ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 95-51

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Decision

Ottawa, 16 February 1995
Decision CRTC 95-51
Sonème Inc.
Mont-Laurier and L'Annonciation, Quebec - 940689300 - 940690100
Conversion of an AM station to FM
Following a Public Hearing in Vancouver beginning on 1 November 1994, the Commission approves the application for a broadcasting licence for a French-language FM radio programming undertaking (Group I - Pop, Rock and Dance) consisting of an originating station at Mont-Laurier on the frequency 104.7 MHz (channel 284B) with an effective radiated power of 10,980 watts, and the application for a transmitter at L'Annonciation, on the frequency 101.9 MHz (channel 270A) with an effective radiated power of 1,150 watts.
The Department of Industry, Science and Technology (DIST) has advised that, contrary to what had been indicated in CRTC Notice of Public Hearing 1994-14 dated 1 September 1994, the transmitter at Mont-Laurier will have an effective radiated power of 10,980 watts rather than 10,000 watts, and the transmitter at L'Annonciation will have an effective radiated power of 1,150 watts rather than 1,000 watts.
This application was filed by the current licensee of the AM station CFLO Mont-Laurier and its transmitter CKLO L'Annonciation with a view to converting the station to FM.
Upon surrender of the current licence issued for CFLO and CKLO, the Commission will issue a licence expiring 31 August 1997, subject to the conditions specified in this decision and in the licence to be issued.
The licence term granted herein, while less than the maximum of seven years permitted under the Broadcasting Act, will enable the Commission to consider the renewal of this licence in accordance with the Commission's regional plan and to better distribute the workload within the Commission.
The applicant has advised the Commission that the transmitter in L'Annonciation will only be implemented if required in order to improve the signal quality in the Vallée de la Rouge, should coverage by the Mont-Laurier transmitter prove to be inadequate. The applicant is asked to inform the Commission of its final plans with respect to the L'Annonciation transmitter within six months of the implementation of the FM station in Mont-Laurier.
The Commission notes the applicant's commitment not to solicit advertising in Maniwaki and Saint-Jovite.
This station meets the criteria for a single-station market as defined in Public Notice CRTC 1993-121 dated 17 August 1993 and, consequently, it is not required to commit to minimum levels of locally-produced programming in order to accept or solicit local advertising. However, the Commission notes that the applicant proposes to broadcast 70 hours of local programming per broadcast week.
It is a condition of licence that the applicant adhere to the guidelines on gender portrayal set out in the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) "Sex-Role Portrayal Code for Television and Radio Programming", as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
It is also a condition of licence that the applicant adhere to the provisions of the CAB's "Broadcast Code for Advertising to Children", as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
The Commission reaffirms the particular importance it attaches to the development of Canadian talent and is satisfied with the annual budgets and the initiatives proposed by the applicant in this respect. It encourages the applicant, during the new licence term, to continue its efforts towards the support, development and on-air exposure of local and regional talent.
In Public Notice CRTC 1992-59 dated 1 September 1992 and entitled "Implementation of an Employment Equity Policy", the Commission announced that the employment equity practices of broadcasters would be subject to examination by the Commission. It encourages the applicant to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.
This approval is subject to the requirement that construction of the transmitting facilities be completed and that they be in operation within twelve months of the date of this decision, or where the applicant applies to the Commission within this period and satisfies the Commission that it cannot complete construction and commence operations before the expiry of this period and that an extension is in the public interest, within such further periods of time as are approved in writing by the Commission.
Should construction not be completed within the period stipulated in this decision or, should the Commission refuse to approve an extension of time requested by the licensee, the authority granted shall lapse and become null and void upon expiry of the period of time granted herein or upon the termination of the last approved extension period.
DIST has advised the Commission that this application is conditionally technically acceptable, and that a Broadcasting Certificate will only be issued once it has been determined that the proposed technical parameters will not create any unacceptable interference with aeronautical NAV/COM services.
In accordance with subsection 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, the Commission will only issue the licence and the authority granted herein may only be implemented at such time as written notification is received from the DIST that its technical requirements have been met, and that a Broadcasting Certificate will be issued.
Allan J. Darling
Secretary General

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