ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 95-61

Decision

Ottawa, 22 February 1995

Decision CRTC 95-61

Briercrest Community Radio Inc.

Caronport, Saskatchewan - 940451800

New campus/community FM radio station

Following a Public Hearing in the National Capital Region on 30 November 1994, the Commission approves by majority vote the application for a broadcasting licence for a English-language FM campus/community radio programming undertaking at Caronport, on the frequency 92.7 MHz, channel 224VLP, with an effective radiated power of 5 watts.

Pursuant to Public Notice CRTC 1992-38 dated 29 May 1992 entitled "Policies for Community and Campus Radio", the Commission will issue a licence for a campus/community radio station. This licence will expire 31 August 2001, and will be subject to the conditions specified in this decision and in the licence to be issued.

Ownership and Programming

The applicant is a company incorporated under the Saskatchewan non-profit Corporations Act and controlled by a board made up of six members. The station will be financed by Briercrest Bible College.

The applicant will broadcast 126 hours of local programming per week and musical programming will consist of Category 3 music (Traditional and Special Interest) exclusively. The proposed programming will be predominantly religious.2

In Public Notice CRTC 1993-78 dated 3 June 1993, the Commission announced its policy on religious broadcasting, which is essentially based on recognition of alternative values and the importance of balance in matters of public concern. While it allows greater flexibility in the licensing of religious programming services, the policy also recognizes the concerns and requirements of the Commission in this regard and sets out application assessment criteria relating to programming, complementarity within the market, ethical standards and foreign programs. Although the Commission no longer expects an applicant seeking a licence to carry on a new radio undertaking for the broadcast of religious programming to have a multifaith ownership and management structure, the proposed programming must adequately meet the needs of the community it serves.

A majority of the Commission considers that the application by Briercrest Community Radio Inc. complies with all elements of the policy.

It is a condition of licence that the applicant broadcast religious programming as defined in Public Notice CRTC 1993-78.

The Commission reminds the applicant that the proposed repeat factor of 12 is inconsistent with the campus/community radio policy's goal of encouraging musical diversity. Accordingly, the applicant is required to submit to the Commission, within three months of the date of the decision, a revised page 3 of its Promise of Performance, indicating a commitment to limit its repeat factor to 10.

Advertising

In accordance with Public Notice CRTC 1993-38 dated 19 April 1993 entitled "Policies for Local Programming on Commercial Radio Stations and Advertising on Campus Stations", the Commission authorizes the applicant by condition of licence, to broadcast no more than 504 minutes of advertising per broadcast week, with a maximum of 4 minutes in any one hour. Of the weekly total of 504 minutes, a maximum of 126 minutes may be conventional advertising. The remainder of advertising broadcast must conform to the definition of restricted advertising set out in Public Notice CRTC 1993-38.

Ethics

It is a condition of licence that the applicant adhere to the guidelines on ethics for religious programming set out in Public Notice CRTC 1993-78 regarding solicitation of funds and religious programming practices.

The applicant has committed to provide balance in the treatment of religious matters on its station. The Commission views religious matters to be of public concern and consequently, licensees who broadcast religious programming have a particular obligation to expose their audiences to different points of view on religious matters and religion itself.

Other matters

It is a condition of licence that the applicant retain full control over all decisions concerning the management and programming of this station and that representatives of the student body, faculty, alumni or administration representatives of the university or college with which the station is associated, considered together, form the majority of the board of directors. In addition, the Commission reminds the licensee that, in accordance with the requirements of the "Direction to the CRTC (Eligible Canadian Corporations)", the chairman or other presiding officer and each of the directors or other similar officers must be Canadian citizens.

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.

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.

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 considers that campus/community radio stations should be particularly sensitive to this issue in order to reflect fully the communities they serve. It encourages the applicant to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.

This approval is subject to the requirement that construction of the undertaking be completed and that it be in operation within twelve months of the date of this decision, or where the applicant applies to the Commission within this period and satisfies the Commission that it cannot complete construction and commence operations before the expiry of this period and that an extension is in the public interest, within such further periods of time as are approved in writing by the Commission.

Should construction not be completed within the period stipulated in this decision or, should the Commission refuse to approve an extension of time requested by the applicant, the authority granted shall lapse and become null and void upon expiry of the period of time granted herein or upon the termination of the last approved extension period.

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.

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 DIST that its technical requirements have been met, and that a Broadcasting Certificate will be issued.

The Commission acknowledges the intervention submitted in support of this application.

Allan J. Darling
Secretary General