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Route reference: Part 1 application posted on 24 August 2012

Ottawa, 4 February 2013

Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Truro
Truro, Nova Scotia

Application 2012-1009-6

CJIS-FM Truro – Technical change

The Commission denies an application by the Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Truro to change the authorized contours of the low-power English-language tourist information radio station CJIS-FM Truro, Nova Scotia.

The application

1. The Commission received an application by James K. Langille, in his capacity as the Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Truro to amend the authorized contours of the low-power English-language tourist information FM radio programming undertaking CJIS-FM Truro, Nova Scotia by changing the class from LP to A, changing the antenna’s radiation pattern from non-directional to directional, increasing the average effective radiated power (ERP) from 2 to 340 watts (maximum ERP from 2 to 550 watts) and increasing the antenna’s effective height above average terrain from 24 to 29.6 metres.

2. The licensee indicated that the technical change was necessary to provide emergency alerting services for the Regional Emergency Measures Organization to all of Colchester County. The Commission did not receive any interventions in connection with this application.

Commission’s analysis and decisions

3. CJIS-FM is currently licensed as a low-power unprotected FM service. Approval of this application would change its operating class to that of a service that has protected status under the Department of Industry’s rules.[1] The Commission expects a licensee that applies to change the operating class of its low-power radio station to present compelling evidence that the authorized low-power technical parameters are not adequate to provide the service as originally proposed.

4. The technical changes requested in this application would result in an increase in the population served from 2,835 to 22,259 in the 3 mV/m contour and from 18,056 to 22,259 in the 0.5 mV/m contour.

5. The Commission finds that the licensee has not presented any compelling technical need for its request to change its class and increase its power. The Commission also notes that the licensee has indicated that approval of the amendment is not necessary for the financial viability of the station and would not impact its financial projections. In the absence of sufficient evidence from the applicant, the Commission is not convinced that a change in the station’s technical parameters is warranted to assist it in fulfilling its mandate as originally licensed.

6. The applicant cited an agreement to function as an emergency broadcaster for the town of Truro in support of its application. In Broadcasting Order 2009-340 and Broadcasting Decision 2011-438, the Commission addressed the implementation of a National Public Alerting System. In Broadcasting Decision 2011-438, the Commission reiterated its expectation that all radio and television broadcasters and broadcasting distribution undertakings participate in the National Public Alerting System and reminded all licensees that they have a duty to inform the public of imminent perils. As the effectiveness of public alerting increases with the number of participating broadcasters, the Commission is of the view that it is inappropriate for any given broadcaster to act as the designated emergency broadcaster. In this respect, the Commission notes that the Province of Nova Scotia has signed Memorandums of Agreement with many broadcasters to that end, including two stations serving Colchester County operated by Astral Media Radio Atlantic. Accordingly, the Commission considers that the applicant’s proposal to serve as the emergency broadcaster for the Town of Truro does not justify approval of its application.

Conclusion

7. In light of all of the above, the Commission denies the application by the Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Truro to amend the authorized contours of the low-power English-language tourist information FM radio programming undertaking CJIS-FM Truro, Nova Scotia by changing the class from LP to A, changing the antenna’s radiation pattern from non-directional to directional, increasing the average ERP from 2 to 340 watts (maximum ERP from 2 to 550 watts) and increasing the antenna’s effective height above average terrain from 24 to 29.6 metres.

Secretary General

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