TestCardStore
May 9th, 2002, 10:18 AM
Just who are we concerned about protecting here? Is there really any validity in maintaining that we need to protect our media providers because they're Canadian and we need to protect our culture? Please, I think we've all been handed a pile of dung on this one. The CRTC exists to legislate profits for a select few corporations whose shares are most likely widely held by the same US concerns that we're trying to block Canadians access to. As long as Canada subscribes to the free market economy of international currency trading, and we maintain an independent currency that is far below the value of our main trading partner, we'll not have control of any of our institutions or airwaves.
If there is truly a need to regulate our airwaves, let's blanket the country with 'jamming' signals to keep the big bad American signals from being received here.
It's time to face the music. Either open the market to North American competition, or ban satellite dishes altogether. Enforcement is a boondoggle and it only serves the needs a couple of greedy corporations who've been given the green light by our idiotic "cultural enforcers" (the CRTC) to fleece the masses. If their service was of any value whatsoever, they could compete directly with any US providers and promote their Canadian content rather than try to force people to accept an inferior product. Let' see how many US homes the Canadian dish providers can sign up. Probably none because there's fewer channels with higher cost. Is that what we're protecting, fewer choices for more money? If so, who decided this was the right solution for the Canadian consumer? I can promise you it wasn't anyone concerned with value for a buck.
The solution is to disband the CRTC, stop protecting Rogers, BCE, etc... from competition and grow up as a nation. We need to realize that we can compete with anyone when it comes to creativity, cultural programming and service delivery, and if there are some players that will be damaged by the open market, they probably shouldn't exist anyway. Canadians are heavy hitters when it comes to entertainment, educational and documentary programming and we should not fear the uncertainty of the free market. Our best and brightest will continue to shine because we want to see ourselves reflected in our programming, not because we have to.
Mark Braun
Sarnia, Ontario
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I believe the idea that we cant watch what we want ludicrous. How is it that the government can put limitations on our viewing, I truly believe that this is a Charter of rights case and think that if we lose this it will be the beginning of a very bad trend. Last I looked we did live in a free country? Personally I do not like the idea of having to watch beachcombers all of the time because it's Canadian content? How can Bell Express view be legal if this is the case , as it does provide American content? As for anything encrypted traversing our border, can this new law now affect the internet as well? It is after all encrypted. Personally I think if they rule against this I for one will consider moving south permanently and taking my business with me.
Stephane Lessard
Bow Island, Alberta
If there is truly a need to regulate our airwaves, let's blanket the country with 'jamming' signals to keep the big bad American signals from being received here.
It's time to face the music. Either open the market to North American competition, or ban satellite dishes altogether. Enforcement is a boondoggle and it only serves the needs a couple of greedy corporations who've been given the green light by our idiotic "cultural enforcers" (the CRTC) to fleece the masses. If their service was of any value whatsoever, they could compete directly with any US providers and promote their Canadian content rather than try to force people to accept an inferior product. Let' see how many US homes the Canadian dish providers can sign up. Probably none because there's fewer channels with higher cost. Is that what we're protecting, fewer choices for more money? If so, who decided this was the right solution for the Canadian consumer? I can promise you it wasn't anyone concerned with value for a buck.
The solution is to disband the CRTC, stop protecting Rogers, BCE, etc... from competition and grow up as a nation. We need to realize that we can compete with anyone when it comes to creativity, cultural programming and service delivery, and if there are some players that will be damaged by the open market, they probably shouldn't exist anyway. Canadians are heavy hitters when it comes to entertainment, educational and documentary programming and we should not fear the uncertainty of the free market. Our best and brightest will continue to shine because we want to see ourselves reflected in our programming, not because we have to.
Mark Braun
Sarnia, Ontario
--------------------------------------------------
I believe the idea that we cant watch what we want ludicrous. How is it that the government can put limitations on our viewing, I truly believe that this is a Charter of rights case and think that if we lose this it will be the beginning of a very bad trend. Last I looked we did live in a free country? Personally I do not like the idea of having to watch beachcombers all of the time because it's Canadian content? How can Bell Express view be legal if this is the case , as it does provide American content? As for anything encrypted traversing our border, can this new law now affect the internet as well? It is after all encrypted. Personally I think if they rule against this I for one will consider moving south permanently and taking my business with me.
Stephane Lessard
Bow Island, Alberta