Search

ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2009-373

This page has been archived on the Web

Information identified as archived on the Web is for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. Archived Decisions, Notices and Orders (DNOs) remain in effect except to the extent they are amended or reversed by the Commission, a court, or the government. The text of archived information has not been altered or updated after the date of archiving. Changes to DNOs are published as “dashes” to the original DNO number. Web pages that are archived on the Web are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats by contacting us.

Archived

This page has been archived on the Web.

  Route reference: 2009-36
  Ottawa, 18 June 2009
  Smithers Community Radio Society
Smithers, British Columbia
  Application 2008-1539-2, received 17 November 2008
Public Hearing in the National Capital Region
30 March 2009
 

Developmental community radio station in Smithers

  The Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language, very low-power developmental community FM radio programming undertaking in Smithers, British Columbia.
 

Introduction

1. The Commission received an application by Smithers Community Radio Society (Smithers) for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language, very low-power developmental community FM radio programming undertaking in Smithers, British Columbia. The Commission received interventions in support of this application.
2. Smithers is a not-for-profit organization controlled by its board of directors.
 

Proposed service

3. The Commission notes that developmental stations operate primarily for training purposes. Smithers indicated that the new station would offer 72.5 hours of programming during each broadcast week, including at least 65.5 hours of programming produced by the station. In addition to original programming, the applicant submitted that it would work with other community radio partners to share small amounts of programming and, as a source of training volunteers, would learn production tips and skills. For these reasons, the applicant would offer up to one hour a day (for a maximum of seven hours a week) of acquired programming from other community radio stations.
4. Smithers stated that the new station would offer a diverse array of music types including blues, punk, rap, bluegrass and International/Cuban/Latin American music, as well as French-language music, independent Canadian music and music directed at children. The station would place a special focus on the community's celebrated local artists and local musical festivals. The applicant added that spoken word programming would reflect the interests of the community by providing shows that include comedy, poetry readings, local issue commentary, town council coverage, community events, interviews with community members, local, regional and world news coverage, weather updates, emergency information, and local business and product reviews.
5. The applicant stated that volunteers would be actively solicited by on-air announcements, the station's website, local newspaper advertisements and bulletins at the local library, high school, and coffee shops. Volunteers would have access to regular monthly training sessions offered by a Training Committee that would provide and build skills required to operate the station and ensure a consistent level of programming quality.
 

Commission's determination

6. The Commission is satisfied that the application is consistent with the provisions for developmental community radio stations set out in Community Radio Policy, Public Notice CRTC 2000-13, 28 January 2000. Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by Smithers Community Radio Society for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language, very low-power developmental community FM radio programming undertaking in Smithers, British Columbia. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.
  Secretary General
  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: http://www.crtc.gc.ca.
 

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2009-373

 

Terms, conditions of licence and encouragement

 

Terms

 

Issuance of the broadcasting licence to operate an English-language, very low-power developmental community FM radio programming undertaking in Smithers, British Columbia

  The licence will expire 31 August 2012. If the applicant wishes to continue the operation of the station beyond this period, it should file an application for a regular community radio licence with the Commission nine months before the expiry of its licence.
  The station will operate at 93.9 MHz (channel 230VLP) with an average effective radiated power of 5 watts.
  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.
  The Commission reminds the applicant that, pursuant to section 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.
  Given that the technical parameters approved in this decision are for a very low-power unprotected FM service, the Commission also reminds the applicant that it will have to select another frequency if the Department so requires.
  Furthermore, a licence will only be issued once the applicant has satisfied the Commission, with supporting documentation, 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 18 June 2011. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a timely manner, it should be submitted at least 60 days before this date.
  In accordance with Community radio policy, Public Notice CRTC 2000-13, 28 January 2000, the licence for this community radio 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 board of directors will ultimately control the undertaking and be responsible for adherence to the Radio Regulations, 1986 and the station's conditions of licence.
 

Conditions of licence

 

1. The licence will be subject to the conditions set out in New licence form for community radio stations, Public Notice CRTC 2000-157, 16 November 2000.

 

2. The licensee shall devote, in each broadcast week, a minimum of 12% of its musical selections from content category 3 (Special Interest Music) to Canadian selections broadcast in their entirety.

 

Encouragement

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

Date modified: