This Directive is without prejudice to the Member States’ competence to provide for the funding of public service broadcasting in so far as such funding is granted to broadcasting organisations for the fulfilment of the public service remit as conferred, defined and organised by each Member State in accordance with Protocol No 29 on the system of public broadcasting in Member States annexed to the TFEU and the TEU.

Ms. Lucie Gagnon: In light of the comments we have presented today as well as the elements included in our brief tabled in September, we ask members of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage to maintain the main objectives of the Broadcasting Act to ensure that the legislation defends the interests of Canadians by keeping the commitments made to members of Canada's broadcasting system, mainly to support and promote the broadcasting of Canadian content and the expression of Canadian diversity; to maintain the current regulatory regime which prohibits ownership of Canadian media by foreign interests; to maintain the CRTC's role as a ...[+++] regulatory body, and more specifically, to assign it responsibility for safeguarding the place of non-profit community media; to recognize, in the Broadcasting Act, the non-profit community-owned sector as a fundamental part of the broadcasting system; to ensure that the act safeguards and supports community broadcasting, which is embodied by all community-owned organizations in which the public is directly involved in management and programming decisions; to encourage the establishment of a fund for radio programming and support for showcasing future cultural talent with a view to giving the community sector an opportunity to effectively meet the aims of the Broadcasting Act; and to ensure the community sector has access to technology by setting aside frequencies and the use of part of all new regulated technologies.

In the "Protocol on the system of public broadcasting" it highlights that public broadcasting in the Member States is directly related to the democratic, social and cultural needs of each society and to the need to preserve media pluralism.

[10] For the evaluation of the compatibility of compensations to public broadcasters reference should also be made to the Protocol on the system of public broadcasting in the Member States, annexed to the Treaty of Amsterdam, amending the Treaty on European Union (in force since 1st May 1999), OJ C 340, 10.11.1997, p. 109, and to the Commission communication on the application of state aid rules to public service broadcasting of 17.10.2001

Q-19 Mr. Lowther (Calgary Centre) With respect to the import of what is or was known as 'grey market' direct-to-home or digital satellite systems and digital broadcasting equipment, devices or components which are deemed to be in violation of sections 9 and/or 10 of the Radiocommunication Act: (a) what federal taxes and/or duties have been collected from those importing this equipment into Canada; (b) what is the estimated amount of federal taxes collected on the import of this equipment for each year since 1993; (c) what is the estimated amount of customs duties collected on the import of this equipment for each year since 1993; and ...[+++](d) what is the estimated value of this type of equipment which has been imported into Canada?

With respect to the import of what is or was known as “grey market” direct-to-home or digital satellite systems and digital broadcasting equipment, devices or components which are deemed to be in violation of sections 9 and/or 10 of the Radiocommunication Act: (a) what federal taxes and/or duties have been collected from those importing this equipment into Canada; (b) what is the estimated amount of federal taxes collected on the import of this equipment for each year since 1993; (c) what is the estimated amount of customs duties collected on the import of this equipment for each year since 1993; and (d) what is the estimated value of ...[+++] this type of equipment which has been imported into Canada?