ARCHIVED - Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-113

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Route reference: 2012-560

Ottawa, 11 March 2013

Radio Vallacquoise inc.
Val-des-Lacs, Quebec

Application 2012-0749-9, received 13 June 2012
Public hearing in the National Capital Region
11 December 2012

Developmental community radio station in Val-des-Lacs

The Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a French-language low-power developmental community FM radio station in Val-des-Lacs.

The application

1. The Commission received an application by Radio Vallacquoise inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate a French-language low-power developmental community FM radio programming undertaking in Val-des-Lacs, Quebec. The Commission did not receive any interventions in connection with this application.

2. Radio Vallacquoise inc. is a not-for-profit organization controlled by its board of directors.

3. The new station would operate at 106.5 MHz (channel 293VLP) with an effective radiated power of 5 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of -3.8 metres).¹

4. The applicant committed to broadcast at least 84 hours of local programming per broadcast week.

5. The Commission notes that developmental community radio stations operate primarily for training purposes. In this regard, Radio Vallacquoise inc. indicated that the new station would provide training to volunteers and that it would allow them to acquire skills. In addition, the applicant stated that the station would encourage community participation in the various activities of the station, including management, production, programming and hosting. The station would work in partnership with committees and organizations of the community served. According to the applicant, the broadcast of local programming would serve to better inform residents of Val-des-Lacs.

Commission’s decision

6. The Commission is satisfied that the application complies with the provisions for developmental community radio stations set out in Campus and community radio policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-499, 22 July 2010. Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by Radio Vallacquoise inc. for a broadcasting licence to operate a French-language low-power developmental community FM radio programming undertaking in Val-des-Lacs. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.

7. As set out in the terms section of the appendix to this decision, given that the radio station will be a low-power unprotected service, the applicant will have to select another frequency if the Department of Industry so requires.

Secretary General

* This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2013-113

Terms, conditions of licence, expectation and encouragement for the French-language low-power developmental community FM radio programming undertaking in Val-des-Lacs, Quebec

Terms

The licence will expire 31 August 2017. 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 new station will operate at 106.5 MHz (channel 293VLP) with an effective radiated power of 5 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of -3.8 metres).

The Commission reminds the applicant that, pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, no licence may be issued until the Department of Industry (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 11 March 2015. 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.

Conditions of licence

1. The licensee must adhere to the conditions set out in Standard conditions of licence for campus and community radio stations, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2012-304, 22 May 2012.

2. The licensee shall adhere to the Equitable Portrayal Code, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.

Expectation

Filing of ownership information

As set out in Campus and community radio policy, Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-499, 22 July 2010, the Commission expects all community and campus licensees to file yearly updates on the composition of their boards of directors. These annual updates can be submitted at the time of submission of annual returns, following annual board of directors’ elections, or at any other time. As noted in Appendix 3 to that regulatory policy, licensees may submit such documentation via the Commission’s website.

Encouragement

Employment equity

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:

2013-03-11