Advanced Television

Canadian cable providers debate distribution

March 12, 2009

Rogers Communication says proposals for a levy on Internet service providers in order to help fund Canadian content online would be illegal.

Internet service providers (ISPs) have argued against a tax on Internet services or broadband revenues to support the production of Canadian content for Web consumption. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is now holding public hearings on if and how it should regulate the Internet in Canada.

ISPs argue that they are “pipes” rather than broadcasters and therefore any levy imposed on them under the Broadcasting Act would be, in the words of Rogers‚ representatives, “unlawful.”

Categories: Articles, Broadband, Cable