Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, known as the CRTC, is the public regulator of broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada. Parliament created it in 1968 as the Canadian Radio and Television Commission to replace the Board of Broadcast Governors, and in 1976 it took over the regulation of telephone and other telecommunication carriers, keeping the same abbreviation. Its headquarters is in Gatineau, Quebec. Up to thirteen full-time members, appointed by Cabinet for terms of up to five years, run it as an arms-length body whose decisions rest on evidence from public consultations. It reports to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage. Its best-known rules are the Canadian content requirements for broadcasters, and its work now includes the Online Streaming Act.