ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 97-568

Decision

Ottawa, 2 October 1997

Decision CRTC 97-568

The University of Manitoba Students' Union

New FM campus/community radio programming undertaking

1. Following a Public Hearing held in the National Capital Region on 19 August 1997, the Commission approves the application for a broadcasting licence for an English-language FM campus/ community radio programming undertaking at Winnipeg, on the frequency 101.5 MHz, channel 268A, with an effective radiated power of 1,200 watts.

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

3. The licence term granted herein, while less than the maximum of seven years permitted under the Broadcasting 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.

4. Public Notice CRTC 1992-38 entitled Policies for Communities and Campus Radio states that campus radio stations must provide a service that is complementary to that offered by other local, commercial radio stations in the market, as well as to that offered by any other campus radio station. The applicant stated that all of the station's programming content, both music and spoken word, will be targeted to audiences interested in campus issues, entertainment and information.

5. The Commission is satisfied that approval of this application will increase the diversity of voices available in the Winnipeg radio market. Moreover, the Commission notes that the proposed station will offer programming that is distinct from that to be offered by the campus/instructional station (CJAE-FM Winnipeg) approved in Decision CRTC 96-776 dated 5 December 1996.

6. In the area of music, the station will offer new, alternative non-hit musical selections and will highlight local and regional artists. The station will also broadcast concert music performed by students of the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Music.

7. The applicant plans to offer a minimum of 29 hours each week of spoken word programming focusing on university news, issues and information, including programs dealing with aboriginal businesses, women's issues, space and science and student employment as well as a daily two-hour program on locally-produced music talent.

8. The applicant stated that it will invite all community members, including non-students, to participate as volunteers at the station. The Commission reminds the applicant that the fact that much of station's staff will be volunteer does not relieve it of the requirement to abide by the Radio Regulations 1986 and the station's conditions of licence.

9. In accordance with Public Notice CRTC 1993-38 entitled Policies for Local Programming on Commercial Radio Stations and Advertising on Campus Stations, the Commission authorizes the licensee, 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.

10. It is a condition of licence that the licensee 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 (Ineligibility of Non-Canadians) P.C. 1997-486, the chief executive officer and not less than 80 per cent of the members of the board of directors must be Canadians, ordinarily resident in Canada.

11. 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 accepted by the Commission.

12. 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 accepted by the Commission.

13. 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 licensee to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.

14. This authority will only be effective and the licence will only be issued at such time as the 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.

15. 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.

16. In accordance with subsection 22(1) of the Broadcasting 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.

Laura M. Talbot-Allan
Secretary General

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