Commercial Broadcasters

In 2010, the CRTC established a new funding mechanism for the campus and community radio sector based on mandatory CCD contributions from both tangible benefits and basic annual contributions. This does not represent an increase in your contributions, but rather, a reallocation of what you already pay, and specifically to FACTOR or MUSICACTION.

Essentially, if you earn more than $1.25 million, the CRFC must receive at least 15% of your basic annual contributions to CCD (with at least 45% going to FACTOR or MUSICACTION). Here are the relevant policies:

From the 2010 Campus and Community Radio Policy (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-499):

98. Upon amendment of the Regulations, all commercial radio stations (including ethnic stations and spoken word stations) earning in excess of $1.25 million shall contribute 15% of their basic annual CCD contribution to the CRFC. This amount shall be reallocated from contributions which would normally be made to FACTOR or MUSICACTION.

The Radio Regulations were amended in September 2011:

15.5 Except as otherwise provided under a condition of its license, a licensee whose total revenues are more than $1,250,000 shall make

Payment

1. at least 15% of the contribution referred to in subsection (2) to the Community Radio Fund of Canada; and
2. at least 45% of the contribution referred to in subsection (2) to FACTOR or MUSICACTION, however, if the licensee is licensed to operate an ethnic station or spoken word station, the licensee may instead make that percentage of the contribution to any eligible initiative that supports the creation of ethnic programs or programming from content category 1, as the case may be.

The CRFC thanks you for your contribution and makes every effort to utilize the funds received efficiently in order to create short- and long-term benefits for the sector. We pride ourselves in demonstrating accountability and transparency in our fund distribution, financial management and governance procedures. We seek to be considered a partner in funding, rather than simply being an organization to which you are required to provide funding annually.

The CRFC distributes funding to support the development and sustainability of not-for-profit community radio stations operated locally by a body of volunteers. Since its inception in 2008, the CRFC has received and distributed funds obtained through CCD contributions. As of July 2018, we have funded 542 projects across Canada, including:

• The creation and production of local news shows and the development of news departments
• Initiatives geared towards volunteer recruitment, training and retention
• Projects on the topics of local history, arts, culture and youth
• Hiring new employees and interns, including including news directors, reporters, program directors, and dedicated project coordinators
• Initiatives to encourage community involvement, including developing partnerships with local not-for-profit organizations and aboriginal communities
• Educational programming
• Initiatives surveying and fostering community engagement
• Projects geared towards the development and use of new technologies and social media
• Investigative and in-depth documentaries

Payment must be made by the end of each broadcasting year. Our financial year is the same as the broadcasting year. Therefore, we ask that you send your contribution at least five business days ahead of August 31st, if possible, so that it may appear in our annual financial audit.

Payment can preferably be made by EFT payment or eTransfer otherwise we can accept payment by cheque addressed to the Community Radio Fund of Canada.
See invoicing form below for details.

The form is available here.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

The CRFC commits to maintaining the confidentiality of all information pertaining to your basic annual contribution to CCD. The individuals who have access to detailed financial information are our executive director, treasurer and accountant, who have all signed a confidentiality agreement regarding all CRFC information. Our audit firm and the CRTC, to whom an annual report is submitted, also have access to financial details. When presented to the board of directors, in our annual report or under any other circumstance, data on financial contributions is always aggregated.