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Ottawa, 1 December 1993
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Decision CRTC 93-695
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Cogeco Radio-Télévision Inc.
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Baie-Comeau, Quebec - 930725700
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New FM radio station
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Following a Public Hearing in the National Capital Region beginning on 27 September 1993, the Commission approves the application for a broadcasting licence for a French-language FM radio programming undertaking at Baie-Comeau, on the frequency 97.1 MHz, channel 246B, with an effective radiated power of 4,207 watts.
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The Commission will issue a licence expiring 31 August 1996, subject to the conditions specified in this decision and in the licence to be issued. This term will enable the Commission to consider the renewal of this licence at the same time as that of other radio stations in the area.
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The proposed FM station will replace the existing AM service CHLC Baie-Comeau which is licensed to the applicant. The Commission notes that the applicant intends to operate both stations concurrently for a period of time not exceeding six months and that it has committed to surrender its licence for CHLC at the end of this period.
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The Commission reaffirms the particular importance it attaches to the development of Canadian talent. As part of its application, the licensee indicated that it was unable to make a commitment in direct expenditures to Canadian talent development because of the station's financial difficulties. The Commission will expect the licensee to make direct cost contributions to the development of Canadian talent once the station achieves a positive operating income, the profit before interest and tax (PBIT) index being the primary profitability indicator.
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It is a condition of licence that the applicant adhere to the guidelines on gender portrayal set out in the Canadian Association of Broadcasters' (CAB) "Sex-Role Portrayal Code for Television and Radio Programming", as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
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It is also a condition of licence that the applicant adhere to the provisions of the CAB's "Broadcast Code for Advertising to Children", as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
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In Public Notice CRTC 1992-59 dated 1 September 1992 and entitled "Implementation of an Employment Equity Policy", the Commission announced that the employment equity practices of broadcasters would be subject to examination by the Commission. It encourages the applicant to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.
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The Department of Communications (DOC) has advised the Commission that this application is conditionally technically acceptable, and that a Broadcasting Certificate will only be issued once it has been determined that the proposed technical parameters will not create any unacceptable interference with aeronautical NAV/COM services.
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In accordance with subsection 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, the Commission will only issue the licence, 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 a Broadcasting Certificate will be issued. It is a condition of licence that construction of this undertaking be completed and that it 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 this 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 acknowledges the intervention filed by La SIDAC Place Lasalle in support of this application.
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Allan J. Darling
Secretary General
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