Washington — As Canada considers rules on Canadian content on online streaming sites, the Computer & Communications Industry Association today submitted comments to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) on its implementation of the Online Streaming Act.
The comments detail the importance of ensuring the CRTC’s definitions for Canadian content incentivize U.S. companies’ continued operation and investment in Canada and do not preclude foreign participation in the market.
CCIA has submitted comments in response to the CRTC’s proposed baseline mandatory contributions for Canadian content and the CRTC’s proposal to require streaming companies to dedicate funding toward domestic news. Additionally, CCIA has published a white paper detailing the flaws of the law and likely violations of commitments made in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement (USMCA).
The following quote can be attributed to Jonathan McHale, CCIA Vice President of Digital Trade:
“Canada’s Online Streaming Act is a patently discriminatory law that undermines U.S. participation in the Canadian market and Canadian consumers’ access to high-quality global content. The very benefits that the internet has enhanced are now threatened by a return to 1970’s-style broadcast regulation. Canada could mitigate potential harms to the Canadian production ecosystem by introducing much-needed flexibility into what qualifies as Canadian, irrespective of ownership, to better incentivize quality production in Canada.
“In this proceeding, the CRTC has stated a desire to promote the export of Canadian content. To achieve this, the rules should welcome foreign streamers into the fold as a driving force in the creation of Canadian content, and incentivize them to use their global networks to spread Canadian programming around the world.”
