The federal broadcast regulator has directed Canada's cable firms to ensure that at least half the programming on their community access channels be created by community members.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said it wants to strengthen local participation on community channels with the new policy released Thursday.

"The role of the community channel should be primarily of a public service nature, facilitating self-expression through free and open access by members of the community," the CRTC said in its decision.

The commission launched a review of community television in April because of concerns about the level of community involvement and what happens to the money cable firms collect from consumers for community TV.

The CRTC has given broadcasters until Sept. 1, 2014, to ensure that half of the programming is created by community members. The old rules, created in 2002, required about 30 per cent of programming be made by the community.

This means the original idea for a program must come from members of the community, who must also be involved in some aspect of the production, whether in front of, or behind, the camera.

The policy recommends cable firms increase community outreach, train more volunteers and build better ties with community groups.

Half of spending at community channels must be devoted to access programming, under a new regime to go into effect Sept. 1, 2014.

However, the CRTC did not impose any new fees and will not allow ads on community channels. The cable channels currently collect about $120 million annually from Canadians to spend on community TV.

In hearings held in April, the CRTC found most cable and satellite firms devoted less than half of community-channel airtime to access programming in 2009:

• Cogeco, 54 per cent.
• Shaw, 48 per cent.
• Quebecor, 39 per cent.
• Rogers (Ontario), 37 per cent.

An association representing community groups told the hearing that cable firms had withdrawn resources from volunteers in recent years and filled the airwaves with repeats.

The broadcast regulator noted the lack of transparency in determining how the cable firms spend money on community access programming.

It has introduced a stricter annual reporting system on how cable companies spend money at community channels.

OpenMedia.ca, a group that asked the CRTC to turn the funding for community TV over to community groups, expressed disappointment with the decision.

The regulator "squandered an opportunity" to take control of the $120 million Canadians contribute to access programming annually out of the hands of cable companies, who have been "holding back" that money, Steve Anderson, national co-ordinator of OpenMedia.ca, said in a statement released Thursday.

Anderson said in his brief to the CRTC that cable firms have directed the money to "their own commercial media production and infotainment."

OpenMedia.ca also expressed concern about the long timeline for the changes, saying it gives the cable companies time to force a new review of community TV.