Public airwaves for ALL Canadians

The CRTC, the federal broadcast regulator, is proposing that only 29 large cities continue to get free, over-the-air TV service after the transition to digital in 2011.

This would leave 11 million Canadians who live in smaller cities, towns and rural areas with no other option but to pay for cable or satellite to watch even their local or regional TV stations.

This undermines the purpose of the Canadian broadcasting system that we have built over 50 years. We cannot allow this to happen.

Take Action! Send your letter to Heritage Minister James Moore.

Tell me more

Talking Points

Please visit the Canadian Media Guild site to learn details about free TV in Canada.

(You can edit the letter below as much as you like. If you live in one of the areas due to be cut off, please be sure to add that near the top.)

Subject:

Dear Minister Moore,

(Edit Letter Below)

You need to tell the CRTC to rethink its approval of a plan that would cut 11 million Canadians out of access to free, over-the-air TV signals.

This is a big country with a diversity of regions and population. Canadians have always made an effort to carve out an accessible space on the TV dial where we can find stories and information by and about ourselves.

But now, because Canadian broadcasters want to cut costs, the Commission is proposing that only 29 cities continue to get free, over-the-air TV service after the transition to digital in 2011.

To leave 11 million Canadians who live in smaller cities, towns and rural areas with no other option but to pay for cable or satellite to watch even their local or regional TV stations undermines the purpose of the Canadian broadcasting system that we have built over 50 years.

This is not necessary. There are other options, including helping broadcasters to use the new digital technology to improve TV service in smaller cities and towns. This also stands to help local broadcasting: if improved service encouraged more of us to watch the local and regional stations over the air, stations in those smaller communities would be more viable. Instead, your plans virtually deliver people into the 500-channel universe where the small local stations get lost in the shuffle.

Please ask the CRTC to rethink its model for the digital transition and to find ways to use the new technology to make sure all parts of Canada are served by our public airwaves.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

Take Action on this Issue

Send the message below to:

Minister of Heritage James Moore
cc: Hubert T. Lacroix, President of CBC/Radio-Canada
cc: Ivan Fecan, CEO of CTVglobemedia
cc: Leonard Asper, CEO of Canwest (Global TV)

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