ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 2000-135

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  Decision CRTC 2000-135
  Ottawa, 1 May 2000
  The Base Commander of Canadian Forces Base Suffield Alberta, Lieutenant-Colonel C.H. Watson and his successors
Canadian Forces Base Suffield, Alberta – 199912796

  21 February 2000 Public Hearing
in Vancouver
  New FM radio programming undertaking

1.

The Commission approves the application for a broadcasting licence to carry on an English-language FM radio programming undertaki ng at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Suffield.

2.

Subject to the requirements of this decision, the Commission will issue a licence expiring 31 August 2006. This licence will be subject to the conditions specified in this decision and in the licence to be issued.

3.

The Commission's intention in granting this licence is to permit the licensee to offer an FM radio service exclusively for the benefit of British Armed Forces personnel and their dependents stationed at CFB Suffield. It is not intended that this service be received by any subscribers of a broadcasting distribution undertaking (BDU). Accordingly, the authority granted herein and the licence issued pursuant to this decision are void and of no effect for so long as the programming service broadcast by the licensee is distributed by any BDU.

4.

The station will operate as a non-commercial undertaking. It will offer a contemporary hit radio music format and will broadcast a minimum of 50 hours of locally-produced programming each week. The remaining programming will be provided by Services Sound and Vision Corporation (SSVC), a British-based service that offers a mixture of its own programming and that of the British Broadcasting Corporation.

5.

The Commission approves the applicant's request to be exempted from the requirements of section 2.2 of the Radio Regulations, 1986 (the regulations)regarding the broadcast of Canadian musical selections. The Commission notes that the station will operate on a not-for-profit basis. The applicant made a commitment "not to solicit or broadcast any commercial announcements of any kind." Most of the station's programming will originate with SSVC in Britain on a satellite feed. The station will target British military personnel stationed at CFB Suffield only. With the exception of the community of Redcliffe, situated on the south eastern fringe of the proposed 0.5 mV/m contour, the station will only reach Suffield and Ralston, communities directly associated with CFB Suffield. Based on the foregoing, the Commission is satisfied that approval of this request will not have an impact on existing radio licensees. Conditions of licence relieving the licensee from section 2.2 of the regulations and prohibiting it from broadcasting any commercial message are set out below.

6.

The applicant, nevertheless, recognizes that the station will make use of a Canadian frequency and is subject to the requirements of the Broadcasting Act. The Commission notes the applicant's commitments to:
 
  • broadcast at least 2 Canadian songs during each hour of locally-produced programming that includes musical selections;
 
  • broadcast, during locally-produced programming aired over the broadcast week, at least 25% Canadian musical selections; and
 
  • broadcast a weekly "Top 40" Canadian program that will feature Canadian artists and have a Canadian content level higher than 25%.
  Conditions of licence

7.

The licensee is relieved, by condition of licence of the requirements set out in section 2.2 of the regulations regarding the broadcast of Canadian musical selections.

8.

By conditions of licence, the licensee must:
 
  • not broadcast any commercial messages;
 
  • 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.
  Other matters

9.

The licence will only be issued and effective when the new station is ready to begin operation. When the licensee has completed construction and is prepared to commence operation, it must advise the Commission in writing. If the station is not constructed and ready to operate within 12 months of today’s date, extensions to this time frame may be granted provided that the licensee applies in writing to the Commission before the 12-month period or any extension of that period expires.

10.

The new FM station will operate on the frequency 104.1 MHz, channel 281A, with an effective radiated power of 1,067 watts. The Commission notes that the application, as originally filed, was predicated on an effective radiated power of 1,524 watts.

11.

The Department of Industry has advised the Commission that this application is conditionally technically acceptable. The Department will only issue a broadcasting certificate once it has determined that the proposed technical parameters will not create any unacceptable interference with aeronautical NAV/COM services.

12.

In accordance with section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, the Commission will only issue the licence and grant the authority to operate when it receives notification from the Department of Industry that its technical requirements have been met, and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.

  Secretary General


  This decision is to be appended to the licence.  It is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be viewed at the following Internet site: www.crtc.gc.ca
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