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Ottawa, 24 February 1993
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Decision CRTC 93-76
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Radio Communautaire Cornwall-Alexandria Inc.
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Cornwall, Alexandria and area, Ontario - 920596400
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Following a Public Hearing in the National Capital Region held on 19 January 1993, the Commission approves the application for a broadcasting licence for a French-language community FM radio programming undertaking at Cornwall, Alexandria and area on the frequency 92.1 MHz (channel 221B), with an effective radiated power of 19,200 watts.
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The applicant has requested an exemption from the community radio policy that would allow it to be licensed as a Type A community radio station, thereby providing it with the flexibility it claims is necessary to serve the advertising needs of local area businesses.
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The Commission notes in this regard that, pursuant to Public Notice CRTC 1992-38 dated 29 May 1992 entitled "Policies for Community and Campus Radio", a Type B licence would normally be issued in instances such as the present case, where "at least one other AM or FM radio station is licensed to operate in the same language in all or any part of the same market." The Commission approves the applicant's request for an exemption from the community radio policy and will issue a licence for a Type A community FM radio station. In granting this exemption, the Commission notes that, although signals from stations in Montréal and Ottawa can be received locally, the new station will provide the only local French-language radio service to the area. The licence will expire on 31 August 1999 and will be subject to the conditions specified in this decision and in the licence to be issued.
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Radio Communautaire Cornwall-Alexandria Inc. currently has 600 active members. The Commission notes that the Cornwall campus of the Cité collégiale, will support the applicant by providing space to the station at no cost; Bell Cellular has also agreed to provide an antenna site at no cost to the applicant.
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The Commission notes that this community station is owned and controlled by a not-for-profit organization whose structure provides for membership, management, operation, and programming primarily by members of the community at large.
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The Commission notes that the applicant proposes to broadcast 126 hours of programming per broadcast week, of which 98 hours will be produced by the station and 28 hours will originate from CIEL-FM Longueuil, Quebec. The applicant also proposes to broadcast programming received from CIEL-FM between midnight and 6:00 a.m., representing an additional 42 hours per week.
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The Commission notes that the applicant intends to focus its local programming on topics of educational and community interest. The Commission expects community radio to develop innovative and alternative forms of community-oriented programming that contribute to the diversity and variety of radio services within a community. It also expects community radio to focus on all aspects of the community, by offering programming which examines issues affecting all of its members, as well as programs which deal with matters of interest to specific elements within it, such as neighbourhoods, surrounding towns, villages, and specific interest groups.
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In its policy on community radio released in May 1992, the Commission encouraged community broadcasters to promote the development of local artists on their stations. The applicant has made the following commitments in this regard: it will make its studios and resources available to local artists to assist them in developing their talent; it will broadcast an annual program featuring a local artist of the year, as well as live or taped programs featuring artists appearing at local events, interviews with local artists and programs featuring their work. The applicant also proposes to organize local amateur talent contests during the course of which prizes and scholarships will be awarded.
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In Public Notice CRTC 1992-59 dated 1 September 1992 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 considers that community radio stations should be particularly sensitive to this issue in order to reflect fully the community they serve. Accordingly, the Commission 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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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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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.
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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 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation filed an intervention opposing the applicant's choice of FM frequency, pointing out that the frequency in question is identified in the revised CBC Long Range Radio Plan. In its intervention, the CBC suggested that the applicant utilize the frequency 106.5 MHz (channel 293A) which is currently allocated to Brockville. According to the applicant, however, the frequency suggested by the CBC is not an acceptable technical solution.
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The Commission has thoroughly examined the intervener's concerns as well as the applicant's reply to the CBC. The Commission notes that, of the remaining available frequencies, the frequency allocated to Brockville might be an acceptable alternative for the CBC's proposed stereo service at Cornwall. It notes further in this regard that the CBC has not filed an application for this service nor has it indicated when it might be prepared to do so. In the Commission's view, a local French-language radio service to serve the Cornwall and Alexandria area should be established at the earliest opportunity. Accordingly, the Commission has determined that approval of this application is in the public interest and that it meets the guidelines for non-CBC applicants set out in Public Notice CRTC 1991-102 entitled "Review of CBC Long Range Radio Plan".
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The Commission acknowledges the intervention filed by Tri-Co Broadcasting Ltd. (Tri-Co), licensee of English-language radio stations CJSS and CFLG-FM Cornwall, which opposed the establishment of a new radio station in the area. Tri-Co expressed concern that a new station would draw advertising revenues from its own client base and thus jeopardize the viability of its two radio stations. The Commission is satisfied with the applicant's reply to this intervention. It remains convinced that it is in the public interest for the Cornwall area to have its own French-language community radio station. The Commission is also of the view that the Cornwall market can support the new station without jeopardizing the viability of the two existing stations.
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The Commission also acknowledges the many interventions filed in support of this application, namely, those of Alliance culturelle de l'Ontario; Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada Inc.; Association canadienne d'éducation de langue française; Association canadienne-française de l'Ontario (ACFO); Centre Alpha "J'aime Apprendre Inc."; Centre culturel - Les Trois p'tits points; Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Roman Catholic School Board - French-language Section; Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Public School Board - French-language Section; Direction-Jeunesse; École communautaire; École la Nativité; Fédération de la Jeunesse canadienne-française Inc.; Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada; Fédération des gens de la presse de l'Ontario; Mouvements des intervenants et intervenantes communautaires en radio de l'Ontario; and Proaction.
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Allan J. Darling
Secretary General
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