FAQs

The CRTC is Canada’s broadcasting and telecommunications regulator. We are an administrative tribunal that operates at arm’s length from the federal government.

The CRTC is dedicated to ensuring Canadians and Indigenous people have a world-class communication system. We regulate and supervise broadcasting and telecommunications within Canada. In particular, we are tasked with implementing and overseeing the Broadcasting Act, Telecommunications Act, Canada’s anti-spam legislation (CASL) and the Online News Act.

Our activities include:

• Licencing. We issue, renew, and amend broadcasting licences. We also issue licences for international telecommunications services whose networks allow telephone users to make and receive calls outside of Canada.
• Promoting compliance with regulations. We promote compliance with the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules, including the National Do Not Call List, and Canada’s anti-spam legislation.
• Reviewing broadcasting ownership transaction. We make decisions regarding the authorization of ownership transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, and changes of ownership in the broadcasting sector.
• Approving tariffs. We approve tariffs and certain agreements for the telecommunications sector.
• Encouraging competition in telecommunications. We encourage competition in telecommunications markets to ensure consumer choice of innovative and affordable services.
• Providing information. We respond to requests for information and concerns about broadcasting and telecommunications issues.

The CRTC is led by a Chairperson, two Vice-Chairpersons (Broadcasting and Telecommunications), and up to 10 Commissioners. Our current Chairperson is Vicky Eatrides. The Chairperson is also supported by the Secretary General, the Senior Legal Counsel, and the Senior Management. Regional Commissioners bring the views of their respective provinces and territories to the CRTC. Chairperson, Vice-Chairpersons and Commissioners are appointed by the Governor in Council for a term of five years.

 You may get to know our current leadership by visiting our website.

The CRTC makes decisions based on a public record. This public record can be developed in many ways including through public hearings, round-table discussions, informal forums, and online discussion forums to gather views about Canada’s broadcasting and telecommunications services. We also collect data, conduct research, and collaborate with our international counterparts to make decisions based on emerging trends to ensure a world-class communication system.

 Read our five-minute guide, It’s your CRTC: Here’s how to have your say!, to understand and participate in our activities.

CRTC Conversations is an engagement platform that the CRTC is using to gather feedback for our public consultations. Those participating through the platform are not considered a party to proceedings and do not receive notice of comments from others, right of reply, etc. However, all the input obtained on the platform is added to the public record for the process.

Consultations you’ll see on CRTC Conversations will be on topics related to telecommunications and broadcasting in Canada.

There are many ways to participate. Each consultation will usually have one or more engagement tools available where you can submit your feedback by writing a comment, filling out a survey or sending a file (image, video, or audio). To see which tools are available, click the tabs at the bottom of each consultation page.

On some of our tools, a moderator will check each comment before it is displayed on the webpage. This is to ensure each comment follows our moderation policy.

CRTC Conversations is managed by the CRTC’s public engagement team. Feel free to contact us at Conversations@crtc.gc.ca if you have any questions or feedback.