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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2006-652
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Ottawa, 29 November 2006
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WhiStle Community Radio
Whitchurch-Stouffville, Ontario
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Application 2006-0287-2
Public Hearing in Québec, Quebec
11 September 2006
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Community radio station in Whitchurch-Stouffville
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1.
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The Commission approves the application by WhiStle Community Radio for a broadcasting licence to operate a low-power English-language Type B community FM radio programming undertaking in Whitchurch-Stouffville.
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2.
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The station will broadcast 126 hours of programming during each broadcast week, including at least 119 hours of programming produced by the station and seven hours of programs acquired from other community radio stations. Although the primary language of broadcasting will be English, the applicant indicated that it will devote at least two hours of programming during each broadcast week to French-language programs.
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3.
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According to the applicant, the station's local programming will reflect the needs and interests of the community, including local and regional news, amateur sports, weather, emergency information, community announcements, interviews exploring issues of local concerns, current events, features and coverage of local council meetings or other community meetings of interest.
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4.
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In the area of music, the station will draw from a broad range of categories, including country, folk, jazz, blues and children's music, and will broadcast live performances from local music venues.
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5.
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Volunteers will be recruited for the station through on-air solicitation, the station's web site, the library and local newspapers. A training committee will assist in the training of volunteers, who will be supervised by the station manager and delegates of the station manager.
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6.
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Regarding the development of local talent, the new station will devote a significant part of its programming and activities to support local artists. More specifically, local artists will be supported through the station's web site, radio interviews and the regular broadcast of their work. Other initiatives will include the recording and live broadcast of local talent as well as the promotion and sponsorship of their performances.
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7.
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The Commission received interventions in support of this application.
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8.
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The Commission reminds the applicant that, pursuant to Community Radio Policy, Public Notice CRTC 2000-13, 28 January 2000 (the Community Radio Policy), Type B community radio stations are required, by condition of licence, to devote a minimum of 25% of their programming during each broadcast week to spoken word.
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9.
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In accordance with the Community Radio Policy, the licence for this community radio station will be held by a not-for-profit organization without share capital whose structure provides for membership, management, operation and programming primarily by members of the community at large. The Board of Directors will ultimately control the undertaking and be responsible for adherence to the Radio Regulations, 1986 and to the station's conditions of licence.
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10.
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The station will operate at 102.7 MHz (channel 274LP) with an effective radiated power of 50 watts.
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11.
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The licence will expire 31 August 2013 and will be subject to the conditions set out in New licence form for community radio stations, Public Notice CRTC 2000-157, 16 November 2000.
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12.
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The applicant indicated that places of worship would be offered air time for information about their message and their events, and that it would ensure that it would comply with Religious Broadcasting Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1993-78, 3 June 1993 (the Religious Policy). As stated in the Religious Policy, licensees who broadcast religious programming have an obligation to provide balance in their programming. In that policy, the Commission noted a number of mechanisms that would assist licensees in achieving balance, including scheduling of periods for listeners' reactions, providing access to complainants, searching out alternative points of view, producing or acquiring programming and providing access to local faith groups. The Commission has imposed a condition of licence, set out in the appendix to this decision, requiring that WhiStle Community Radio adhere to the balance requirement, and encourages the applicant to form a regulatory review committee that would oversee the handling of complaints regarding the content of balance programming.
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Issuance of the licence
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13.
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The Department of Industry (the Department) has advised the Commission that, while this application 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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14.
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The Commission reminds the applicant that, pursuant to subsection 22(1) of the Broadcasting 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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Given that the technical parameters approved in this decision are for a low-power unprotected FM service, the Commission also reminds the applicant that it will have to select another frequency if the Department so requires.
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16.
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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 29 November 2008. 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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17.
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The Commission considers that community radio stations should be particularly sensitive to employment equity issues in order to reflect fully 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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Date Modified: 2006-11-29