Eastlink to cover council meetings – CRTC doesn’t require it
By ROY WOOD
Cable TV provider Eastlink says it will be happy to broadcast Oliver council meetings even though it has no CRTC obligation to do so.
Eastlink western sales and marketing manager Julie Benoit said in a recent email: “Although there is no CRTC obligation to broadcast live council meetings, we are strongly committed to delivering this local content to customers in Oliver.”
A spokesman for a community television advocacy group agrees that Eastlink has no obligation to broadcast council meetings.
However, Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations executive director Cathy Edwards says the commission favours such coverage.
Depending on the number of households served by providers, said Edwards, they are required to provide a level of community content. And while not specifically stipulated, “They are strongly encouraged by the CRTC to cover councils,” she said.
The issue arose at last Monday’s meeting where several councillors expressed frustration at lack of progress in reviving broadcast of meetings, which ceased almost a year ago when the local producer retired.
Council voted to send a letter to Eastlink, with a copy to the CRTC, giving the cable company a December 31 deadline to reintroduce the broadcast.
Corporate officer Diane Vaykovich told council that a camera has been installed in the council chamber and that it was running during the three previous meetings as a test. She said she called Eastlink to ask for feedback on the test but said they seemed surprised at her request.
In an interview, Benoit offered assurances that the live coverage would begin soon: “We are trying a number of solutions. Everything is installed.
“We’re working on an audio solution. Once that is completed, everything will be up and running.”
As for council’s misunderstanding of Eastlink’s requirements under its CRTC mandate, Benoit suggested it may be an historical misconception. “Maybe it’s because the CRTC can change regulations quite frequently. … Maybe a change was missed along the way.”