Complaint Letter to the CRTC

Subject: Complaint Regarding Altered and Disturbing Radio Broadcasts in Public Establishments

To Whom It May Concern,

I am submitting this complaint to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) regarding disturbing and unauthorized radio broadcasts I have repeatedly experienced in public establishments across Canada, including McDonald’s, Subway, and Tim Hortons locations.

For over ten years, I have encountered situations where satellite radio channels in these businesses play altered versions of popular songs. These versions often feature synthetic voices and disturbing, inappropriate lyrics that differ from the original recordings. The broadcasts appear to target individuals and create an unsafe and hostile environment.

I have documented several instances of this problem. For example:

• At Tim Hortons in Sage Hill, Calgary, staff confirmed that all four satellite radio channels available to them were affected. The manager often turned the radio off because of the disturbing content.
• Approximately eight years ago, at Tim Hortons on Main Street in Penticton, B.C., a young employee noticed the altered lyrics and raised her concern to the manager. Instead of addressing the issue, the manager screamed at her until she cried, threatening her job for wanting to turn off the radio. This was one of the most troubling incidents I have witnessed.

I have also attempted to record and share evidence of these broadcasts online. In one case, a recording I posted to YouTube was blocked due to copyright claims, even though it clearly demonstrated the altered lyrics compared to the original artist’s work.

This ongoing issue has caused significant distress to myself and others. It raises serious concerns about the integrity of broadcast content being delivered through satellite radio in public spaces, and the lack of accountability when businesses and consumers are exposed to manipulated or harmful material.

Requested Action:

I respectfully request that the CRTC investigate these unauthorized and altered broadcasts, determine how they are being transmitted through satellite radio channels, and take appropriate regulatory action to ensure that Canadian consumers are protected from disturbing and manipulated content in public establishments.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Stephan Theo Unrau

Calgary, Alberta