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Decision
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Ottawa, 19 March 1987
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Decision CRTC 87-190
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Radio Cornwall-Hawkesbury Inc.
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Hawkesbury, Ontario - 860864800
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Following a Public Hearing in Montreal on 24 November 1986, the Commission approves the application to amend the broadcasting licence for CHPR-1-FM Hawkesbury by increasing the effective radiated power from 50 watts to 780 watts.
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The licensee stated at the hearing that CHPR-1-FM currently broadcasts 35 hours per week of local programming and, during the remainder of the time, rebroadcasts programming from CJLA-FM Lachute, Quebec. The Commission notes moreover that, as a result of the power increase herein authorized, the coverage areas of these two stations will overlap considerably. Furthermore, CHPR-1-FM's programs are broadcast simultaneously on the AM band by CHPR Hawkesbury which, however, broadcasts only during day-time hours.
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While this approval constitutes a departure from the long-standing general policy of the Commission and of the Department of Communications (DOC) not to authorize two FM stations to offer the same service in the same market, the Commission is satisfied that approval is warranted in this case.
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This decision is part of the Commission's continuing effort to ensure at least a minimum of local French-language radio services for the francophone population of Eastern Ontario. The Hawkesbury market is unable to support a local full-time FM station. Accordingly, the Commission authorized the licensee to rebroadcast part of the programming of the Lachute station in Hawkesbury (Decision CRTC 83-499 dated 30 June 1983). In that same decision, the Commission, in order to enable the licensee to provide night-time service and to consolidate its operations, authorized it to continue operating CHPR concurrent with CHPR-1-FM for a temporary period. The Commission noted, however, that CHPR-1-FM's urban contour (3mV/m) did not adequately cover Hawkesbury and it, therefore, urged the licensee to consult with DOC in order to find a solution to this problem and to submit proposals in this regard.
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The licensee stated at the hearing that its current proposal had been found technically acceptable by DOC and that, given the improvement in CHPR-1-FM's coverage that would result, it would cease the operation of CHPR as soon as it implements the power increase.
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The Commission further notes that it has not received any interventions opposing this application.
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Fernand Bélisle
Secretary General
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