ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 96-242

Decision

Ottawa, 21 June 1996

Decision CRTC 96-242

Réseau Radio Campus Laval

Sainte-Foy, Quebec - 951302900

New FM campus/community radio programming undertaking

Following a Public Hearing in the National Capital Region beginning on 15 April 1996, the Commission approves the application for a broadcasting licence for a French-language FM campus/ community radio programming undertaking at Sainte-Foy, on the frequency 94.3 MHz (channel 232LP), with an effective radiated power of 50 watts.

Subject to the requirements of this decision, the Commission will issue a licence expiring 31 August 2000. The licence will be subject to the conditions specified in this decision and in the licence to be issued.

The licence term granted herein, while less than the maximum of seven years permitted under the Broadcasting Act (the Act), will enable the Commission to consider the renewal of this licence in accordance with the Commission's regional plan for campus/community radio undertakings across Canada and to better distribute the workload within the Commission.

The Commission notes that the station will broadcast 110 hours of local programming per week and that it proposes to reduce its hours of broadcast to 89 hours per week during the summer period. In this regard, the Commission reminds the applicant that it is required to fulfill the minimum commitment for station-produced programming set out in its Promise of Performance.

The Commission notes that the station will devote 36% of its programming to spoken word programming and that 67% of the vocal music will be in the French-language. The Commission also notes that the Canadian content will be 46% of Category 2 musical selections, 12% of Category 3 and 8% of ethnic selections. The applicant proposes to devote 4.7% of its programming to ethnic programming.

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. As long as the applicant is broadcasting 110 hours of programming per week, as intended, the maximum permitted weekly amount of advertising would total 440 minutes with a maximum of 110 minutes of conventional advertising.

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 applicant that, in accordance with the requirements of the "Direction to the CRTC (Ineligibility of Non-Canadians)", the chief executive officer and not less than 80 per cent of the members of the board of directors must be Canadians.

It is also 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 accepted by the Commission.

Further, is 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 accepted 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 authority will only be effective and the licence will only be issued at such time as construction of the undertaking is completed and it is prepared to commence operation. If the construction is not completed 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 operation before the expiry of this period, and that an extension of time is in the public interest, within such further periods of time as are approved in writing by the Commission, the licence will not be issued. The applicant is required to advise the Commission (before the expiry of the twelve-month period or any extension thereof) in writing, once it has completed construction and is prepared to commence operation.

The Department of Industry 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 Act, the Commission will only issue the licence and the authority will only be granted at such time as written notification is received from the Department of Industry that its technical requirements have been met, and that a Broadcasting Certificate will be issued.

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

 Allan J. Darling
 Secretary General