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Public Notice
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Ottawa, 5 August 1988
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Public Notice CRTC 1988-130
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Improvement of Radio Services in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, and Surrounding Area
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Related documents: Decision CRTC 87-558 and Public Notice CRTC 1987-163 dated 10 July 1987.
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In Decision CRTC 87-558, the Commission approved applications submitted by Communications Cuivor Inc. (formerly 149178 Canada Inc.) to operate new private French-language FM stations in Rouyn-Noranda and Val-d'Or, Quebec. At the same time, the Commission requested comments concerning the improvement of radio services in Abitibi-Témiscamingue and the surrounding area (Public Notice CRTC 1987-163).
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Although it had licenced new stations, as in previous decisions the Commission pointed out in its call for comments that it is necessary to develop and improve existing radio services in this region because of its distance from major urban centres and its scattered population.
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Interventions presented at the public hearing on 12 May 1987 held in Rouyn-Noranda had once again brought to the Commission's attention that there are still gaps in radio service in this region, particularly a lack of service in the Matagami-Joutel region, at Lebel-sur-Quévillon and on the La Vérendrye reservation, the presence of "dead zones" between existing station contours, and the fact that the French-language AM and FM programming of the CBC is duplicated in the evenings by Radio Nord Inc.
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The Commission invited all interested parties to submit comments on possible means of increasing the availability of radio service in these areas. Accordingly, it asked the existing broadcasters, local associations and organizations and all interested parties to submit their comments, particularly with regard to:
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- the means of increasing the availability of radio broadcasting services in the Abitibi and Témiscamingue area, as well as in Matagami, Joutel and Lebel-sur-Quévillon. Suggestions pertaining to Témiscamingue were expected to take into account the size of the market and the special status of CKVM Ville-Marie, the only local radio station;
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- the means of introducing the CBC's French-language FM stereo service to Abitibi-Témiscamingue.
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Comments were submitted by Radio Nord Inc., Communications Cuivor Inc. and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
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Comments Received
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Radio Nord Inc. (Radio Nord) indicated that it will soon be discussing with the CBC the possibility of using some of the latter's low-power rebroadcasting transmitters to distribute programming originating from one of Radio Nord's AM stations in order to serve Matagami, Joutel and Lebel-sur-Quévillon, following which it will be in a better position to draw up plans for serving the particular communities.
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Moreover, discussions with the CBC are already under way with respect to the terms of its affiliation agreement since the licences of CHLM-FM Rouyn-Noranda and CHLM-FM-1 Val-d'Or expire 30 September 1989. As soon as possible, Radio Nord will inform the Commission of the results of these discussions, particularly with regard to those aspects that relate to increasing the availability of the CBC's French-language radio services (AM, FM and FM stereo) in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue area. Further, Radio Nord is studying the possibility of providing service to the Ville-Marie area and has plans to submit an application to this effect in conjunction with its request to renew the licence of CHLM-FM Rouyn-Noranda.
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Communications Cuivor Inc. indicated that, as soon it is established in Rouyn-Noranda and Val-d'Or, it would be prepared to work with all interested parties, including the Commission, to expand its FM radio service as a means of diversifying the programming services available in the Ville-Marie region. It considers that such a project would be feasible provided it is acceptable to the licensee of CKVM Ville-Marie.
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The CBC informed the Commission that it is prepared to consider any joint project that is proposed that could improve radio service in the area referred to in the call, although all of the communities mentioned by the Commission are already receiving the CBC's French-language basic radio service. Nevertheless, it stated that its co-operation is subject to budget constraints and, for this reason, any proposal involving the provision of its FM stereo service over-the-air would have to be abandoned. It pointed out, however, that this service could be distributed with the aid of the cable operators in these areas.
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The Commission's Expectations
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The Commission has taken note of the comments and proposals set out by the respective licensees and expects the various parties to continue with their plans. In addition, the Commission expects Communication Cuivor Inc., whose Rouyn-Noranda station commenced operation 1 April 1988, to submit a report outlining its plans to expand its FM radio service to Ville-Marie, within six months of the date of this notice.
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The Commission expects the CBC and Radio Nord to submit a joint report by 1 January 1989 on the terms of their affiliation agreement in respect of CHLM-FM and CHLM-FM-1. They are also to report to the Commission on the possibility of using the CBC's low-power retransmitters to rebroadcast programming originating from Radio Nord's AM stations in order to serve Matagami, Joutel and Lebel-sur-Quévillon. In Public Notice CRTC 1988-109 dated 6 July 1988, the Commission announced that it had received applications from Radio Nord Inc. and Radio La Sarre Inc. to disaffiliate CHAD Amos, CKRN Rouyn-Noranda, CKVD Val-d'Or and CKLS La Sarre from the CBC's French-language AM network. However, the CBC service will continue to be offered by CHLM-FM Rouyn-Noranda and by CHLM-FM-1 Val d'Or.
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The Commission asks all of the cable operators in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region to expand the distribution of the CBC's stereo radio services available via the Anik-D1 satellite. It notes that, at present, only the cable television undertakings in Amos, Barraute, Landrienne, Lebel-sur-Quévillon and Senneterre that are operated by Télédistribution Amos Inc. carry the CBC services in both English and French.
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The Commission thanks the parties involved for their contribution and puts them on notice that it intends to discuss with each licensee at such time as its licence comes up for renewal its role in improving radio service in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region.
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Fernand Bélisle Secretary General
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