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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2005-353
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Ottawa, 28 July 2005
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Coop de solidarité radio communautaire de la MRC de Maskinongé
Louiseville and Saint-Alexis-des-Monts, Quebec
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Application 2004-1299-0
Public Hearing in the National Capital Region
16 May 2005
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Community radio station in Louiseville
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In this decision, the Commission approves the application for a broadcasting licence to operate a community radio programming undertaking in Louiseville and a transmitter in Saint-Alexis-des-Monts, Quebec.
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The application
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1.
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The Commission received an application by the Coop de solidarité radio communautaire de la MRC de Maskinongé for a broadcasting licence to operate a French-language FM Type B community radio programming undertaking in Louiseville, Quebec and a transmitter in Saint-Alexis-des-Monts, Quebec. The proposed station would operate at 103.1 MHz (channel 276A) with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 1,520 watts, and the transmitter would operate at 104.9 MHz (channel 285A1) with an average ERP of 140 watts.
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2.
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According to the applicant, the station would broadcast 126 hours of programming in each broadcast week, with a minimum of 110 hours devoted to station-produced programming. The remaining 16 hours would allow the station to broadcast programs produced outside the station, which will help increase the public's sense of belonging in the Maskinongé region.
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3.
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The station's local programming would reflect the needs and interests of the local community and include local and regional news, sports, weather, current events, features, and emergency broadcast services.
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4.
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The applicant is planning to hire three full-time employees. The general manager and programming manager would be responsible for programming. The applicant also indicated that the station would recruit at least 25 volunteers.
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5.
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In addition, the station would continue to recruit volunteers through the local media, and would conduct a campaign in the region's high schools to recruit youth for a student radio project and other youth interested in the project. The applicant would ensure that volunteers receive training and are supervised by full-time staff.
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6.
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With respect to local talent development, the new station would provide promotional services by means of interviews and on-air spots and by organizing contests. The station would also make its studios available to local artists for recording demos and CDs.
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Interventions
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7.
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The Commission received several letters in support of the application.
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Commission's analysis and determination
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8.
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The Commission has considered this application in light of the provisions of the Radio Regulations, 1986 (theRegulations) and the Community Radio Policy, Public Notice CRTC 2000-13, 28 January 2000 (Public Notice 2000-13).
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9.
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The Commission approves the application by the Coop de solidarité radio communautaire de la MRC de Maskinongé for a broadcasting licence to operate a French-language FM Type B community radio programming undertaking in Louiseville, Quebec and a transmitter in Saint-Alexis-des-Monts, Quebec. The station will operate at 103.1 MHz (channel 276A) with an average ERP of 1,520 watts1, and the transmitter will operate at 104.9 MHz (channel 285A1) with an average ERP of 140 watts.
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10.
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In accordance with Public Notice 2000-13, Coop de solidarité radio communautaire de la MRC de Maskinongé, which will hold the licence for this community station, is a not-for-profit organization without share capital whose structure provides for membership, management, operation and programming by members of the community at large. The board of directors will ultimately control the undertaking and be responsible for adherence to Regulations and the station's conditions of licence.
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11.
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The licence will expire 31 August 2011 and will be subject to the conditions of licence set outin New licence form for community radio stations, Public Notice CRTC 2000-157, 16 November 2000.
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Issuance of the licence
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The station in Louiseville
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12.
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The Department of Industry (the Department) has advised the Commission that, while station in Louiseville is technically acceptable, it will only issue a broadcasting certificate when it has determined that the proposed technical parameters will not create any unacceptable interference with aeronautical NAV/COM services.
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13.
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The Commission reminds the applicant that, pursuant to subsection 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act), no licence may be issued until the Department notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met, and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.
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14.
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The licence for this undertaking will be issued once the applicant has informed the Commission in writing that it is prepared to commence operations. The undertaking must be operational at the earliest possible date and, in any event, no later than 24 months from the date of this decision, unless a request for an extension of time is approved by the Commission before 28 July 2007. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a timely manner, it should be submitted at least 60 days before that date.
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The transmitter in Saint-Alexis-des-Monts
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15.
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The Department has advised the Commission that, while the transmitter in Saint-Alexis-des-Monts is conditionally technically acceptable, it will only issue a broadcasting certificate when it has determined that the proposed technical parameters will not create any unacceptable interference with aeronautical NAV/COM services.
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16.
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The Commission reminds the applicant that, pursuant to section 22(1) of the Act, the authority to operate the transmitter in Saint-Alexis-des-Monts will only be effective when until the Department notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met, and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.
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17.
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The transmitter in Saint-Alexis-des-Monts must be operational at the earliest possible date and in any event no later than 24 months from the date of this decision, unless a request for an extension of time is approved by the Commission before 28 July 2007. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a timely manner, it should be submitted at least 60 days before that date.
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Employment equity
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18.
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The Commission considers that community radio stations should be particularly sensitive to employment equity issues in order to fully reflect the communities they serve. It encourages the applicant to consider these issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.
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Secretary General
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This decision is to be appended to the licence. It is available in alternative format upon request, and may also be examined in PDF format or in HTML at the following Internet site: www.crtc.gc.ca
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Footnote:
The Department of Industry has advised the Commission that the station in Louiseville will operate with an average effective radiated power of 1,520 watts rather than 1,400 watts as indicated in Broadcasting Notice of Public Hearing CRTC 2005-3, 17 March 2005.
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Date Modified: 2005-07-28