; leave some Canadian communities without over-the-air television; and delay the transition to digital television transmission until 2013.

He discusses the requests in somedetail.
My own summary - the request is to reduce the level of current service to customers of the broadcast company, and regulate thee price upwards. This is at least better than what the Obamacare proposals seem to be - reduce choice and many aspects of quality in health insurance offerings, and then force everyone (except illegal aliens) to buy a policy. At least I can cancel my cable subscriptions.
Well, the hearings are not over yet.

posted by Alan Adamson @ 8:17 PM