Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2017-406

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Reference: 2017-94

Ottawa, 17 November 2017

Potlotek Communication Society
Chapel Island/Potlotek First Nation, Nova Scotia

Public record for this application: 2016-1264-8
Public hearing in Gatineau, Quebec
10 April 2017

Low-power Type B Native FM radio station in Chapel Island/Potlotek First Nation

The Commission approves an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a low-power Type B Native FM radio station in Chapel Island/Potlotek First Nation, Nova Scotia.

Application

  1. Potlotek Communications Society filed an application for a broadcasting licence to operate a low-power Type B Native FM radio station to serve Chapel Island and the residents of the Potlotek First Nation, located east of St. Peter’s, Nova Scotia. The Commission did not receive any interventions relating to this application.
  2. The applicant is a not-for-profit corporation controlled by its board of directors.
  3. The station will operate at 93.7 MHz (channel 229LP) with an effective radiated power of 45 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of the antenna above average terrain of 26.8 metres)Footnote 1.
  4. The applicant proposed to broadcast 126 hours of local programming each broadcast week. Approximately 28 hours would be devoted to spoken-word programming and 98 hours would be devoted to musical content. The applicant indicated that 15% of the music broadcast each week would be performed or composed by Aboriginal talent.
  5. Further, the applicant indicated that it would devote 20 hours per broadcast week to Mi’kmaq-language programming and 10 hours per broadcast week to news programming.

Commission’s decision

  1. The Commission is satisfied that the application is consistent with the provisions for Type B Native radio stations set out in Native Broadcasting Policy, Public Notice CRTC 1990-89, 20 September 1990. Accordingly, the Commission approves the application by Potlotek Communication Society for a broadcasting licence to operate a low-power Type B Native radio programming undertaking in Chapel Island/Potlotek First Nation, Nova Scotia. The terms and conditions of licence are set out in the appendix to this decision.

Reminder

  1. Pursuant to section 16 of the Radio Regulations, 1986, all licensees of campus, community and Native radio stations must implement a public alerting system.

Secretary General

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

Appendix to Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2017-406

Terms and conditions of licence for the low-power Type B Native FM radio programming undertaking in Chapel Island/Potlotek First Nation, Nova Scotia

Terms

The licence will expire 31 August 2024.

The station will operate at 93.7 MHz (channel 229LP) with an effective radiated power of 45 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of antenna above average terrain of 26.8 metres)Footnote 2.

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 FM undertaking, the Commission also reminds the applicant that it will have to select another frequency if the Department so requires.

Further, 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 and its transmitter 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 17 November 2019. In order to ensure that such a request is processed in a timely manner, it should be submitted in writing at least 60 days before this date.

Conditions of licence

  1. In each broadcast week, the licensee shall devote at least 35% of its musical selections from content category 2 (Popular Music) to Canadian musical selections broadcast in their entirety.

    For the purposes of this condition of licence, the terms “broadcast week,” “Canadian selection,” “content category” and “musical selection” shall have the same meanings as those set out in the Radio Regulations, 1986.

  2. The licensee shall adhere to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ Equitable Portrayal Code, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
  3. The licensee shall adhere to the Broadcast Code for Advertising to Children, as amended from time to time and approved by the Commission.
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