Canada’s Communications Policy Proposal Essay

This research paper outline aims to evaluate the current communications policy of Canada and its impact on various aspects related to consumers and service providers. The current developments in technology have necessitated certain changes in the communication policy of Canada.

Thesis topic: The Canadian communication policy and the importance and implications of the convergence of telecommunications and broadcasting fields.

Introduction

1. Statement of the problem: Over the years, telecommunications and broadcasting fields are swiftly budding and assembling into a distinct area of communication. Several innovations and subsequent acceptance about the provisions, relevance, and infrastructure are being carried out throughout the world. It has become an uphill task for the supervising bodies to keep pace with such developments.
2. Significance of the problem: Considering the issue above, it has become imperative for the regulators to consider the linkage between telecommunications and broadcasting while making decisions. The impact of such a convergence on business and user behavior should also be determined. Moreover, since various factors such as cultural expression and the related sector are at stake, it becomes imperative to conduct a study on this topic.

Hypothesis

1. The preferences of the consumers, technology suppliers, and providers of communication provisions suggest a change in the prevailing communication policy.
2. Digitization has been a step towards convergence of broadcasting and telecommunications.
3. Convergence has augmented the significance of the current distribution system.

Variables

1. Independent variable: For this study, the prevailing independent variable is the communication policy of Canada.
2. Dependent variables: The dependent variables include consumers’ choice, impact on business and user behavior, and the impacts.

Trends

1. The new global technology is having an impact on the broadcasting scenario.
2. Distribution platforms have more capacity.
3. The viewing habits of consumers have changed.
4. As a result of the introduction of the internet, there has been a proliferation in the options available for advertisement.
5. Canadians are the largest consumers who use online videos.
6. Free advertising provided by various sites is an added advantage for advertisers.
7. Personal Video Recorder (PVR) has been launched in Canada.
8. It is believed that PVRs might hurt advertising.

Regulatory implications

Fragmentation

1. Implications: The implications can be understood by considering the prevailing approach; both radio and television service providers have been certified and given official approval.
2. Canadian consumers have easy access to content from outside the country through the internet.
3. Wireless and wired broadband services are getting better.
4. An opportunity for Canadian organizations to accomplish better economic benefits.
5. Positive social and cultural implications.

Consolidation

1. Competition within the market will be minimized.
2. Will give rise to domination of the field by a limited number of companies that will be able to manipulate the prices.
3. The entry of foreign companies and the subsequent competitive prices in this sector will benefit the consumers.

External considerations about strategy

Policies about competition and copyright protection will be beneficial.

Conclusion

1. It is expected that the prevailing regulations will not become irrelevant within the near future.
2. The regulators will have to keep a close watch on the trends and devise a new strategy in accordance to these trends.
3. The future policies should be formulated considering their long-term implications.

The current competition and its impact on the prices should also be considered by the regulators.