Low Power FM Gets Great News! June 8, 2009
Posted by MelissaHK in radio.Tags: community-media, lpfm, policy
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Congratulations to Low Power FM (LPFM) stations and supporters in the United States!
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Broadcasters lose in court over low-power FM radio
By Matthew Lasar, Ars Technica
Supporters of low-power FM (LPFM) radio won a victory on Friday when a federal appeals court rejected a lawsuit to stop the Federal Communications Commissions from protecting LPFM stations from full power station signal interference.
“This is terrific news for the low power radio community,” declared Sakura Saunders of the Prometheus Radio Project, which helps LPFMs. “Now, these stations can focus on serving their local communities, rather than live in fear of displacement due to the whims of their full-powered neighbors.”
On the other hand, the advocacy group that defended the LPFM service was circumspect about the win. “The decision in the courts merely protects the status quo,” noted the Media Access Project in a statement sent to Ars. “Congress still must pass legislation to allow more low-power FM stations to operate nationwide.”
There’s also the question of how to ensure the funding these stations need to more effectively serve their signal areas. More about that later, though. First let’s look at the nuts and bolts of this case.
Consultation on proposed guidance on the protection of human rights and charitable registration June 8, 2009
Posted by MelissaHK in nonprofit.Tags: funding, policy, resources
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Have I mentioned how much I love COCo lately? I have? Well this is more public affection. Nonprofit and charity-minded folks who like policy will love these snippets from COCo’s latest newsletter.
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Finally, at COCo, we are committed to not only providing legal information, but also reflecting critically on the legal systems and structures as they currently stand. In that spirit, this month, we’d like to call your attention to an important consultation by the Canada Revenue Agency. The agency is seeking public feedback on their proposed Guidance on the Protection of Human Rights and Charitable Registration. As we have discussed before in COCo e-bulletins and at events, many organizations have trouble obtaining or maintaining their charitable status because of the advocacy work they do. Other organizations are muzzled in their ability to advocate for social change because they can’t afford to lose their charitable status. The public consultation on the proposed guidelines is an opportunity for community organizations to comment critically on some of the guidelines put out by the Canada Revenue Agency.
Please see http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/chrts/cnslttns/ghrg-eng.html for more information on the Canada Revenue Agency’s consultation.
The Canada Revenue Agency’s Consultation on Proposed Guidance on the Protection of Human Rights and Charitable Registration is only ONE piece of the charitable registration puzzle. There is ongoing concern in the Canadian community sector about the number and type of organizations NOT receiving accreditation and the low limits for advocacy work allowed by registered charities. To get a sense of the ‘big picture’ issues around charitable status and limits on advocacy work (or “political activities”) by charities, check out “Charities and Democracy: Election Kit” (prepared by IMPACS and available at http://www.pacedmonton.com/artsvote/election_kit.pdf).
To get a sense of the even bigger picture, and the more progressive stance taken by other governments such as the U.S.A. and the U.K., read: “The Law of Advocacy by Charitable Organizations: The Case for Change” (http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/200/300/impacs/law_advocacy-e/law_advocacy-e.pdf).
A full summary of the UK’s policy can be found at “Speaking Out- Guidance on Campaigning and Political Activity by Charities” (http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/publications/CC9.asp#15).
Will They or Won’t They – Canadian feds could sell CBC, NAC, VIA June 2, 2009
Posted by MelissaHK in culture, government, media.Tags: cbc, culture, media, media-democracy, politics
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I’ve been a little busy these days and have not been following a lot, but someone posted this on Facebook (thanks Barry Rueger). This article is primarily quoting Canwest and Mcleans. This is something we should keep our eyes on, I think. If there is any chance for public input, we should all take advantage.
Having a private CBC would not be in the interest of Canadians. First of all, the Broadcasting Act specifically states that the system should be comprised of private, public, and community elements. The CBC is the only broadcaster in the public sector in Canada. So selling it off could mean that the government would be breaking the law. And of course, it would almost certainly mean a change in the content.
I don’t know all the implications of having a privatized National Arts Centre or VIA Rail, but I’m thinking there would be more harm than good for all Canadians.
So, as Paul Wells said, “now, don’t get too excited.” But just keep your eyes open.
Will Tories sell the CBC?
From The Tyee’s newsletter/blog The Hook
By Crawford Kilian, a contributing editor of The Tyee, June 1, 2009
On Friday afternoon, when no one was paying attention, the Canwest newspapers broke a big story: The Harper government is considering selling off the CBC, the National Arts Centre, and VIA Rail.
According to Andrew Mayeda of Canwest, the government is considering privatizing a number of Crown corporations including CBC and VIA Rail. Mayeda quotes SFU professor Aidain Vining:
They’re not the classic privatization candidates, where you sell and walk away,” said Vining, an expert in Crown corporation privatizations. Unless, of course, you’re prepared to fully withdraw from the public purpose (of the Crown corporation).
Certainly, the sale of a flagship Crown asset such as the CBC would be politically controversial.
Paul Wells, blogging on the Macleans website, says:
Now, don’t get too excited. Andrew Mayeda’s story is careful to point out that there is, as yet, no plan to put the NAC or the Corp on the block. He seems to have got his hands on a departmental survey of all saleable assets. And it’s less glamorous Crown properties that are listed above the blue-chip properties Andrew mentions in his lede. It’s entirely possible for the feds to reject a sale of these marquee assets, or indeed of any assets at all.
But Paul Dewar, the NDP MP who gets quoted in the Sun story above and has archived it on his website, is right. The feds are not only airily mulling an asset sale in the abstract, they’ve booked revenue from it in this budget year, and in succeeding years, to the tune of many billions of dollars in total sales. When Dewar quizzed Jim Flaherty about it three months ago, Flaherty was nonchalant in acknowledging, broadly, the premise of Dewar’s questions.
There are really only two possibilities. The government can [sell] billions of dollars worth of stuff, or its deficit can be billions of dollars higher.
On Friday evening, The Hook found no responses yet from Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, Inside the CBC, J-Source, or CBC News.
