Originally, it was because cable companies could allocate, out of the 5%, gross profits to be spent on Canadian programming. They can set aside a part of this percentage to operate a community channel. Under current licensing categories, a category 1 broadcaster with over 20,000 subscribers can allot 2% out of the 5% amount; a category 1 broadcaster with fewer than 20,000 subscribers can use the entire 5%, a category 1 cable company with fewer than 20,000 subscribers can use the entire 5%, as can a category 2 cable company. As for category 3 companies, they're under no obligation to contribute to Canadian programming nor community channels.
Because of this cash inflow, advertising was taken away from us. In fact, we were never entitled to traditional local advertising under the pretext that those who were funded solely through advertising did not have access to this money. Well, today, everyone wants cable fees and distribution fees as well as access to advertising revenue.
Independent community television does not have equal access to this funding for cable companies. Some CTVs do, whereas others receive nothing. We believe we should be entitled to traditional local advertising because the average Mont-Louis hairdresser cannot always afford television ads in Rimouski or on CHOT-TV, for instance.