Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2019-156

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Reference: Part 1 applications posted on 1 March 2019

Ottawa, 16 May 2019

Chetwynd Communications Society
Chetwynd, Hudson’s Hope and Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia

Public record for these applications: 2019-0151-2 and 2019-0152-0

CHET-FM Chetwynd – New transmitters in Hudson’s Hope and Tumbler Ridge

  1. The Commission approves the applications by Chetwynd Communications Society to amend the broadcasting licence for the radio programming undertaking CHET-FM Chetwynd, British Columbia, in order to operate transmitters in Hudson’s Hope and Tumbler Ridge. The Commission received interventions in support of these applications.
  2. The new transmitter in Hudson’s Hope will operate at 99.5 MHz (258LP) with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 50 watts (non-directional antenna with an effective height of the antenna above average terrain [EHAAT] of 81.9 metres).
  3. The new transmitter in Tumbler Ridge will operate at 99.5 MHz (258LP) with an average ERP of 26 watts (maximum ERP of 50 watts with an EHAAT of -35.6 metres).
  4. The licensee stated that the transmitters will broadcast news, events and emergency alerts originating from Chetwynd to the communities.
  5. Pursuant to section 22(1) of the Broadcasting Act, this authority will only be effective when the Department of Industry (the Department) notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met and that broadcasting certificates will be issued.
  6. The Department’s BPR-3: Application Procedures and Rules for FM Broadcasting Undertakings specifies that a low-power FM rebroadcasting transmitter is considered a secondary assignment operating on an unprotected channel. Should an FM station or transmitter with protected status be granted a frequency that is incompatible with that used by one of the low-power transmitters considered in this decision, the licensee may need to cease the operation of that low-power transmitter or file an application to change its frequency and/or technical parameters.
  7. The transmitters must be in operation by no later than 16 May 2021. To request an extension, the licensee must submit a written request to the Commission at least 60 days before that date, using the form available on the Commission’s website.

Non-compliance

  1. The licensee appears to be in non-compliance with section 9(2) of the Radio Regulations, 1986 (the Regulations) relating to the filing of complete annual returns. The annual returns for the 2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 broadcast years were filed late and the financial statements were missing. The Commission will address this issue as part of the next licence renewal for the station.

Secretary General

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

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