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Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2022-319

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Reference: Part 1 application posted on 23 September 2022

Ottawa, 23 November 2022

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Ottawa, Ontario, and L’Isle-aux-Allumettes, Quebec

Public record: 2022-0842-0

CBOF-FM Ottawa and its transmitter CBOF-FM-9 L’Isle-aux-Allumettes – Technical changes

  1. The Commission has the authority, pursuant to subsection 9(1) of the Broadcasting Act (the Act), to issue licenses for such terms not exceeding seven years and subject to such conditions related to the circumstances of the licensee as the Commission deems appropriate for the implementation of the broadcasting policy set out in subsection 3(1) of the Act, as well as to amend those conditions on application of the licensee.
  2. Consistent with this authority, the Commission approves the application by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to change the authorized contours of CBOF-FM-9 L’Isle-aux-Allumettes, Quebec, a rebroadcasting transmitter of the French-language radio programming undertaking CBOF-FM Ottawa, Ontario, by changing the class of the transmitter from A to B1, by replacing the existing non-directional antenna by a new directional antenna, by increasing the maximal effective radiated power (ERP) from 2,300 to 11,240 watts, by increasing the average ERP from 2,300 to 5,270 watts, by decreasing the effective height of the antenna above average terrain (EHAAT) from 91.5 to 27.2 metres, and amending the existing coordinates of the transmitter site. All other technical parameters will remain unchanged.
  3. The Commission received one comment from an individual, in which they gave their opinion and proposed alternative solutions. In its reply, the CBC stated that its initial application proposed the solution that best meets the community’s needs at this time. It added that, should the application be approved, it would allow the public broadcaster to continue to provide an excellent radio service to the people of the affected area.
  4. When requesting technical changes, licensees are generally required to demonstrate a technical or economic need. In regard to the present application, the CBC stated that the transmitter tower and antenna are timeworn and that the requested technical amendments would allow it to ensure the ICI Première’s continued service to the population of L’Isle-aux-Allumettes.
  5. The Commission is satisfied that the licensee has demonstrated a technical need for the requested technical changes and that the technical solution proposed by the CBC is appropriate.
  6. Pursuant to subsection 22(1) of the Act, this authority will only be effective when the Department of Industry notifies the Commission that its technical requirements have been met and that a broadcasting certificate will be issued.
  7. The licensee must implement the technical changes by no later than 23 November 2024. 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.
  8. As set out in section 16 of the Radio Regulations, 1986 (the Regulations), licensees have obligations relating to the broadcast of emergency alert messages received from the National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System. In regard to the changes to CBOF-FM-9’s authorized contours resulting from the implementation of the technical changes approved in this decision, the Commission reminds the licensee that continued compliance with section 16 of the Regulations may require that any alert broadcast decoders (e.g., ENDEC) used for the purposes of broadcasting emergency alert messages on CBOF-FM, or on any rebroadcasting transmitters that may appear on the broadcasting licence for that station, be reprogrammed to properly account for the new authorized contours.

Secretary General

This decision is to be appended to the licence.

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