What is the CRTC?

Mandate, Roles and Responsibilities

Established by Parliament in 1968, the CRTC is an independent public authority constituted under the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-22, as amended). The CRTC reports to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage. The CRTC is vested with the authority to licence, regulate and supervise all broadcasting undertakings within Canada and to regulate telecommunications common carriers that fall under federal jurisdiction. The CRTC derives its regulatory authority over broadcasting from the Broadcasting Act (S.C. 1991, c. 11). Its telecommunications regulatory powers are derived from the Telecommunications Act (S.C. 1993, c. 38) and various "special" acts of Parliament, created for specific telecommunications companies. Such special acts explicitly make specified activities or functions of those companies subject to the authority of the CRTC. These include the Bell Canada Act, the Telesat Canada Reorganization and Divestiture Act, and the Teleglobe Canada Reorganization and Divestiture Act. 

The Commission

Public radio broadcasting in Canada began in May 1920. The Royal Commission on Broadcasting, or the Aird Commission, reporting to the federal government in 1929, recommended some form of public ownership, operation and control of Canadian broadcasting. Following these recommendations, the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Act became law and the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission was created in 1932. The arrival of television in 1952 led to the Fowler Commission. As a result, the broadcasting functions of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation were separated from its other duties as the broadcasting regulator, and a separate and independent body was established to regulate broadcasting. This lead to the Broadcasting Act of 1958, from which the Board of Broadcast Governors was created.  In 1968, the Broadcasting Act was enacted, creating the Canadian Radio Television Commission. In 1976, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act was proclaimed and through it the present Commission was established. This Act also called for the transfer of responsibility for regulating the federally chartered telecommunications carriers from the Canadian Transport Commission to the CRTC.  In The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) Act, as amended by the Broadcasting Act of 1991, Parliament set out the present structure and powers of the Commission. This Act provides for up to thirteen full-time and six part-time commissioners to be appointed by the Governor in Council (Cabinet). Commissioners serve for terms of up to five years, which the government can renew. Full-time commissioners include the Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson of Telecommunications, a Vice-Chairperson of Broadcasting, four headquarters-based and six regional commissioners. All commissioners participate in public hearings and decision making for broadcasting matters. Only full-time commissioners are involved in telecommunications issues and decision-making. 
To learn more about the CRTC, visit their website at http://www.crtc.gc.ca