[CB-CDA 2024-113]

ORDER OF THE BOARD

Proceeding: SOCAN Tariff 18 – Recorded Music for Dancing (2023-2025)

December 18, 2024

I. Request FOR EXTENSION

[1] On December 6, 2024, the Board issued Order CB-CDA 2024-104, requiring parties to provide a joint schedule of proceedings by December 20, 2024.

[2] SOCAN states that “the issues identified by the Board concern inflation adjustment methodologies and suggest that the Board may be considering a departure from its default inflation methodology. As such, SOCAN may need to engage an economics expert and/or serve written interrogatories on the objectors.”

[3] SOCAN requests an extension of time for filing its schedule of proceedings to January 17, with a corresponding extension to the time for the objectors' response. This extension will accommodate the additional work required to plan and develop a case that is responsive to the Board's stated issues.

II. Comment

[4] SOCAN may be overreading the description of the issues to be considered, as set out in CB-CDA 2024-104. The Board’s approach on inflation is explained in its Guidelines on Inflation. There is currently no indication that the Board may be considering a departure from its default methodology. The objectors may however, present arguments in favour of another methodology. The Panel will eventually decide on which approach is best.

III. ruling

[5] SOCAN’s request is granted. Parties shall file their proposed schedule of proceedings by Friday, January 17, 2025.

[6] If Parties are not able to file a joint proposal, any comment in response to the information provided by another party must be submitted by Monday, January 27, 2025.

Greg Gallo

A/Secretary General