News release

December 15^th, 2005

CRTC Reorganization

OTTAWA-GATINEAU — We are announcing a structural re-organization, which will enhance our ability to fulfil the objectives of the Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act more effectively, and to discharge our regulatory responsibilities more efficiently. This reorganization will place us in a better position to respond to the realities with which the industries we regulate are grappling, as a result of massive and rapid technological change and the blurring of traditional boundaries and lines of business.

Converged Broadcasting and Telecommunications Group

Effective immediately, broadcasting and telecommunications policy and operations will largely be grouped under a converged structure and leadership. A new integrated Industry Analysis, Economics and Technology section will be created as a resource for both broadcasting and telecommunications. This new section should permit improved understanding of the technological and business changes affecting the Commission's regulatory responsibilities in broadcasting and telecommunications. It will also allow us to equip ourselves to better follow the financial, technological and market evolution of the businesses we regulate. Our clients continue to look for greater speed, a lesser regulatory burden and improved responsiveness, and this reorganization will contribute to those objectives.

Len Katz is now responsible for this integrated branch, as Executive Director, Broadcasting and Telecommunications. In this organization, as outlined in the accompanying organizational charts, there will be three units, one each dedicated to broadcasting and telecommunications, and the newly integrated section that will undertake activities of a more analytical nature on communications industries, markets and technologies.

Broadcasting

Broadcasting Policy and Operations will report to Len Katz through a new Associate Executive Director. The Director General of Broadcasting Operations has been charged with a special responsibility for streamlining and achieving greater efficiencies in our broadcasting operations.

Telecommunications

In Telecom, there are relatively few changes. The Branch will report to Len Katz through a new Associate Executive Director.

Regulatory Process Management and Monitoring

The second major piece in this puzzle will be a new section which will report to Diane Rhéaume and will be responsible for the monitoring and process management activities of the Commission. It will be composed initially of elements principally from the broadcasting side of the house, with some colleagues formerly in the telecom branch. It will also be the focal point for the Commission's enforcement responsibilities, including those related to the National Do Not Call List.

Next Steps

We expect the need for refinements of this structure over the next few months, as we learn more about the requirements of the environment and the potential in the organization. These changes will not, however, be of the magnitude of those announced today; they will be incremental in nature.

The CRTC

The CRTC is an independent, public authority which was established to sustain and promote Canadian culture and achieve key social and economic objectives by regulating and supervising Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications in the public interest. As an expert tribunal it takes into account the wants and needs of Canadian citizens, industries and various interest groups. The CRTC is governed by the Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act and reports to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

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Reference Documents: Organizational Charts 1, 2 and 3

Media Relations:
   MediaRelations@crtc.gc.ca , Tel: (819) 997-9403, Fax: (819) 997-4245

General Inquiries:
   Tel: (819) 997-0313, TDD: (819) 994-0423, Fax: (819) 994-0218
   Toll-free # 1-877-249-2782
   TDD - Toll-free # 1-877-909-2782

Copies of today's documents are available through our Internet site (http://www.crtc.gc.ca) or by contacting the documentation centre of any CRTC office. These documents are available in alternative format upon request.

Date Modified: 2005-12-15

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