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ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2009-690

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  Route reference: 2009-296
  Ottawa, 4 November 2009
  Bonne Bay Cottage Hospital Heritage Corporation
Norris Point, Newfoundland and Labrador
  Application 2009-0570-6, received 4 April 2009
Public Hearing in the National Capital Region
21 July 2009
 

Community radio station in Norris Point

  The Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language low-power Type A community FM radio station in Norris Point, Newfoundland and Labrador.
 

Introduction

1. The Commission received an application by Bonne Bay Cottage Hospital Heritage Corporation (Bonne Bay) for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language low-power Type A community FM radio programming undertaking in Norris Point. The Commission received interventions in support of this application.
2. Bonne Bay is a not-for-profit organization controlled by its board of directors.
 

Proposed service

3. The proposed station would operate at 95.9 MHz (channel 240LP) with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 30 watts (maximum ERP of 40 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 14.5 metres).
4. Bonne Bay indicated that, during each broadcast week, the station would broadcast 40 hours of programming, all of which would be locally produced. It further stated that over 50% of the category 3 (Special Interest Music) musical selections broadcast would be Canadian selections.
5. A total of 15% of the programming broadcast on the station would be devoted to spoken word programming, including news, interviews, publicity for local events and Parks Canada information relating to Gros Morne National Park. The applicant indicated that 75% of the news programming would be local news, and the remaining 25% regional news.
6. Bonne Bay stated that it would regularly feature local music and spoken word artists, would encourage participation of local school groups (drama clubs), and would participate fully in community festivals to ensure the regional broadcast of events.
7. It further stated that it would also provide ongoing training and supervision of those within the community wishing to participate in programming. Volunteers would be trained by a station manager, and advertisements in local newspapers and local flyers would seek community members eager to learn all aspects of the station operations, including live-to-air broadcasts, pre-recorded broadcasts, management of the studio and administration. In addition, Bonne Bay would conduct community workshops with local schools and the Journalism faculty of the College of the North Atlantic, which would teach media-related skills to the community.
 

Commission’s determination

8. The Commission is satisfied that the application is consistent with the provisions for Type A community radio stations set out in Community radio policy, Public Notice CRTC 2000-13, 28 January 2000 (Public Notice 2000-13). Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by Bonne Bay Cottage Hospital Heritage Corporation for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language low-power Type A community FM radio programming undertaking in Norris Point. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision. The Commission notes that, while the applicant proposed that 50% of its category 3 (Special Interest Music) musical selections would be Canadian selections, community stations are generally bound to a condition of licence requiring that 12% of their category 3 musical selections be Canadian, as set out in Public Notice 2000-13.
  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 2009-690

 

Terms, conditions of licence, expectation and encouragement

 

Terms

  Issuance of the broadcasting licence to operate an English-language low-power Type A community FM radio programming undertaking in Norris Point, Newfoundland and Labrador
  The licence will expire on 31 August 2016.
  The station will operate at 95.9 MHz (channel 240LP) with an average effective radiated power (ERP) of 30 watts (maximum ERP of 40 watts with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 14.5 metres).
  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 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, 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 4 November 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 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 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.

 

Expectation

  In accordance with Community radio policy, Public Notice CRTC 2000-13, 28 January 2000, the Commission expects the licensee to devote a minimum of 15% of the programming broadcast in each broadcast week to community-oriented spoken word programming.
 

Encouragement

  In accordance with Implementation of an employment equity policy, Public Notice CRTC 1992-59, 1 September 1992, the Commission encourages the licensee to consider employment equity issues in its hiring practices and in all other aspects of its management of human resources.

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