Search

Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2023-187

PDF version

Reference: Part 1 application posted on 18 April 2023

Ottawa, 29 June 2023

Radio Beauséjour inc.
Shediac, New Brunswick

Public record: 2023-0128-2

CJSE-FM Shediac and its transmitter CJSE-FM-1 Memramcook –Technical changes

  1. The Commission has the authority, pursuant to subsection 9(1) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act), to issue licences for the carrying on of broadcasting undertakings as well as to amend those licences.
  2. Consistent with this authority, the Commission approves the application by Radio Beauséjour inc. to change the authorized contours of CJSE-FM-1 Memramcook, New-Brunswick, a low-power rebroadcasting transmitter of the French-language radio programming undertaking of CJSE-FM Shediac, New-Brunswick. Specifically, the licensee proposed to decrease the effective height of the antenna above average terrain (EHAAT) from 120.9 metres to 73.0 metres and update the geographical coordinates of the transmitter. All other technical parameters will remain unchanged.
  3. The Commission did not receive any interventions in regard to this application.
  4. When a licensee of a radio station files an application for technical changes, the Commission generally requires the licensee to present compelling technical or economic evidence justifying the requested technical changes. In this case, the licensee wishes to relocate the transmitter to a more accessible site that would be more affordable to operate. It stated that the current site is in a remote, wooded area in Taylor Village, south of Memramcook, and that it is difficult to access during winter and spring. Further, it specified that the facilities are subject to numerous power failures.
  5. The licensee stated that the transmitter will be placed on the municipality of Memramcook’s fire department’s telecommunication tower, located at seven kilometres from the current site, and that it will share the operation expenses with the municipality. It further specified that the changes will help improve the transmitter’s signal quality in Memramcook, which serves a predominantly French-speaking community.
  6. Therefore, the Commission is of the view that approval of this application will not have a negative impact on other incumbent stations and will allow the station to serve the francophones in Memramcook.
  7. The Commission is satisfied that the licensee has demonstrated a technical need for the requested changes and that the technical solution proposed is appropriate.
  8. Pursuant to subsection 22(1) of the Act, this authority will only be effective when the Department of Industry (also known as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada) notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.
  9. The licensee must implement the technical changes by no later than 29 June 2025. To request an extension, the licensee must submit a written request to the Commission at least 60 days before that date, using the form available on the Commission’s website.
  10. As set out in section 16 of the Radio Regulations, 1986 (the Regulations), licensees have obligations relating to the broadcast of emergency alert messages received from the National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System. In regard to the changes to CJSE-FM-1’s authorized contours resulting from the implementation of the technical changes approved in this decision, the Commission reminds the licensee that continued compliance with section 16 of the Regulations may require that any alert broadcast decoders (e.g., ENDEC) used for the purposes of broadcasting emergency alert messages on CJSE-FM, or on any rebroadcasting transmitters that may appear on the broadcasting licence for that station, be reprogrammed to properly account for the new authorized contours.

Secretary General

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Date modified: