CRTC Mulls Canadian Content On the Internet

PsiCTO writes "The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is going to weigh Internet content regulation — this could mean requiring some amount of Canadian content coming across Canadian pipes. The CRTC is akin to the FCC. They get that they can't 'regulate' the Internet, but are proposing to promote additional Canadian content in some way, as is currently done with radio and TV content. Likely they will discuss tax credits, subsidies, grants, or other traditional mechanisms. What do people think about this? Are there similar efforts, existing or proposed, in other countries?"

But all my internet content is porn

[SmallFurryCreature]

So are we now going to get goverment subsidised canadian porn? For that matter, get the canadian goverment to ensure that canadian slashdot readers get the right percentage of canadian first posts?

I don't know what they smoke in canada but it got to be good.

Re:Government should not compete

[onkelonkel]

I don't think you understand how vitally important this is. Without CanCon rules there would have been no Bryan Adams, no Alanis Morisette, no Avril Lavigne, no Celene Dion.

OK, never mind.

Re:But all my internet content is porn

[kramer2718]

Canadian pr0n... Interesting concept, but wouldn't the hockey sticks get in the way?

Re:But all my internet content is porn

[oldspewey]

only for certain values of "way"

Re:CanCon

[oldspewey]

The '80s called, they want their dogma back.

Re:Government should not compete

[NonUniqueNickname]

What is special about "Canadian content" anyhow?

Most likely, same thing they do with Radio and TV. A bunch of low-budget knockoffs. Websites like aboot.com and slashdoot.org.

Re:Net Neutrality in Action

[plover]

You wrote:

"Note: I work for the CRTC. They are not proposing influencing the content itself but rather the distribution."

In either case, the nanny province is telling me what I can and cannot watch. Whether it is the content, that is direct cesorship, or the distribution, that is the ability to see what I want without "help" from the government (that is you), it is STILL censorship. It is, like all cancon laws, tarted up censorship, eh.

JE

There, I Canuckified that for you. It's now compliant with the Canadian Content laws.

Great..

[maddskillz]

I hope this doesn't mean they expect me to download nickleback mp3's

Re:But all my internet content is porn

[poetmatt]

Those aren't hockey sticks they're waving

Re:Net Neutrality in Action

[internerdj]

Hmmm on one side I hand over responsibility to an entity that I give money to work for me but doesn't, on the other side I hand over responsibility to an entity I give money to work for me but doesn't. Decisions, Decisions.

Re:But all my internet content is porn

[Vagrant]

I don't know what they smoke in canada but it got to be good.

BC Bud [wikipedia.org] ... and ya ... its good.

Re:Net Neutrality in Action

[MightyMartian]

We're not proposing cutting anything but why would we allow American commercials to profit within our borders when we can boost our economy with a little home-grown advertising?

For products made in China.

Canadian content rules are becoming more moronic every single day.

Re:Net Neutrality in Action

[Feanturi]

I'm reasonably certain that even newfies know the difference between .com and .ca Yeah whatchya got dere bai is yer dot com dat's da reg'lar innernet, and ya gotchyer dot C-A dat's yer Canadian innernet. In Newfoundland though we just calls dat a cod trap, dat's da innernet inside da outernet.

Re:Net Neutrality in Action

[armer]

But you forgot to Canuckify your post eh, you hoser...

Re:Net Neutrality in Action

[Anonymous Coward]

John Candy, in the "Johnny LaRue's Street Beef" sketch, similarly wrote into the script that all Johnny wanted for Christmas was a crane shot, in direct reaction to the network's complaint that they were spending too much money renting equipment.

CRTC - Screw You, Taxpayer

[Wandering Wombat]

And it's on-topic, too (at least after 1:20). [youtube.com]

When it comes to the Internet, though, I think this is completely wrong (as has probably been stated here). When we're watching TV, we can either watch the American channels, with 99% American programming, or the Canadian networks, with about 75% American programming. The Canadian shows will always end up on the Canadian channels. With the Intertubes, wouldn't we really just be choosing to watch American or Canadian content directly?

Re:Net Neutrality in Action

[camperdave]

There's a story about King Canute trying to hold back the tide.

Maybe they need to read the story about Aqluktikut, the Innuit hunter who was trying to stop the polar bear from being white... It's got more Canadian content.

Re:Net Neutrality in Action

[commodore64_love]

Jeez. How tyrannical.

The Canadian Provinces should secede from the Confederation and come join the United States. (Except Quebec. You can remain independent or join France, or something.) We already invited the Canadians to join us in 1776. That invitation is still open.

Re:Net Neutrality in Action

[supernova_hq]

I though we made our opinion of joining the United States quite clear when we burned down your precious white house in 1814...

Re:It's not about the government

[euxneks]

All us Canucks also wear Tim Hortons stuff abroad now. Anyone who doesn't is deemed american and subsequently mapled and beavered for impersonating a canadian. If you don't know what mapling and beavering is, be warned, you may be the next target.

Re:CanCon

[PsiCTO]

Actually, I quite enjoy living in our giant commune, being deferential to the kommisars, working in my government-supplied job that makes me a cog in Canada's 5-year plan. I plan to make the pilgramage to Ottawa to see the perfectly preserved body of our great revolutionary leader, John A. MacDonald, as he lies in state in perpetuity reminding us how we shrugged off the totalitarian rule of a constitutional monachy that offered us independent government and self-determination. Most comforting of all is that by maintaining the facade of a pseudo-communist society, we have effectively kept reactionary, mythology-promoting/believing liberty-before-death(through non-affordable health-care) Americans out of the country... click for help [google.ca]