Decision
CRTC 98-228
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Ottawa, 22 July 1998
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Cameron Bell Consultancy Ltd. (OBCI)
Trans-Canada Highway, British Columbia – 199802179
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A new, temporary FM radio station to provide information on traffic conditions between Vancouver and Coquitlam.
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1. Following a Public Hearing in the National Capital Region held on 20 July 1998, the Commission approves the application for a broadcasting licence for an English-language FM radio programming undertaking to serve a section of the Trans-Canada Highway in British Columbia, on the frequency 94.5 MHz, channel 223LP, with an effective radiated power of 50 watts.
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2. Subject to the requirements of this decision, the Commission will issue a licence expiring 31 January 1999. This licence will be subject to the conditions specified in this decision and in the licence to be issued. The licence term reflects the decision by the Department of Industry to allow the use of channel 223LP on a short-term basis only, until January 1999.
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3. The proposed undertaking will provide information during higway construction, regarding high-occupancy vehicle lanes, to drivers using a 16 kilometre section of the Trans-Canada Highway between the Port Mann bridge in Coquitlam and the Vancouver/Burnaby border. The programming will consist of reports approximately 17 minutes in duration, repeated continuously and updated daily.
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4. Interventions in opposition to this application were submitted by three parties. Given that 94.5 MHz is the last Class C FM frequency available for use in Vancouver, these parties questioned the appropriateness of permitting the applicant to use this frequency.
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5. The applicant has stated that, if and when the Department of Industry and the Commission approve another application for a Class A, B or C station on the same channel, the applicant will either surrender the licence or apply to the Commission for the use of another frequency.
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6. The Commission has considered the views of the applicant and the interveners, and in the circumstances considers that approval of the application is in the public interest. It notes in particular the applicant’s intention to either surrender the licence or apply for another frequency, should the channel used be approved for another use. The Commission also notes that the licence is only required for the duration of the highway construction work.
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7. In Public Notice CRTC 1993-95 dated 28 June 1993 and entitled A Licensing Policy for Low-Power Radio Broadcasting, the Commission stated that the licensees of low-power radio undertakings should be subject to a condition of licence that would define their programming in such a way as to ensure that they do not change their programming and begin to offer the same service as conventional licensees, without Commission approval.
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8. The Commission has considered the circumstances of this application and is of the view that it would be appropriate to apply the policy to it. Accordingly, it is a condition of licence that the station be used solely to broadcast traffic information to the area of the Trans-Canada Highway noted above. It is also a condition of licence that the service broadcast no advertising material.
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This decision is to be appended to the licence.
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Laura M. Talbot-Allan
Secretary General
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This document is available in alternative format upon request.
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