The CRTC issued a regulatory policy Tuesday that will permit cable and satellite distributors to offer customers a free local package of over-the-air channels without having to provide full basic service. Following the transition from analog to digital over-the-air television broadcasting by the deadline of Aug. 31, 2011, over-the-air users who have not upgraded to digital tuners can no longer receive over-the-air signals. The regulatory change is expected to allow those people to subscribe to basic, over-the-air channels through their local cable or satellite provider. The new policy will create an exception under section 5 of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations. Only local and regional television stations that were available to the subscribers over-the-air as of Nov. 10, 2010 can be included in the local packages. Consumers will not be charged the local packages but they may need to purchase equipment to receive the cable or satellite signals in their homes.
Source: The Wire Report, 11/10/2010