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ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 2000-148

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Decision CRTC 2000-148
Ottawa, 9 May 2000
Cole Harbour Community Radio Society
Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia
– 199916326
6 March 2000 Public Hearing in Moncton
New community radio station

1.

The Commission approves the application for a broadcasting licence for an English-language FM community radio programming undertaking at Cole Harbour. The new station will operate on the frequency 106.9 MHz, channel 295LP. The Department of Industry has advised that the undertaking will have an effective radiated power of 45 watts rather than 50 watts, as indicated in Notice of Public Hearing CRTC 1999-14 dated 24 December 1999.

2.

Subject to the requirements of this decision and consistent with the Community radio policy (the Policy), the Commission will issue a licence for a Type B community radio station. This licence will expire on 31 August 2006.

3.

The Commission expects community radio, as its primary focus, to provide community access to the airwaves and to offer diverse programming that reflects the needs and interests of the community that it is licensed to serve. The programming must include music by new and local talent, music not generally broadcast by commercial stations, local information and spoken word programming.

4.

This project springs from the understanding shared by parents, teachers, students and others within the community of the contribution that the new community radio station can make in teaching communication skills and in bridging serious rifts within the community. The Commission supports the applicant's goals, these being to provide quality programming aimed at fostering positive communication, community interaction and an acceptance of diversity. To these ends, spoken word programming will focus on health and social concerns, cultural diversity, youth-oriented issues and school features. The Commission notes that the application was supported by a considerable number of individuals, community groups, educators and elected officials, including a resolution unanimously passed in the Nova Scotia Legislature.

5.

The Commission notes that the station will broadcast 126 hours of programming per week, with a minimum of 75 hours to be produced by the station. The Commission reminds the licensee that it shall not increase or decrease its total weekly broadcast time by more than 20% without prior approval.

6.

The Commission expects the licensee to honour its commitment to devote 4% of its programming to news (40% to local news and 60% to regional news).

7.

In Public Notice CRTC 2000-44, dated 21 March 2000, the Commission proposed amendments to the Radio Regulations, 1986 that are designed to increase the percentage of Canadian musical selections broadcast by community and campus stations each broadcast week, from 30% to 35% for category 2 selections and from 10% to 12% for category 3 selections. The Commission notes that the licensee has committed to meet these new percentages.

8.

The Commission also expects the licensee to implement the initiatives set out in its plan for Canadian talent development.

9.

The Commission notes that the measures proposed by the licensee to encourage the participation of volunteers meet the objectives set out in the new Policy. It expects the licensee to give effect to the measures outlined in its application.
Conditions of licence

10.

The licence will be subject to the conditions specified in the licence to be issued. Further, it is a condition of licence that, in any broadcast week, the licensee
  • devote at least 25% of its programming to spoken word (content category 1), with an emphasis on community-oriented spoken word.
  • devote a minimum of 20% of its musical selections to musical selections from content subcategories other than subcategory 21 (Pop, rock and dance).
  • devote a minimum of 5% of its musical selections to musical selections from content category 3 (Special interest music).
  • 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.
  • 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.
Other questions

11.

The licence of this community station will be held by a not-for-profit organization whose structure provides for membership, management, operation and programming by members of the community at large. The Commission notes however that the board of directors is ultimately responsible for adherence to the Radio Regulations, 1986 and the station’s conditions of licence. The Commission expects the licensee to submit, within 90 days of this decision, a complete list of the members of the board of directors indicating their citizenship, the date of their appointment to the board and a copy of the board's by-laws.

12.

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

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 and 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.

The licence will only be issued and effective when the new station is ready to begin operation. When the licensee has completed construction and is prepared to commence operation, it must advise the Commission in writing. If the station is not constructed and ready to operate within 12 months of today’s date, extensions to this time frame may be granted provided that the licensee applies in writing to the Commission before the 12-month period or any extension of that period expires.

15.

The Department of Industry has advised the Commission that this application is conditionally technically acceptable. The Department will only issue a broadcasting certificate once it has determined that the proposed technical parameters will not create any unacceptable interference with aeronautical NAV/COM services.

16.

In accordance with section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, the Commission will only issue the licence and grant the authority to operate when it receives notification from the Department of Industry that its technical requirements have been met, and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.
Related CRTC documents
• Public Notice 2000-13 – Community radio policy
• Public Notice 2000-14 – Revised content categories and subcategories for radio
• Public Notice 2000-44 – Call for comments – Proposed regulatory amendments for the purpose of implementing certain aspects of the revised policies for campus radio and community radio, and incorporating revised content categories for radio
Secretary General
This decision is to be appended to the licence. It is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined at the following Internet site: www.crtc.gc.ca
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