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Ottawa, 3 May 1991
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Decision CRTC 91-272
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CIBM-FM Mont-Bleu Ltée
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Rivière-du-Loup and Trois-Pistoles, Quebec - 902749100 - 902748300
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Following a Public Hearing in Québec beginning on 5 March 1991, the Commission approves the applications for licences to carry on French-language FM radio broadcasting transmitting undertakings at Rivière-du-Loup and Trois-Pistoles on the frequencies 107.9 MHz (channel 300) and 104.9 MHz (channel 285) and at an effective radiated power of 33.2 watts and 7.8 watts, respectively, to rebroadcast the programming of CIBM-FM Rivière-du-Loup.
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The Commission will issue licences expiring on 31 August 1994, subject to the conditions set out in this decision and in the licences to be issued. This period will enable the Commission to consider the renewal of these licences at the same time as that of CIBM-FM.
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The licensee indicated that the purpose of these applications is to improve CIBM-FM's signal quality in certain areas of its central market. It noted that the geographical impediments in the area prevented it from delivering a quality FM stereo signal in several areas along the St. Lawrence River in Rivière-du-Loup, in the community of Notre-Dame-du-Portage, and in the center of Trois-Pistoles.
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The Commission acknowledges that approval of these applications represents an exception to its longstanding policy of not allowing the use of more than one frequency to provide the same service within a single market. The Commission, however, is confident that an exception is warranted in this case, given the reception problems associated with the signal originating at the CIBM-FM main transmitter on Mont-Bleu. A technical evaluation consisting of field strength and signal quality measurements was carried out by the licensee's consulting engineers. In addition, the Department of Communications (DOC) has confirmed that these applications are technically acceptable on an exceptional basis.
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Where circumstances warrant, the Commission generally authorizes the operation of low-power rebroadcasters on unprotected frequencies to compensate for the deficiencies of a main transmitter, as proposed by the licensee for Trois-Pistoles. As for Rivière-du-Loup, the licensee proposed to use a Class A1 protected frequency. Because relatively few of these frequencies are available, the Commission normally considers such proposals to be inconsistent with optimum utilization of the broadcast spectrum.
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At the Public Hearing, the licensee argued that, after considering all possible solutions, the technical solution proposed represents the most practical and economical in the circumstances. It noted that the proposed antenna site at Pointe-de-Rivière-du-Loup is a developed site from which station CKRT-TV Rivière-du-Loup currently operates a television rebroadcaster to compensate for the same type of deficiency that the applicant seeks to rectify with respect to its radio signal. The licensee added that, in order to provide a quality signal in the poorly-served areas of Rivière-du-Loup and in Notre-Dame-du-Portage, a community located some 10 kilometres to the west, it will have to transmit on a Class A1 frequency at the power level proposed.
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DOC has advised the Commission that these applications are conditionally technically acceptable, and that Broadcasting Certificates will only be issued once it has been determined that the undertakings' proposed technical parameters will not create any unacceptable interference with aeronautical NAV/COM services.
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In accordance with paragraph 13(1)(b) of the Broadcasting Act, the Commission will only issue the licences, and the authority granted herein may only be implemented, at such time as written notification is received from the DOC that its technical requirements have been met, and that Broadcasting Certificates will be issued.
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In the case of each undertaking, it is a condition of licence that construction be completed and that the undertaking be in operation within twelve months of the date of receipt of the DOC notification referred to in the preceding paragraph or, where the applicant applies to the Commission within this period and satisfies the Commission that it cannot complete implementation before the expiry of the said period and that an extension is in the public interest, within such further period of time as is approved in writing by the Commission.
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The Commission has considered the written intervention filed by CION-FM Inc., licensee of CION-FM Rivière-du-Loup, which opposed the application to use a Class A1 frequency for the Rivière-du-Loup rebroadcaster. The Commission has also considered the written intervention of Radio Dégelis Inc., licensee of CFVD Ville Dégelis and its rebroadcasters at Squatec, Cabano and Pohénégamook. Radio Dégelis Inc.'s concerns relate to the proposed operation of a rebroadcaster at Trois-Pistoles on the frequency 104.9 MHz, which is the frequency used by its own rebroadcaster at Pohénégamook. In reply, the applicant noted that its proposal satisfies DOC technical requirements, but undertook to apply for another frequency should it decide to increase the power of its Trois-Pistoles rebroadcaster at a later date.
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Allan J. Darling
Secretary General
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