ARCHIVED -  Decision CRTC 88-841

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Decision

Ottawa, 9 December 1988
Decision CRTC 88-841
New Brunswick Broadcasting Co. Limited
Bridgewater, Truro and Wolfville, Nova Scotia -881452700 -881453500 -881454300
Following a Public Hearing in Toronto on 3 October 1988, the Commission approves the applications for licences for English-language television broadcasting transmitting undertakings at Bridgewater, Truro and Wolfville, to rebroadcast the programs of CIHF-TV Halifax, operating under the following technical parameters:
Channel/ Effective Radiated Power/
canal puissance apparente rayonnée
Bridgewater 9 6,670 watts
Truro 18 6,000 watts
Wolfville 20 134,000 watts
The Commission will issue licences expiring 31 August 1990, subject to the conditions specified in this decision and in the licences to be issued. This term will enable the Commission to consider renewal of these licences at the same time as that of the originating station, CIHF-TV Halifax.
The Commission notes that the applicant will operate the Wolfville rebroadcaster at an effective radiated power of 134,000 watts, rather than the 126,000 watts indicated in CRTC Notice of Public Hearing 1988-51 dated 5 August 1988. This change will not affect the undertaking's coverage area.
In Decision CRTC 87-59 dated 22 January 1987, the Commission approved applications by New Brunswick Broadcasting Co. Limited (NBB) for broadcasting licences for new English-language television stations at Halifax, Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton, to provide an independent television service to be known as Maritime Independent Television (MITV). The current applications represent the beginning of NBB's expansion of MITV as contemplated in that decision and were submitted in response to the Commission's statement that:
The Commission strongly expects NBB to implement these plans and further to submit applications at the earliest feasible time for extension of the proposed service throughout New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Further, the proposed rebroadcasters will compensate for a decrease in coverage pursuant to Decision CRTC 88-514 dated 26 August 1988 in which the Commission approved technical amendments for CIHF-TV Halifax.
The Commission has noted the opposing interventions received from Annapolis Valley Radio Ltd. and CHUM Limited, licensee of the Atlantic Satellite Network (ASN) and the Atlantic Television System (ATV). These interveners expressed concern regarding the saturation of the Halifax extended market by MITV, the orderliness of such extension and the further fragmentation of audiences which could result in undue harm and hardship for the existing Canadian broadcasting services in these areas. The Commission is satisfied that concerns regarding undue harm or hardship for existing undertakings were adequately addressed in Decision CRTC 87-59 and that the expansion of MITV is in line with the Commission's expectations as set out in that decision.
The Commission has considered the intervention received from Kings Kable Limited opposing these applications on the grounds that potential technical problems, in particular interference with its satellite-delivered signals, may arise from the close proximity of the applicant's Wolfville transmitter site to the cable system's head end. The Commission is satisfied with the licensee's response that the proposed transmitter will not interfere directly with the reception of any television service in the area and that possible indirect interference can be rectified by the application of standard shielding techniques.
An intervention was also received from Cross Country TV Limited (Cross Country), licensee of the subscription television undertaking serving Canning. While Cross Country does not oppose the establishment of a television rebroadcaster at Wolfville, it objects to the proposed use of channel 20 based on potential interference problems. In response, the applicant contends that the interference that could be caused by the use of channel 20 would be fairly minor and in the event that interference is unacceptable, it is willing to continue to work with Cross Country, by offering engineering advice and assistance, to minimize any disruptions.
The Commission notes that Cross Country is licensed for low-power, unprotected facilities. Should interference from the proposed undertaking in Wolfville prove to be unacceptable, Cross Country will have to select other channels for its undertaking in order to ensure maximum utilization of the broadcasting spectrum.
In submitting its applications, NBB made a commitment that it would "fast track" the installation procedures on the Truro, Bridgewater and Wolfville transmitters and that it would accept a condition of licence to ensure that the installation takes place expeditiously.
It is therefore a condition of each licence that the authority granted herein be implemented within six months of the date of this decision or, where the applicant applies to the Commission and satisfies the Commission that it cannot implement its authority before the expiry of this six-month period and that an extension of this period is in the public interest, within such further period of time as is approved in writing by the Commission.
Fernand Bélisle
Secretary General

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