|
Public Notice
|
|
Ottawa, 9 July 1985
|
|
Public Notice CRTC 1985-142
|
|
Review of CBC Long Range Radio Plan Replacement of existing AM stations with FM
|
|
For related documents: see Public Notices CRTC 1983-22, 1984-132 and 1985-86 dated 7 February 1983, 31 May 1984 and 2 May 1985 respectively.
|
|
In Public Notice CRTC 1983-22 dated 7 February 1983 on the Long Range Radio Plan of the CBC, the Commission determined that, wherever possible, the CBC basic AM service should be provided on the AM band and the use of FM channels should only be considered in those areas where no suitable AM channels are available. It also noted that it:
|
|
would be prepared, on a case-by-case basis, to give consideration to the replacement with FM of those AM stations only which have poor night-time coverage and where their replacement would result in a significant improvement in service, and where coverage deficiencies could not be corrected by other means, such as change of transmitter site, increase in power or change in radiation patterns.
|
Notwithstanding the above, in Public Notice CRTC 1985-86, "Review of CBC Long Range Radio Plan", the Commission said it had considered the CBC's arguments that the use of FM channels for the extension of its basic service may be preferable because of the much higher costs of establishing AM facilities, and that:
|
|
It has become apparent that a rigid application of this policy would not only increase significantly the costs of extending the CBC basic services but might even delay their extension to underserved communities. Therefore, the Commission requested the Tripartite Committee (a committee with representatives from the CBC, DOC and the Commission) to recommend guidelines, which would assist the Commission in determining whether, and under what circumstances, an exception to this policy is warranted.
|
|
The Commission accepts the Tripartite Committee recommendation that exceptions to the policy of using AM frequencies for the extension of the basic services be considered only outside the areas of Vancouver/Victoria, Montreal and surrounding area, Southern Ontario and outside major urban centres, and not in areas where FM channels are in short supply.
|
|
If the Corporation accepts this recommendation, and with a view to reducing extension of service costs, the Commission would be prepared to consider favourably the use of FM channels for the extension of basic services in all areas other than these noted above.
|
|
The CBC has proposed a number of FM stations which would provide basic service in areas where the Corporation operates low power AM unprotected stations (LPAM). Typically, the coverage provided by such an LPAM is limited to one small community with a small surrounding area, whereas the proposed FM station which would replace it would, in many cases, provide service to a wider area enclosing a number of communities and a much larger population.
|
After careful consideration of all the factors involved, the Commission is now prepared to consider favourably only those proposals where the replacement of low-power AM unprotected stations with FM facilities would result in significant extension of service, namely, service being provided to a wider area enclosing a number of additional communities and a much larger population. Consistent with the guidelines in Public Notice CRTC 1985-86, these communities should be located outside the areas of Vancouver/Victoria, Montreal and surrounding area, Southern Ontario and outside major urban centres, and not in areas where FM channels are in short supply.
|
|
Fernand Bélisle
Secretary General
|
|
|