Active CRTC Consultations

When the internet, phone, or TV goes down, Canadians often get little information from their provider and rarely receive a credit on their bill. This proceeding examines whether new consumer protection rules should require providers to give customers meaningful and timely updates during outages, and whether refunds or bill credits should be standard after a disruption.

The proceeding follows several large-scale outages affecting Canadian consumers and is part of the CRTC's broader Consumer Protections Action Plan. A decision is expected in summer 2026.

This proceeding examines the regulatory framework that supports the creation, presentation, and discoverability of Canadian and Indigenous music. It is the audio counterpart to a parallel review of Canadian programming definitions in the audio-visual sector.

The Commission is asking how the existing rules — built for traditional radio and satellite services — should be updated for online audio services that now reach most Canadians. This includes how Canadian musical selections are defined, how financial contributions to Canadian content funds should be allocated, and how discoverability obligations should apply to streaming platforms.

The hearing ran for five days in September 2025. The record closed on December 11, 2025 with final written submissions. A decision is expected in the second quarter of 2026.

This proceeding examines five major issue areas in Canadian broadcasting: the effectiveness of existing regulatory tools including the Wholesale Code, market dynamics between programming and distribution, distribution and packaging requirements, the undue preference framework, and dispute resolution.

The hearing ran from June 18 to July 4, 2025 and received 480 interventions, with 78 parties appearing. The Commission is examining whether existing rules adequately protect consumer interests, independent programming services, and competitive markets in the face of online streaming and shifting market power.

A decision is expected in 2026 and could reshape how cable, satellite, and IPTV providers package and distribute Canadian programming services.

In November 2025, the CRTC published Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2025-299, setting out a modernized framework for certifying Canadian audio-visual programs. This proceeding consults on the actual regulatory wording that will give effect to that framework, including amendments to the Television Broadcasting Regulations, the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations, and the Discretionary Services Regulations.

The new regulations are proposed to come into force on September 1, 2026, to align with the start of the broadcast year. Programs certified under the existing framework will continue to qualify, and applicants can request certification under the new framework once it takes effect.

The Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS) is the independent body that handles complaints from Canadian telecom and TV customers. The CCTS is funded by per-complaint fees charged to participating service providers.

This proceeding examines two preliminary CRTC views: that the CCTS's funding model may disproportionately burden small telecom providers, regional players, and new market entrants compared to large incumbents, and that providers may not have a meaningful mechanism to dispute the fees they are charged. The proceeding was triggered by a complaint from small provider InnSys, which was expelled from the CCTS in 2023.

The outcome could affect how the CCTS is funded, how easily small providers can participate, and indirectly how robust complaint protections are for Canadian telecom customers.

Participating in a CRTC proceeding can be costly. Public interest groups may need to commission expert research, conduct consumer surveys, or retain legal counsel. Until now, the rules governing how these costs are reimbursed have not been reviewed in over a decade.

This proceeding examines whether the existing framework — which relies on the Broadcasting Participation Fund for broadcasting matters and on a separate telecom costs award regime for telecom matters — adequately supports meaningful participation by Canadians in CRTC decisions. The Broadcasting Participation Fund stopped accepting new claims in October 2025 pending the outcome of this proceeding.

The decision will shape who can afford to participate in CRTC consultations going forward.

This proceeding focuses on the equipment and software used to access TV programming, rather than the programming itself. It examines whether set-top boxes, mobile apps, and streaming interfaces present unnecessary barriers for Canadians with disabilities — including issues like menu navigation, search functionality, and the discoverability of accessible programming.

This is a sister proceeding to existing CRTC work on closed captioning, described video, and audio description, which focus on the accessibility of the content itself.

Canadians can take unresolved telecom and TV complaints to the CCTS, but only if they know it exists. CRTC data suggests many customers abandon their complaints before their provider tells them about the CCTS. This proceeding examines whether providers should be required to inform customers about the CCTS earlier — specifically, right after the provider offers a solution rather than waiting for a 'second level of escalation' that providers currently interpret inconsistently.