ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 94-618
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Ottawa, 15 August 1994
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Decision CRTC 94-618
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CKER Radio Ltd.
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Edmonton, Alberta - 932136500
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Conversion of an AM station to FM
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Following a Public Hearing in Saskatoon beginning on 6 June 1994, the Commission approves the application for a broadcasting licence for a Group III (Specialty) FM (ethnic radio) programming undertaking at Edmonton, on the frequency 101.9 MHz, channel 270C, with an effective radiated power of 64,000 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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CKER Radio Ltd. is currently the licensee of CKER which operates on the frequency 1480 kHz. CKER is the only ethnic radio station serving Edmonton. The licensee will cease operation of this AM undertaking within three to six months following the implementation of the proposed FM service. During this transition period, the licensee will simulcast on 1480 kHz the programming of the proposed FM service. At the end of this period, the Commission requires CKER Radio Ltd. to surrender the licence currently issued for CKER.
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In support of this application, the licensee claimed that the conversion from the AM band to an FM frequency is needed to correct the technical inadequacy of CKER's signal. The licensee noted that, with only 10,000 watts of AM transmitter power in a city as large and populated as Edmonton, CKER delivers a poor quality signal to many parts of its coverage area.
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The licensee stated that it will continue to operate the proposed FM undertaking as an ethnic station in accordance with subsection 7(1) of the Radio Regulations, 1986 and with the Commission's policy outlined in Public Notice CRTC 1985-139 entitled "A Broadcasting Policy Reflecting Canada's Linguistic and Cultural Diversity". The new FM undertaking will offer 92 hours 25 minutes of ethnic programming each week.
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The licensee is required to continue to adhere to CKER's current conditions of licence, including those regarding ethnic programming. Specifically, by condition of licence, the licensee shall, in each week of the licence term, broadcast ethnic programming directed towards not less than 16 distinct ethnic groups in not less than 20 different languages. Further, by condition of licence, the licensee shall, in each week of the licence term, devote not less than 71 hours 30 minutes to the broadcasting of ethnic programming of Types A and B.
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CFCW Broadcasting, a division of NewCap Broadcasting Ltd. and licensee of CFCW Edmonton/Camrose and CKRA-FM Edmonton, submitted an opposing intervention claiming that the introduction of a new FM radio station into the Edmonton radio market at this time would have a negative impact on AM radio in that market.
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Having considered the available evidence, the Commission is satisfied that an approval will enable CKER Radio Ltd. to rectify CKER's technical impediment and enable the licensee to provide a better quality signal to ethnic communities in Edmonton. Furthermore, the Commission is satisfied that, in view of the licensee's commitment to maintain CKER's ethnic programming orientation, and given the unique nature of that programming, the conversion of CKER to an FM station should not have any significant impact on other radio broadcasters operating in the Edmonton market.
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The Commission reaffirms the particular importance it attaches to the development of Canadian talent and is satisfied with the annual budgets and the initiatives proposed by the licensee in this respect. It encourages the licensee, during the new licence term, to continue its efforts towards the support, development and on-air exposure of local and regional talent.
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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 licensee 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 licensee 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 licensee 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 Industry Science and Technology (DIST) 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 DIST 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 the authority granted herein be implemented within twelve months of the date of receipt of the DIST 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 implement its authority 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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Allan J. Darling
Secretary General |
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- Date modified: