The regulatory framework for the Canadian cable television industry includes two main bodies: the Cable Television Standards Council (CTSC); and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the government agency that regulates the cable television, broadcasting and telecommunications industries.

Like broadcasters, cable companies require licences to operate – and the CRTC’s issuing and renewal of these licences is conditional on the companies following certain rules and regulations.

The cable industry has developed its own set of voluntary codes and standards covering issues such as privacy, community channel programming and customer service. These standards were developed by the CCTA and are administered by the CTSC – which also responds to consumer complaints.

Canadian programming carried by cable companies generally follow the codes laid out by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) or the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). However, foreign services carried by Canadian cable companies do not have to follow this country’s codes or standards. The industry also follows the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards, which is administered by Advertising Standards Canada (ASC).

The cable industries community channels follow the Cable TV Community Channel Standards which incorporate the CAB’s codes on violence and gender portrayal.