The head of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission says the rules governing the TV industry need to be revisited - and he's anxious to hear from Canadians on the issue.

"It's time to ask, 'Do the assumptions that lie beneath our current regulatory policies still hold true?' " CRTC chairman Jean-Pierre Blais asked during a Wednesday speech at the Banff World Media Festival.

"Broadcasting, as we once knew it, is no longer and will never again be the same."

The CRTC will consult with Canadians beginning this fall in an effort to provide more flexible viewing options and make it easier for TV networks to compete with online challengers.

"We want to take the pulse of the population before undertaking any future regulatory proceedings. We need to hear directly from Canadians," said Blais.

"It's about ensuring that our television system serves the interests of all Canadians, not only those of the majority. There must be a range of choices and a diversity of content that reflects Canadians in all their circumstances."

Blais says the CRTC has to have "the audacity to do the right thing, the right way, for the right reasons in the right circumstances."

The CRTC unveiled a new set of rules earlier this month allowing cellphone customers to walk away from their contracts after two years without any early cancellation penalties.