The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)—Canada's independent regulatory authority for broadcasting and telecommunications—has announced a major modernization of radio processes, eliminating expiration dates for radio broadcast licenses.
This deregulation, detailed in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2025-265, replaces the previous seven-year license renewal cycle with indefinite terms, shifting oversight to periodic compliance audits.
The CRTC emphasized that this change will "save stations time and money on renewals," freeing broadcasters to focus on content creation and community service rather than administrative paperwork.
Input from broadcasters, music industry groups, and the public highlighted the renewal process's burdens: stations had to submit applications a full year before expiry, involving extensive documentation on programming, finances, and compliance.
With most stations already in good standing—based on historical compliance data—the CRTC determined that routine audits would suffice to ensure adherence to rules like Canadian content quotas (e.g., 35% for popular music on commercial stations) and emergency alerting.
CRTC Chair Vicky Eatrides stated: "Radio helps keep communities informed, entertained, and connected. The CRTC is reducing the administrative burden on radio stations so that they have more time to deliver news and music to their communities." This aligns with global trends toward lighter-touch regulation, echoing U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) discussions on easing ownership rules and public interest obligations.