ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-177

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Route reference: 2013-536

Ottawa, 11 April 2014

Société d’information Lac-St-Jean
Dolbeau-Mistassini, Quebec

Application 2013-0698-6, received 2 May 2013
Public hearing in the National Capital Region
5 December 2013

French-language community radio station in Dolbeau-Mistassini

The Commission approvesan application for a broadcasting licence to operate a French-language community FM radio station in Dolbeau-Mistassini.

Application

1. Société d’information Lac-St-Jean filed an application to operate a French-language community FM radio station in Dolbeau-Mistassini, Quebec. The Commission did not receive any interventions regarding this application.

2. The proposed station would operate at 101.3 MHz (channel 267A) with an effective radiated power of 395 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 28.2 metres).

3. Société d’information Lac-St-Jean is a not-for-profit corporation controlled by its board of directors.

4. The applicant committed to broadcasting 126 hours of programming per broadcast week. It also committed to ensure that 75% of the news programming broadcast each broadcast week would be local, and 25% would be regional. The station would broadcast, live, regular city hall and MRC sessions, and sessions held during special events. The applicant proposed to broadcast a morning show, from 6 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday, and a newscast (5 to 10 minutes, pre-recorded) over the lunch hour Monday through Sunday.

5. With respect to the musical portion of the programming, the applicant proposed to draw 90% from content category 2 (Popular Music), 30% of which would be drawn from content subcategory 21 (Pop, rock and dance), and 10% from content category 3 (Special Interest Music), each broadcast week.

6. Additionally, the applicant committed to devote, during the broadcast week, at least 15% of its programming to programming drawn from content category 1 (Spoken Word), including content subcategories 11 (News) and 12 (Spoken Word – Other), as defined in Campus and community radio policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-499, 22 July 2010 (Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-499). This programming would focus primarily on the community.

7. Regarding the use of volunteers and their training, the applicant submitted that it would follow the approach of its local community television station in Dolbeau-Mistassini, TVLDM-9, which offers comprehensive training in media. The applicant indicated that it wishes to continue its approach with school boards, as well as social integration and career centres.

8. According to the applicant, the presence of its television station in Dolbeau-Mistassini would enable the community radio station to benefit from synergies concerning the broadcast of local news.

9. The applicant specified that in regard to the development of local talent, it intends to promote emerging local artists through interviews and the broadcast of performances via its coverage of various local events.

Commission’s analysis and decisions

10. The Commission expects community radio stations to provide programming differing in style and substance from that provided by other elements of the broadcasting system, particularly commercial radio stations and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Such programming should consist of music, especially Canadian music, not generally heard on commercial stations (including special interest music, as well as styles of popular music seldom broadcast), in-depth spoken word programming and programming targeted to specific groups within the community.

11. The Commission notes that the station proposed by the applicant would be the first community radio station to serve the Dolbeau-Mistassini market. In addition to having only a very limited financial impact on existing stations, it would provide advertisers in the community an additional advertising option and would have a positive impact on the diversity of voices and on musical diversity.

12. In light of the above, the Commission finds that the application complies with the provisions for community radio stations set out in Broadcasting Regulatory Policy 2010-499. Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by Société d’information Lac-St-Jean for a broadcasting licence to operate a French-language community FM radio programming undertaking in Dolbeau-Mistassini. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.

Secretary General

*This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2014-177

Terms, conditions of licence, expectation and encouragement for the French-language community FM radio programming undertaking serving Dolbeau-Mistassini

Terms

The licence will expire 31 August 2020.

The station will operate at 101.3 MHz (channel 267A) with an effective radiated power of 395 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 28.2 metres).

The Commission reminds the licensee that pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, this authority will be effective only when the Department of Industry confirms that its technical requirements have been met, and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.

The licence for this undertaking will be issued once the applicant has informed the Commission in writing that it is prepared to commence operations. The undertaking must be operational at the earliest possible date and in any event no later than 24 months from the date of this decision, unless a request for an extension of time is approved by the Commission before 11 April 2016. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a timely manner, it should be submitted at least 60 days before this date.

Conditions of licence

  1. The licensee shall adhere to the conditions of licence set out in Standard conditions of licence for campus and community radio stations, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2012-304, 22 May 2012.

Expectation

Filing of ownership information

As set out in Campus and community radio policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-499, 22 July 2010, the Commission expects all community and campus licensees to file yearly updates on the composition of their boards of directors. These annual updates can be submitted at the time of submission of annual returns, following annual board of directors’ elections, or at any other time. As noted in Appendix 3 to that policy, such information may be submitted via the Commission’s website.

Encouragement

Employment equity

The Commission considers that community radio stations should be particularly sensitive to employment equity issues in order to reflect fully the communities they serve. It encourages the licensee to consider these issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.

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