More good news on the clearly necessary and impending demise (it’s just that not everybody is quite on side with me quite about that, yet) of the liberal-left’s prized state-censor, the CRTC, today.
(Hat tip to conservativegal).
Future of The CRTC
Paul Vieira, Financial Post
Published: Saturday, May 13, 2006If there is one thing the CRTC has yet to be accused of, it is shirking its responsibilities as the country’s broadcast and telephone regulator. Whether it has succeeded in executing its duties, however, is another matter.
“The hyperactivity of the commission reminds one somewhat of Stephen Leacock’s character Lord Ronald, who ‘flung himself upon his horse and rode madly off in all directions,’ ” Hudson Janisch, one of country’s leading regulatory experts, said in a submission last year to the blue-chip telecommunications policy review panel.
“In doing so much, it is inevitable that mistakes will be made.”
It is the perceived “mistakes”—on rulings dealing with Internet telephony and local phone deregulation—that has put the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission under the microscope and the target of fierce attacks. It has some openly wondering whether there is still a need for the CRTC.
“The CRTC’s best-before date has passed,” said Iain Grant, Montreal-based managing director of telecom consultancy SeaBoard Group. Mr. Grant argues the regulator needs to stop micromanaging the telephone industry and allow market forces to determine the competitive landscape—an approach endorsed in the telecom review panel’s final report.
I liked this next paragraph for its fun coffee spewed upon my monitor effect:
CRTC supporters, however, suggest the cheap long-distance rates and myriad choice—in both telephone services and TV programming—at Canadians’ disposal is largely the result of the regulator’s work. Moreover, the regulator has demonstrated insight in recent decisions to refrain from regulating the Internet and allowing satellite radio into the country.
Yes you see, the state-censor should be credited with benevolently providing the citizenry with cheap phone rates and TV programming and even satellite radio (which the Americans have had for many many years)… by refraining from regulating the market in the manner of a socialist dictatorship, and instead acting as though private enterprise and people are not as stupid as they think they are, for once in their liberal-mandated existence. And they even decided not to regulate the internet, as Communist China has. Well shut my mouth. God bless Canada and all the stupid little people. Vote liberal.
I also liked these selected lines:
• In broadcasting, however, its task is to ensure a free market never develops so that Canadian artists and programming are allowed to flourish.
• … Mr. Janisch says … “So the mission the CRTC got [in the act] has been completed. But it can’t let go. It can’t let go because it likes the idea of being a regulator.”
• “In order to encourage innovation and productivity, it is imperative that regulatory measures interfere as little as possible with competitive market forces,” [said Conservative Industry Minister, Maxime Bernier, who is a clear-headed free-market thinker].
• Indeed, a limited role may be the best the CRTC can hope for.
“I don’t think the CRTC is ever going to disappear,” Mr. Janisch said of the regulator.
“But the days of the CRTC being the big policy maker are now over.”
PTBC was founded by Mr. Johannesen in 2000.
Contact Mr. Johannesen about this article using this form. Please refer to article's title.
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