Town council wants CRTC to keep Weather Network on basic cable

Halton Hills council endorsed a resolution requesting the Canadian Radio and Telecommunication Commission (CRTC) keep The Weather Network on the basic cable service. The CRTC is considering allowing cable and satellite companies to move The Weather Network to paid premium channels. Pelmorex Communications Inc., the company behind the weather station, has made an application to the CRTC to keep the weather as a basic service. The company is requesting viewers and municipalities to send the CRTC letters of support. "Weather channel information is very important to a lot of people," said Ward 3

Councillor Dave Kentner, mover of the motion at a recent council meeting. "We just witnessed (March 5/6-- the date of a double fatality accident) a perfect example where weather information might have kept people off the roads and saved their lives and a lot of property damage." The request came to Halton Hills council via the Ontario Good Roads Association, which has already lent its support to The Weather Network. The association stated having the weather station on the basic cable is in the interest of public safety and is a service to municipalities in planning their winter maintenance operation strategies for upcoming storm events. More information is available at www.support.theweathernetwork.com